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The Bundaberg residential market has been a steady performer over the past number of years, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
"We don't see that changing in a hurry," the valuation firm said. 
The valuation firm asked their valuers to give an educated outlook on the residential market in their service areas.
The report notes Bargara and the entire coastal strip are seeing some positive signs of investment which has the potential to fuel growth along the coast. 
There are a number of projects happening or proposed that should stimulate interest in the area, such as the redevelopment of the Bargara Hotel, a new tavern near the Stockwell shopping centre, a new eco-friendly residential development at Innes Park/ Bargara South and renovations to the Bargara RSL.
"We see the coastal strip as being the shining star in 2020," the valuation firm said. 
A four bedroom brick house in Bundaberg North has recently been sold for $277,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-bundaberg+north-130630258" target="_blank">32 Fairymead Road</a> (pictured below), the fully renovated home features open living area, modern kitchen and double carport. 
The property last sold for $160,000 in 2018. 
<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/bundaberg%20north.jpg" alt="">
A current listing is a Bundaberg West three bedroom townhouse priced at $289,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-bundaberg+west-133166554" target="_blank">1/6 Mulgrave Street </a>(pictured below), it comprises 3 bedrooms, open plan living area, modern kitchen and backyard. 
It is located close to private school, CBD, shops and transport. 
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Bundaberg property market to continue to perform steadily: HTW residential 

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The second half of 2019 saw increased levels of activity in the residential property market, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
"2020 is likely to be the litmus test to determine whether we are genuinely into better times or merely experiencing a bubble of post flood activity," the valuation firm said. 
The report suggests Townsville has a strong pipeline of projects proposed for 2020 including a number of developments around the North Queensland Stadium which is nearing completion (to be named Queensland Country Bank Stadium) including the Cowboys Centre of Excellence, a 166-room Double Tree by Hilton Hotels and pedestrian walkway linkages from the city centre and central precinct to the stadium.
 The $71 million Marine Tourism Precinct which will include a four-star hotel, new SeaLink ferry terminal, car parking, new ferry berths and two new high speed ferries is another development proposed for 2020. 
Some other projects include the currently underway Flinders Lane retail development along with a number of proposed mixed use residential and food and drink developments in the inner city and Strand precincts.
"The inner city 4810 postcode had a good level of activity in 2019 and this is likely to continue in 2020," the valuation firm said. 
Suburbs within a five-kilometre radius of the city centre could see increased interest as inner city projects improve the amenity of the area.
"After an absence of sales in flood affected suburbs during 2019, we are likely to see these suburbs coming back to the market, providing a better understanding of the impact on value levels following this event," the valuation firm stated. 
"The balance of the Townsville market will likely remain status quo whilst people monitor unemployment and job security factors.
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"Overall, the outlook for the residential market in 2020 is positive with higher levels of market confidence and improving economic conditions." 
A fully furnished one bedroom apartment in the heart of Townsville City has been sold for $180,000.
The 65sqm apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-townsville+city-132605178" target="_blank">1/2-4 Kingsway Place</a> (pictured below) comes with modern kitchen, carpeted living areas and patio overlooking the complex facilities. 
The apartment is located in the central riverfront development. 
<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/townsville%20city%201.jpg" alt="">
A current listing is a two bedroom self contained apartment in Townsville priced at $297,500.
The apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-townsville+city-132999474" target="_blank">48/4 Kingsway Place</a> (pictured below) comprises two bedrooms, open plan living, private balcony and undercover car parking. 
Other features include air conditioning, outdoor pool and BBQ facilities. 
<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/townsville.jpg" alt="">
 
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Townsville property market expected to see higher level of confidence: HTW residential 

