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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The impact of the credit squeeze that caused the rapid deterioration in building conditions over the past 18 months is evident in today’s construction data.
This is the right time in the economic cycle for governments to be investing in infrastructure critical to residential development.
Preliminary figures released by the ABS today provide data on the value of construction work done in Australia.
Nationally, residential construction work has fallen by 10.9 per cent compared to last year. The contraction in homebuilding in today’s figures was anticipated given the decline in other data such as building approvals and housing finance.
More recent data suggests that the decline in residential construction will not continue, with leading indicators showing improvement.
A boost in spending on infrastructure by state and federal governments as announced in this year’s budgets was expected to offset the decline in the home building sector and absorb the excess labour from the building industry. This hasn’t happened with engineering construction work declining by 9.6 per cent on same quarter last year.
For the past five years home building pulled the economy forward. The home building industry is now dependent upon a strong national economy to pull it forward. Infrastructure spending can help drive this growth.
Today’s data - which shows a significant decline in engineering and construction work - tells us that the announced investment in infrastructure has not yet commenced. “
This begs the question where and when is the infrastructure spending going to occur?.
All the states declined for the September 2019 quarter compared to previous quarter.
The notable exception to this decline in residential and engineering work is in Victoria, where new residential work done increased by 1.8 per cent for the quarter to be up by 4.0 per cent annually.
New South Wales declined by 7.8 per cent, Queensland by 4.7 per cent, South Australia by 0.7 per cent and Western Australia by 4.9 per cent.
Tasmania and the ACT which have previously managed to buck the national trend have also declined by 20.5 per cent and 10.9 per cent respectively compared to the June 2019 quarter.
ANGELA LILLICRAP is an Economist for HIA
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

When and where is Australian infrastructure spending coming online: HIA's Angela Lillicrap

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Sportswear company ASICS has now opened its Oceania headquarters at the 256-hectare Sydney Business Park in Marsden Park.
Constructed on a 57,000 square metre site, the new ASICS Oceania headquarters comprises: 24,960sqm warehouse and distribution centre, a 4,000sqm office including conferencing, gymnasium and internal Japanese inspired garden, a 1,500sqm retail factory outlet and a 4,500sqm private multi-use sports playing field.
Designed by Reid Campbell, SBA, Siren Design and London-based WDC Design, the buildings incorporate modern retail interiors, and office space.
The building was constructed by Richard Crookes and Renascent.
A wide range of sustainability measures were incorporated including photo-voltaic solar electricity.
To celebrate the launch, ASICS Oceania's Managing Director, Mark Brunton and ASICS Director, Hukoto Nakano were joined by employees, retailers, business partners, Sydney Business Park representatives, Blacktown City Council representatives and ASICS athletes Cooper Cronk, Sam Stosur, Caitlin Bassett, Brandon Starc and Kurtley Beale.
ASICS Oceania Managing Director, Mark Brunton said the company was “absolutely thrilled to have opened its new Oceania headquarters at Marsden Park. The office, warehouse and retail space allows for future growth and greater operating efficiency, enabling us to better service our retail partners and customers across Australia."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/11/27/ASICS%202.JPG" alt="">
Sydney Business Park is home to other major companies such as ALDI, Axalta Coating Systems, Bunnings, Costco, Dulux, IKEA, Lindt, Linfox and Toll.
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ASICS opens Oceania headquarters in Sydney's Marsden Park