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The outlook for 2020 for Mount Gambier is that the housing market will remain stable throughout the year, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
"We are not aware of any obvious indicators that will have a significant impact on the local economy and the property sector," the valuation firm said. 
As seen in the graph below, house sales for 2019 were at similar levels to where they have been since 2014 and it is expected that this trend will continue throughout 2020. 
The report notes the median housing price has increased slightly in recent years, however there is still a large supply of housing and land for sale, which does impact on growth in the region.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/3/9/mount%20gambier%201.png" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/3/9/mount%20gambier%201.png" alt="">
Source: HTW 
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The graph below shows the number of houses sold within the $400,000 to $500,000 price range for the past 10 years. 
There was a significant drop between 2010 and 2011 when the market declined, however there has been a steady incline in sales since then, with sales within this range now the highest they have been in the past 10 years. This may be something to watch this year to see whether sales within this range continue to increase or we start to see a few more house sales above $500,000.
A three bedroom house in Mount Gambier was sold for $465,000 in December last year. 
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-mount+gambier-130158458" target="_blank">49 Bertha Street </a>(pictured below), the house comes with open living area, kitchen, pergola and heated swimming pool. 
Other features include double garage, rear courtyard and ceiling fans. 
<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/2020/3/9/49%20bertha%20st.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/3/9/mount%20gambier%202.png" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/3/9/mount%20gambier%202.png" alt="">
Source: HTW 
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"The $200,000 to $300,000 price range is affordable and it’s where the most number of sales occurs," the valuation firm said. 
A house in this range appeals to families and first home buyers and are generally of good quality, including three or four bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a garage and a pergola area, situated on 600 to 800 square metres.
This is affordable compared to other cities such as Adelaide, where $250,000 to $300,000 will generally get you a small two-bedroom, one- bathroom unit or house situated on a small allotment of around 200 square metres.
A Mount Gambier stone house on a 1,351sqm allotment has hit the market with $285,000 hopes.
The four bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-mount+gambier-132832122" target="_blank">9 Duigan Street </a>(pictured below).
It features renovated kitchen/meals, dining area, rumpus room and established garden. 
<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/2020/3/9/9%20duigan%20st.jpg" alt="">
Small regional towns are heavily reliant on a small number of industries. These towns should therefore be treated with caution as they are dependent on local employment.
History has shown that decreases in employment will impact negatively on the property market in these regions.
"Overall, we are expecting this year to be similar to last year with no major fluctuations in the local market," the valuation firm said. 
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Mount Gambier housing market to remain stable throughout 2020: HTW residential 

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Slow and steady growth is expected over the course of 2020 in the Gladstone region, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm ask their valuers to give an educated outlook on the residential market in their service areas.
"The market is still being driven by affordability and we will likely see further value increases across 2020," the valuation firm said. 
"We expect rental levels to continue to increase on the back of low vacancy rates (the current vacancy rate sits at about 1.8 percent)." 
A two bedroom apartment in Gladstone Central has been listed for rent with a price of $260 per week. 
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-gladstone+central-411938087" target="_blank">235/75 Central Lane</a> (pictured below), the apartment comes with two air-conditioned bedrooms, open plan living area, kitchen and balcony. 
There is a single undercover car parking. 
<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/gladstone%201.jpg" alt="">
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The trend in new construction activity is expected to remain steady. 
Builders are currently reporting high enquiry levels, however the supply of land is limited.
The report notes near level, 800 square metre plus allotments are in greatest demand.
A Sun Valley home sitting on 1,283sqm block with harbour views has recently been sold for $710,000.
The five bedroom, three bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-sun+valley-126848798" target="_blank">12 Trinity Place </a>(pictured below).
The home comes with large living and entertaining area, kitchen with Miele appliances and heated in ground pool. 
<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/sun%20valley.jpg" alt="">
There is still an oversupply of small lots in Gladstone.
"We have seen a recent trend of developers combining two or more smaller allotments to create larger lots to suit current demand. We expect to see more of this in 2020," the valuation firm said. 
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Gladstone property market expected to see slow and steady growth in 2020: HTW residential 

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The New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has barred brokers from showing homes, as part of a sweeping ban on activities that risk spreading the coronavirus.
At a press conference Friday, Cuomo announced an executive order mandating all employees of non-essential businesses to stay home from work.
The <a href="https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026" target="_blank">list of essential jobs</a> includes food delivery, doormen and some construction.
It does not include real estate brokers.
The order requires non-essential businesses reduce its in-person workforce by 75 percent by Saturday and by 100 percent by Sunday.
The Real Deal website reported when Cuomo discussed the 90-day ban on evictions, he said, “I don’t know who you think you’re going to rent an apartment to now, anyway, if you kick someone out. 
"By my mandate, you couldn’t even have your real estate agent out showing the apartment.”
Across the other side of America, parts of California’s real estate industry are grinding to a halt because of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “stay at home” order.
An auspicious beginning of 2020 for L.A.’s top residential brokerages that included record-setting sales has ground to a halt.
The 15,000 L.A.-based realtors represented in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) had been hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
But the governor’s office <a href="https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/" target="_blank">amended his emergency order</a> to designate housing construction as an “essential business” because of the state’s ongoing housing shortage.
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New York stops estate agents showing homes to buyers and renters