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The Federal Court of Australia has found Dover Financial Advisers Pty Ltd (Dover) engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct.
According to the court the conduct in question involved publishing false, misleading or deceptive statements in a “Client Protection Policy” (Protection Policy) between around 25 September 2015 and 30 March 2018.
The Court found that Terrence (Terry) McMaster, Dover’s sole director, was, as a question of fact, knowingly concerned in that conduct, and was satisfied it was appropriate to make a declaration that Mr McMaster had contravened section 12DB(1)(i) of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) (ASIC Act).
In the judgment, his Honour Justice Michael O’Bryan found that the title of the Protection Policy “was highly misleading and an exercise in Orwellian doublespeak. The document did not protect clients. To the contrary, it purported to strip clients of rights and consumer protections they enjoyed under the law”.
The Protection Policy was provided to 19,402 clients with statements of advice by representatives of Dover. The Protection Policy purported to be 'designed to ensure that every Dover client get [sic] the best possible advice and the maximum protection available under the law’.  The Court found that the policy was false, misleading or deceptive in circumstances where:
1. it did not ensure that clients received the maximum protections available under the law; 2. it purported to remove or dilute the protections that clients would otherwise have had under the law; 3. it sought to prevent clients from making a claim against Dover and its authorised representatives on the basis that advice could not be understood; 4. it sought to exclude Dover’s liability for most foreseeable breaches of the law by its authorised representatives; and 5. it sought to limit or exclude Dover’s liability to clients in a way that was inconsistent with the law.
The Court also found, as a matter of fact, Mr McMaster, Dover’s sole director, Key Person named on Dover’s Australian Financial Services Licence and a Responsible Manager during the relevant period, was knowingly concerned in Dover’s contraventions, having regard to concessions by Mr McMaster, including that he was responsible for:
1. determining and/or approving the Protection Policy; and 2. requiring Dover’s representatives to incorporate the Protection Policy with statements of advice provided to clients.
‘ASIC brought this case because it believed Dover’s Client Protection Policy was misleading and deceptive. The law imposes important obligations on companies licenced to provide financial advice and for the protection of their clients. Clients who receive financial advice should not be misled as to what those obligations are and what they mean for them and their interests’, ASIC Deputy Chair Daniel Crennan QC said.
His Honour rejected the defendants’ primary submission that because ASIC had not sought to prove that any Dover client had suffered loss or damage by reason of the Protection Policy then the defendants had not engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct within the meaning of the ASIC Act.   
In delivering his reasons for judgment, Justice O’Bryan noted that there had been a contravention of the law each time the Protection Policy was sent to a client, being 19,402 times.
Penalties will now be determined by the Court on a date yet to be fixed.
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Dover Financial Advisers found guilty of misleading conduct: ASIC

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Westpac was set to be one of the two major banks to offer mortgages under the federal government’s first home loan deposit scheme.
<a href="/expert-insights/finance/nab-to-offer-competitive-home-loans-for-fhbs-in-government-s-first-home-loan-deposit-scheme">NAB was announced yesterday</a> as the first bank on the lending panel.
<div class="story-content">
But Westpac is set to be axed as the other big bank in light of the money-laundering allegations it is currently facing according to bank insiders, <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/" target="_blank">The Australian </a>reports.
The Australian confirmed Westpac’s bid was one of the two best applications reviewed by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) under strict criteria including competitiveness of home-loan offerings, geographic reach and readiness to meet scheme implem­entation timelines.
NHFIC’s other key evaluation criteria included “the reputation of the respondent”.
The government will now choose from either Commonwealth Bank or ANZ to join the scheme with NAB, giving the banks get access to up to 5000 eligible first home buyers per year.
<div id="story-description">
Westpac insiders told The Australian it had expected to be approved as the second major ­lender but now understood the embattled financial institution would be excluded from the scheme, which starts on January 1.
The scheme, one of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s key pledges at the May 18 election, provides a guarantee allowing first-home buyers on low and middle incomes to buy with a depos­it of as little as 5 per cent.
The big banks will only be entitled to receive up to half of the 10,000 guarantees allocated per financial year.
There will also be a range of non-major lenders appointed to the lending panel.
Loan applications for the scheme are not yet open.
 