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Auction markets are now showing a clear and fairly rapid cooling, the Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan has noted.
Preliminary unadjusted clearance rates were in the mid to low 60s compared to the mid to low 70s last week.
Uncertainty around COVID-19 has seen the preliminary clearance rate take a hit on the weekend, falling to 61.3 per cent across the combined capital cities.
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Despite the escalating health crisis and economic fallout related to coronavirus, the past week was the second busiest for auction activity so far this year with 2,539 homes taken to auction.
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The coronavirus scare prompted Sydney’s auction market success rate to tumble into the 60s.
Saturday's 68 percent success rate is down on 82 percent a fortnight ago and the 74 percent clearance rate last weekend, according to the preliminary realestate.com.au data.
It was Sydney's lowest clearance rate in what has been an exceptionally strong year.
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Domain and CoreLogic put the Sydney rate at even lower, at 64 percent.
There were just over 400 results tallied from the 750 auctions held in Sydney.
Estate agents had feared that some of their buyers would stay away amid the current contagion health scare.
But there are also looming concerns that the likely loss of workers' income across almost ever industry along with jobs losses will further dampen buyer enthusiasm.
"I expect price falls ahead," Shane Oliver, the AMP Capital chief economist said.
"Coronavirus social distancing and rising uncertainty about the economic outlook look to be impacting," he said.
Sydney remains the strongest capital city auction market.
The national clearance rate has dropped to 62 percent, down from 75 percent two weeks ago.
Sydney agents now head into the busy pre-Easter auction period which is traditionally one of the busiest fortnights of the year.
Search activity on realestate.com.au has slowed, Nerida Conisbee, the realestate.com.au chief economist noted last earlier this month.
The top sale under the hammer was a three-bedroom Tofts Monks, Elizabeth Bay apartment (pictured top) for $4,225,000 to an expatriate buying when the Australian dollar was down near 18 year lows. 
The auction was brought forward by the fortnight given heightened demand.
Auction clearance rates dropped in Melbourne.
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In Melbourne, a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62.7 per cent was recorded across 1,317 auctions, while last week there were 1,201 auctions returning a final clearance rate of 65.6 per cent. One year ago, the clearance rate was 55.1 per cent across 814 auctions.
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Melbourne’s most expensive sale was a five-bedroom, five-bathroom house in Albert Park at $9,010,000.
CoreLogic described the weekend results as a “turning point in buyer and seller sentiment.” 
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“The latest results highlight the housing market is being impacted by the social distancing measures and weaker confidence related to the coronavirus pandemic,” CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
“To date there is no evidence of reduced housing values, however it is clear that transactional activity will be temporarily disrupted [over the] coming weeks and months.”
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Prices will fall as coronavirus scare prompts auction success rate tumble into the 60s

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ANZ is the only bank in the big four to cut variable home loan rates in this latest cut.
They reduced rates by 0.15 basis points.
As a result of today’s changes, ANZ’s variable rate home loan customers will save approximately $34 a month or $406 a year. This is based on an owner occupier with a $400,000, 30-year loan paying principal and interest on the discounted variable rate on the minimum repayment.
The move follows on the back of the recent RBA rate cut during their emergency March 19 meeting where they reduced the cash rate to a record low 0.25%.
ANZ have also introduced a two-year fixed rate of 2.19% p.a for owner occupiers paying principal &amp; interest.
Like NAB they have made it possible to request a deferral of home loan repayments for up to six-months.
ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said the package aimed to support Australian business and the people who work for them.
"We understand the impact this crisis is having and ANZ will play a major role in backing Australia's economy and our customers through these challenging times," he said.
"We have been working with both the Federal Government and our regulators to keep money flowing through the economy and we'll do all we can to keep businesses afloat and Australians employed, as well as reducing the financial pressure on households."
"Our decision to reduce variable home loan and small business rates is the right thing to do for our existing customers, particularly the significant number of our home loan customers who are self-employed and managing the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on their own businesses."
"The highly competitive fixed-rates being offered will provide customers certainty over repayments with our lowest fixed-rates on record."
RateCity.com.au research director Sally Tindall said the bank was providing relief for most of its borrowers.
"It's great to see ANZ has stepped up and delivered something for the majority of its borrowers to help them through these turbulent times," she said.
"In this economic climate, every dollar counts.
"When these changes come into effect, ANZ will have the lowest ongoing variable rate from the big four banks at 2.72 per cent," she said.
"Now three of the four big banks are offering fixed rates as low as 2.19 per cent, we're likely to see other lenders chase after them, potentially cutting fixed rates even further," she said.
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ANZ the only big four bank to cut variable home loan rates

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The NAB will allow borrowers to pause mortgage repayments for up to six months, it announced this morning.
NAB will also cut 200bps from rate on new loans as well as reductions of up to 60bps on fixed rate home loans.
The other three of the big four banks have yet to reveal any response to alleviate mortgage repayment obligations for residential home loan borrowers.
It is predicted the banks will allow existing loan payments at principle and interest to be lowered by swinging borrowers over to interest only loans.
The move would require regularly approvals since there have been limits on IO lending for several years.
The banks have though, it seems almost entirely, decided not to cut home loans rates following the RBA emergency decision.
Of the big four only ANZ cut variable home loan rates, they were reduced 0.15 basis points.
Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh today announced a small business relief package from Australia's banks.
Australian banks will defer loan repayments for six months for small businesses who need assistance because of the impacts of COVID-19.
Ms Bligh said the assistance package will apply to more than $100 bn of existing small business loans and depending on customer take up, "could put as much as $8 billion back into the pockets of small businesses as they battle through these difficult times."
Banks have developed this Small Business Relief Package following discussions with APRA and ASIC to provide the appropriate regulatory treatment.
"The package is subject to authorisation by the ACCC," she said.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Sky News the government is working on a second stimulus package, "which is about cushioning the blow for so many of those Australians who may lose their job."
"Our focus is on targeted measures using the existing tax and transfer system and making it as simple and as easy as possible for Australians to get that support," the treasurer said.
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IO loans set to be offered in big banks' response to coronavirus crisis

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Noosa real estate agency Reed &amp; Co. Estate Agents have released a wave of new online virtual home tours as part of their effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The tours are live and in 360 degrees for a full viewing experience.
Reed &amp; Co. owner and principal, Adrian Reed, said his company offers buyers the ability to freeze frame, zoom in, and ask questions to the agent in real-time at any time of the day, all from the comfort of their home.
Mr Reed predicts that some would feel the pull of Noosa, "as people start to really assess where they want their best days to be spent."
"We have been creating beautiful property films with the support from Luke Soanes Media for years. They play a critical role when you are selling prestige property. This is the next step to enable a virtual experience in the current environment," he said
"Given we have only started rolling out virtual inspections in the last 24 hours and we have booked 7 private virtual inspections, it is safe to say that there is an appetite from the market to find their dream home."
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While the housing market is set to experience a turbulent time over the next few months, Reed &amp; Co. expect this to have an excellent take-up by both buyers and sellers alike.
An example can be seen here in this <a href="https://youtu.be/xUS8bFACFQ4" target="_blank">introductory video produced by Luke Soanes</a>.
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Reed & Co. Estate Agents release virtual reality home tours to curb coronavirus

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Opteon has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, launching a zero-contact virtual property valuation solution for the Australian market.
Their solution is a new Virtual Valuation that uses a combination of visual verification aides and a guided interview.
The independent property advisory said that the Virtual Valuation comprises the same quality of data and accuracy as the onsite valuation that lenders are required to obtain to manage risk to their portfolios. 
Opteon’s CEO Chris Knight said, “Opteon wants to enable lenders to keep operating as normally as possible, and we know we can help them manage their risk profile with this solution."
"Lenders can be assured that this solution meets all regulatory requirements so that they can continue to approve mortgages with confidence.” 
“We’re proud that we’ve been able to bring a zero-contact valuation solution to the market so quickly, and that we’re able to fully support our customers and the broader property industry through this pandemic,” Knight concluded.
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Opteon launch zero-contact property valuation to combat COVID-19

<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.

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.

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>.

<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" />

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.

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.

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.”

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.

“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.”

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”.

“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.”

<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" />

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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.

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.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

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.

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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.
</section>

Joel Robinson

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

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;

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

<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" />

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.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

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.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

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.

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.

“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.

“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;

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.

“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.

“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.”

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

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

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.

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.

“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.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“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.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

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.

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.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

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.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

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.

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.

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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

“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.”

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.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

<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" />

“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.

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.”

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

“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.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

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.

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

Staff reporter

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