</div>
 
</div>
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Westpac ditched from government’s first home loan deposit scheme

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The Albury prestige property market offers discerning purchasers a choice of location, size, quality and an array of ancillary improvements, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report notes thus far in 2019 there have been 27 dwelling sales in the $700,000 to $1.4 million range, with only four over $1 million.
"Despite the very strong central Albury market dominated by character dwellings, the best address has proven to be modern Chamberlain Close, with three sales over the past two years all between $1.1 and $1.2 million," the valuation firm said. 
The most recent transaction was off market in April when 15 Chamberlain Close sold for $1.2 million.
This is a modern well-appointed circa 2012 home with a pool on a 744 square metre level block within walking distance of the CBD.
This segment of the market is stable and thinly traded due to the sought after location and the very limited stock of new or modern homes in a central location.
"Rest assured that if you have a million dollars to spend in Albury, there won’t be anything to spend once you move in," the valuation firm said.
Just up the hill from the central flats, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-129626926" target="_blank">699 Uralla Place, Albury </a>(pictured below) sold for $1.08 million in January.
The property is a highly renovated circa 1965 part two level, four-bedroom, three-bathroom, four-car-garage with a pool on a moderately sloping 930 square metre block, proving the market will pay for someone else to do the renovation work.
"The aerial images highlight that at the top end of town, size and amenities matter, but if you are feeling a bit claustrophobic from all house no yard, the prestige residential lifestyle property might tick all the boxes," the valuation firm said. 
<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/2019/11/18/699%20uralla%20pl.jpg" alt="">
"In February, 4 Hawksview Road, Wirlinga (pictured below) sold for $1.1 million, so is comparable to our in town examples price wise," the valuation firm continued. 
Set on 8,098 square metres, there isn’t room for horses however the property comprises the original 1930 cottage in addition to a very well appointed colonial style four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car brick home with wrap around verandahs, pool, tennis court and large workshop.
<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/2019/11/18/4%20hawksview%20rd%20.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
Albury and only one kilometre from Lake Hume.
"The prestige rural lifestyle market segment again is thinly traded, highly sought after and has a small pool of potential purchasers," the valuation firm stated. 
"To conclude our Albury wish list with the biggest and the best, in March,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-table+top-129258174" target="_blank"> 26 Old Sydney Road, Table Top</a> (pictured below) was the highest sale at $1.35 million."
<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/2019/11/18/26%20old%20sydney%20rd.jpg" alt="">
Everything about this property was top notch for the area.
A circa 2005, five-bedroom, two-bathroom, three- car residence (324 square metres of living) set on established manicured gardens with panoramic countryside views on 3.15 hectares featuring pool and large workshop only 16 kilometres from town with Lake Hume just down the road.
"There are currently three listings in Albury in the $1 million price bracket. Interestingly, these include a character dwelling in town, a character dwelling on large block in Thurgoona and a rural lifestyle in Table Top, so take your pick, Albury offers the lot," the valuation firm concluded. 
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Albury prestige rural lifestyle market segment is thinly traded: HTW residential 

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The Bundaberg residential market has remained typically flat throughout 2019, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
However, there seems to have been a lot of interest in the residential market with agents searching for more stock as they have exhausted most stock on hand.
This renewed enthusiasm comes after what was seen as a federal election win that appears to assist investors.
The biggest value residential sale in the region was a house at Bargara on the waterfront known as the Glass House.
Located at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-bargara-130342238" target="_blank"> 51 Woongarra Scenic Drive, Bargara</a> (pictured below), it sold to a local farming and banking identity for $4.12 million setting a new record for the area.
<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/2019/11/25/bargara%202.jpg" alt="">
The house is an architectural masterpiece in a premium oceanfront location.
Placing an emphasis on beachside living, the Glass House is a multi-award winning architectural masterpiece of sophisticated style in a dream location.
It has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and parking for two vehicles.
The dwelling sits on a beach front property of 2,239 square metres fronting the sandy beach.
Bargara continues to be a sought-after location at the current time.
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Bundaberg residential market remains flat: HTW residential 

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Local tradies will get the maintenance jobs at their local public schools, with a new online system for businesses by the NSW Government.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell launched the platform to ensure local businesses, particularly in regional parts of the state, were better supported.
Some 25,000 opportunities to quote for work are expected to be generated, with an estimated total value of $50 million.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the 2019-20 NSW Budget provides more than $620 million to clear the school maintenance backlog in all public schools by July 2020, bringing the total maintenance investment to more than $1.3 billion over five years.
It will be the first time in the state’s history that the school maintenance backlog will be wiped to zero., Mitchell said.
“Through this new e-Tendering system, local tradies will be given more opportunities for the uptake of local jobs, and schools will be able to work alongside trusted community-based businesses,” Mitchell said. 
The contract to manage the new system has been awarded to Hipages Group Pty Ltd, with an initial term of three years.
The new platform will be fully operational early next year, following a staged roll-out and specific department additions to the current hipages platform.
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NSW school repair e-tendering system launched

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Asked to conduct an independent review of Australia’s retirement income system, the panel appointed by treasurer Josh Frydenberg reported on Friday that it was all tied up with the family home.
At every age range, Australians have more money saved through home ownership than they do through superannuation or anything else, much more:
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/303077/original/file-20191122-113002-271u7h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/303077/original/file-20191122-113002-271u7h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="https://www.treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2019-36292" target="_blank">Retirement Income Review consultation paper, November 22, 2019</a>.
The report is a <a href="https://www.treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2019-36292" target="_blank">consultation paper</a>. The panel wants submissions by February 3.
It raises questions about how retirees without mortgage-free homes cope. The proportion is growing.
In part that’s because prices have skyrocketed. Over the past 20 years home prices have grown at about twice the pace of income.
That is in part because of the growth in migration. About 3.7 million migrants have settled in Australia in the past two decades creating new demand for housing.
It is also because of the growth in credit, much of which went to Australians who already had homes rather than those who didn’t yet have them.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/303101/original/file-20191122-74580-166ddf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/303101/original/file-20191122-74580-166ddf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
And it is also because housing supply has been slow to respond.
But the complex dynamics of high house prices don’t tell the full story.
A wide-ranging review of home ownership just published by the <a href="http://www.cepar.edu.au/news-events/news/housing-ageing-demographic" target="_blank">ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research</a> finds something else at play.
It’s the expansion of our lives.
Living longer, waiting longer
The typical age of a first home-buyer began climbing at the start of the 1980s, after dipping in the 1960s and 1970s as home ownership became widespread.
Between 1981 and 2016 the typical age increased by nine years from age 24 to age 33 at around the peak of the house price boom.
It was accompanied by a deferral in almost every other important life event:
Median age of major lifetime events 1966 - 2016
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302793/original/file-20191120-496-nobcch.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302793/original/file-20191120-496-nobcch.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="http://www.cepar.edu.au/news-events/news/housing-ageing-demographic" target="_blank">Source: CEPAR Research Brief ’Housing in an Ageing Australia: Nest and nest egg?’</a>
In part this might be because the canvas of our lives has grown. The median age at death has grown by 12 years since the 1960s, from age 70 to 82.
Longer lives have meant longer adolescences and later ages at which we finish studying, find work, and start families.
The typical age of getting a first job is two years later than it was 50 years ago; the typical age of finishing education is five years later, the typical age of having a child is seven years later, and the typical age of getting married is eight years later.
At the same time the typical age of leaving the labour force is only four years later: it has climbed from 61 to 64. It’ll probably have to grow further, because mortgages aren’t typically paid off until age 62, ten years later than in the 1960s.
Delay is the new normal
Australia is not unusual in leaving things til later, even though house prices here have grown more than in most other countries.
There’s something more universal at play. Younger age groups may prefer the flexibility that renting offers. Longer lives mean they have more time to buy their homes. Even the nine year deferral in home purchase we have had so far should still see today’s young generations enjoying home ownership for longer than their parents.
Of course, many will choose not to buy. An increasing minority of mostly low income Australians look like being locked out of the market forever, and many who own homes will surrender them as a result of relationship breakups or other life events.
Some will regain them. Others will retire with mortgage debt: 36% of homeowners do so now, up from 23% ten years ago. Many will use super to pay off debt instead of using it to fund retirement.
Our retirement income system is little help
The odd thing about the pension is that the payment is the same for both owners and renters. In fact, over <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/elderly-in-1mplus-homes-raking-in-63bn-in-pensions/news-story/30cbe2423577d46f5489ec39b673f8f4" target="_blank">A$6 billion</a> of age pension payments go to people living in houses worth more than a million dollars.
Renters receive rental assistance but it is pegged to the wrong index, so it has grown more slowly than rents.
The oft-quoted <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/onethird-of-australian-pensioners-live-in-poverty-oecd-report-20160107-gm0uno" target="_blank">statistic</a>, that old-age poverty in Australia is high, is wrong.
But our analysis, which takes account of housing, suggests that old age Australian renters do indeed have some of the worst relative poverty rates in the OECD.
Relative old age poverty rate of renters
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302796/original/file-20191120-496-1yvp4ii.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302796/original/file-20191120-496-1yvp4ii.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="http://www.cepar.edu.au/news-events/news/housing-ageing-demographic" target="_blank">Source: CEPAR Research Brief ’Housing in an Ageing Australia: Nest and nest egg?’</a>
Older renters have greater housing affordability stress than both older home owners and younger renters.
About 37% of renters aged 64-74 have both a low income and pay more than a third of it in rent, up from 21% in 1996.
While increases in homelessness among older women appear to be largely due to greater population numbers, their increased use of homelessness services is disproportionate.
The population of women aged 55+ increased by about 3% per year between 2011 and 2016. Their use of homelessness services increased 11% per year.
Even if the typical Australian continues to become a homeowner by retirement, a growing minority will not, and will be treated poorly by our retirement income system.
The government’s <a href="https://www.treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2019-36292" target="_blank">review of the retirement income system</a> is an opportunity to redress the balance.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/127231/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Rafal Chomik, Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), UNSW.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-delaying-major-life-events-and-our-retirement-income-system-hasnt-caught-up-127231" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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We’re delaying major life events, and our retirement income system hasn’t caught up

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Sydney and its suburbs have been enveloped in haze over the past few days. The haze is a mixture of bushfire smoke and dust blown in from western New South Wales. As particles move from rural locations, like Gospers Mountain in this case, they make grey cities.
In Australia, dust blurs the distinction between the bush and the city. Elsewhere it blurs the farmlands with the concrete jungles, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/indonesias-huge-fires-and-toxic-haze-will-cause-health-problems-for-years-to-come-124556" target="_blank">nation-states with regions</a>.
<a href="http://societyandspace.org/2019/03/17/spiral/" target="_blank">Spiralling dust</a> challenges our usual ways of thinking about bush, farm, industry, rich city and poor city divides. It travels across geographical and socioeconomic boundaries. There is no easy way to stop it.
Dust’s composition and unfettered mobility <a href="https://www.stateofglobalair.org/health/sources" target="_blank">make it a global epidemic</a>. Once airborne, dust spares no one in its path. It sits in the lungs of cities and citizens. It is stubbornly difficult to eradicate.
The harms of dust
The dust brings with it old and new anxieties about life, death and disease. Air pollution caused <a href="https://www.stateofglobalair.org/health" target="_blank">2.4 million deaths in India and China</a> in 2017.
Last week, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/delhi-is-engulfed-by-toxic-pollution-why-isnt-anyone-wearing-masks/2019/11/14/bb4adfe4-0643-11ea-9118-25d6bd37dfb1_story?outputType=amp" target="_blank">Delhi</a> and <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/haze-singapore-unhealthy-range-november-nea-12088930" target="_blank">Singapore</a> reported serious air pollution from agricultural fires and industrial emissions. <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/stubble-burning-dips-in-north-india-satellite-data-show-1619716-2019-11-16" target="_blank">Particles from crop burning</a> in the neighbouring states of Haryana and the Punjab and <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/finance-commission-likely-to-reject-12-billion-package-to-help-utilities-cut-pollution/articleshow/72136898.cms?from=mdr" target="_blank">power plants</a> took Delhi’s air quality index to <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/stubble-burning-dips-in-north-india-satellite-data-show-1619716-2019-11-16" target="_blank">dangerously high levels</a>.
Dust is also generated from within cities, particularly from construction sites. Regulatory bodies seek to <a href="https://societyandspace.org/2019/07/11/breaking-the-ground/" target="_blank">contain these sites within enclosures</a>. Where the regulatory frameworks are weak, environmental bodies impose fines.
<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/construction-dust-open-waste-dumping-top-polluting-activities/articleshow/67445201.cms" target="_blank">Construction dust adds significantly to air pollution</a> in Indian cities. In Kolkata, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/building-materials-add-to-air-pollution-in-calcutta/cid/1699147" target="_blank">construction materials are stored on sidewalks and roads</a>. Even with fines, it is nearly impossible to make barriers that can contain dust.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302846/original/file-20191121-479-i4bqwy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302846/original/file-20191121-479-i4bqwy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Workers spray water as a dust control measure at a construction site in Parramatta, Sydney. Malini Sur, Author provided.
Haze can be seen, but the threats of dust are often invisible. Dust plumes <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/27/dust-storms-diseases-sydney" target="_blank">can carry bacteria and viruses</a>. Dust can <a href="https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/bb145a804f951ad6ab5bab0ba45b835a/Port+Augusta+Dust+and+your+health+information+2017.FINAL.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&amp;CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-bb145a804f951ad6ab5bab0ba45b835a-mN5ShjC" target="_blank">cause a variety of respiratory and circulatory diseases</a>.
In Singapore, dust mites have been claimed to be the <a href="https://www.asianscientist.com/2014/02/health/dust-mites-main-allergies-singapore-2014/" target="_blank">main cause</a> of respiratory allergies.
The colours of dust
Dust gathers colour. In Australia, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/natural-wonders/massive-red-dust-storm-sweeps-over-new-south-wales/news-story/1eb304c90ccfa8842f2bb553bb65de70" target="_blank">dust storms are typically red</a>.
The so-called “Asian dust storms” are yellow. <a href="https://asiasociety.org/korea/hwang-sa-yellow-dust" target="_blank">Originating in the deserts of Northern China and Mongolia</a>, strong winds carry yellow dust all the way to the Korean Peninsula via the jet stream.
These storms have increased in China, and the levels of industrial pollutants in the dust often have too. Yellow dust also <a href="https://asiasociety.org/korea/hwang-sa-yellow-dust" target="_blank">carries viruses, fungi, bacteria and even heavy metals</a>, none of which is good for respiratory health.
Earlier this year, Thailand was affected by yellow dust. Authorities in Bangkok used <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1611010/bangkok-fires-water-cannon-into-the-air-to-fight-pollution" target="_blank">water cannons</a> and even <a href="https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cloud-seeding-results-in-brief-rain-over-parts-of-bangkok/" target="_blank">cloud seeding</a> in attempts to limit the dust’s effects.
Singapore is periodically <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/air-quality-eastern-singapore-enters-unhealthy-range-haze-due-particulate-matter" target="_blank">enveloped in grey</a> dust.
<h2>The history of dust</h2>
Today, talk of smoke, haze and smog is common to the world’s cities. Once dust settles, we become habituated to it. Dust resides in landscapes and humans. And dust tells stories about historical wrongs.
Australia has a long history of death from exposure to asbestos dust. Dust <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/when-dust-ends-in-death-how-asbestos-devastated-wittenoom-ng-b88930946z" target="_blank">wiped out the town of Wittenoom</a> in Western Australia.
The <a href="https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/history/" target="_blank">first documented asbestos death</a> was recorded in the UK in 1906. Although asbestos has been known since then to be deadly, it continues to be a stubborn presence around the world. Worldwide consumption of asbestos is <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131021061734/http:/www.silverdell.plc.uk/images/downloads/Silverdell_History_of_Asbestos.pdf" target="_blank">nearly as high as it has ever been</a>.
In the early 1930s, overcultivation of wheat on the Great Plains of the US created the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dust-Bowl" target="_blank">Dust Bowl</a>. Overploughing, poor land management and severe drought left the topsoil exposed. Spring winds picked up this loose soil, resulting in “<a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dust-Bowl" target="_blank">black blizzards</a>”.
The dust affected <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/dust-bowl" target="_blank">huge swathes of the country, including the cities of Chicago and New York</a>. It deepened the economic crisis of the Great Depression and caused mass migration.
Haze from forest fires has been a regular occurrence in Singapore <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/attachments/2015/10/02/haze_covers_whole_island_oct_28_1977.pdf" target="_blank">since at least the 1970s</a>. These have originated in the south of Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. In the 1990s, transboundary pollution became the subject of two regional summits, leading to the <a href="http://haze.asean.org/?wpfb_dl=32" target="_blank">ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution</a> in 2002.
In 2014, Singapore passed the <a href="https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/THPA2014" target="_blank">Transnational Haze Pollution Act</a>. This law enables regulators to prosecute companies and individuals, even <a href="https://www.wri.org/news/2014/08/statement-singapore%E2%80%99s-new-haze-pollution-law-%E2%80%9C-new-way-doing-business%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">beyond the nation-state’s borders</a>, that cause air pollution.
<h2>A pervasive challenge for cities</h2>
Our bodies create dust and dust enters our bodies. <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/house-dust-mite" target="_blank">Species emerge that live off dust</a>.
What makes dust harder to reckon with in our imaginations is that its particles are almost invisible and its source is generally unknown. It is an amalgam of an uncountable number of sources, often from many different countries and producers.
Whether resulting from geological events, deforestation, construction or some indeterminate combination of each, our inability to pinpoint dust’s source makes climate accountability extremely difficult.
A key focus for cities now and in the future is to think about how we manage dust, the plans and practices we put in place to limit dust creation and contain its spread.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/127515/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Malini Sur, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University.
Eric Kerr, Lecturer, National University of Singapore.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-do-sydney-and-other-cities-have-in-common-dust-127515" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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What do Sydney and other cities have in common? Dust

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A new digital data service will record information relating to rough sleepers in real-time to better facilitate collaboration between service providers for those experiencing homelessness in NSW.  
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said global tech giant Microsoft has partnered with the NSW Government and the Act to End Street Sleeping Collaboration to bring the project to fruition. 
“Every day more than 37,000 people in NSW experience homelessness and this new initiative will provide us with a more accurate understanding of the challenges they face,” Berejiklian said.
“By using technology to collect a range of social and demographic data on rough sleepers, we can improve the way we respond to homelessness.”
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the launch of the initiative comes during the inaugural Connections Week, which aims to create a by-name list of people sleeping rough in Sydney’s CBD.
“The homelessness targets our Government has set require an innovative approach as well as collaboration with our non-government partners,” Ward said. 
“By compiling a database of rough sleepers, our assertive outreach teams and NGOs will be able to better collaborate towards a common goal.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the data will be captured using a mobile device and include geolocation technology.
“We are using digital technology to make life easier for some of the most vulnerable people in the community.”
Act to End Street Sleeping Convener Graham West said the aim is to create a vulnerability index of rough sleepers across the state, to determine risk and help prioritise specialist services. 
Data collected this week will be used to inform potential expansion of the program across the state.
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Microsoft partners with NSW Government and the Act to End Street Sleeping

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Staff reporter

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