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An investigation after a fire in February at the Melbourne apartment complex, Neo200 revealed safety failures including fire alarms that didn’t work.
There was reportedly also a lack of fire-rated doors.
A flat battery inside the building’s fire indicator panel also emerged in the subsequent fire safety investigation.
The body corporate has been paying around $30,000 a year on fire compliance reports.
<a href="/news/fire-at-neo200-spencer-street-melbourne-reignites-apartment-cladding-concerns">Property Observer</a> reported a fire broke out in the Neo 200 building on Spencer Street at around 5am.
The fire is believed to have started on the balcony of the 22nd floor, and then spread to the 29th.
Fire crews were first alerted at 5:43am and the incident was upgraded in severity after they thought the building to have combustible cladding.
It has since been reported by The Australian Financial Review that the Neo200 tower only had 1.5 per cent of its facade covered in combustible polyethylene-core cladding.
The fire only directly damaged six apartments.
But the failure of essential safety measures resulted in total evacuation of the building for 11 days after the fire, Melbourne Fire Brigade Commander Mark Carter has noted to a function attended by surveyors.
The ABC reported 15 fire trucks, two ladder-platform trucks and 60 firefighters were used to extinguish the fire, which was brought under control at 6:49am.
Neo200 is 41 storey building with 371 residential apartments, ground floor retail tenancies and entrances to both Spencer and Little Bourke Streets.
Designed by Hayball Architects, the building is distinguished by its yellow podium lights presenting to Spencer and Little Bourke Streets and its distinctive golden curvilinear foyer.
The building’s construction was completed in 2007 by LU Simon builders and was awarded the 2008 Master Builder Association’s – Excellence in Construction Award.
There was a small fire on New Year's Eve in 2015.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Resident safety concerns revealed after fire in Neo200 Spencer Street apartment block

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Rental affordability improved during the June 2019 quarter to the lowest proportion of income required to meet rent payments since June 2008, according to research from the Real Estate Institute of Australia.
REIA President Adrian Kelly said the June quarter 2019 edition of the REIA Housing Affordability Report found the proportion of income required to meet rent payments decreased to 23.8%, a fall of 1.2 percentage points over the quarter and a decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the same quarter 2018. 
Kelly said housing affordability declined marginally across the country in the June quarter 2019.
“This is due to the rise in the average loan amounts after the lower levels of the March quarter – which appears to be an annual pattern,” Kelly said.  “With the exception of Western Australia, housing affordability declined in all states and territories. Although average loan amounts increased in all states and territories between 0.2% and 6.2% only Western Australia’s family income surpassed their increase in the loan amount.” 
Kelly said the total number of loans increased over the June quarter by 6.6%.  “The number of loans to owner occupier first home buyers has recorded increases in five of the six months of 2019. However, compared to the previous twelve months there was 16,521 less new housing loans - a decrease of 15.1%.  “This upward trend in first home buyer loans is expected to continue as over the past few years there has been an increase in the final quarter of the year.”
REIA's State by State review:
<ul>
<li>New South Wales</li>
</ul>
Over the June quarter, housing affordability in New South Wales declined with the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments increasing to 37.1%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points over the quarter but a decrease of 1.0 percentage points compared with the corresponding quarter 2018. With the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments 6.0 percentage points higher than the nation’s average, New South Wales remained the least affordable state or territory in which to buy a home. The number of loans to first home buyers increased to 6,822, an increase of 17.7% over the quarter but a decrease of 5.9% compared to the June quarter 2018.  Rental affordability improved in New South Wales over the June quarter with the proportion of income required to meet median rent payments decreasing to 28.0%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points over the June quarter and a decrease of 0.8 percentage points compared to the same quarter last year. 
<ul>
<li>Victoria</li>
</ul>
Over the June quarter, housing affordability remained steady in Victoria with the proportion of family income devoted to meeting average loan repayments at 32.5%. However, when compared to the previous year, housing affordability increased, with the proportion of family income required to meeting average loan repayments decreasing 1.8 percentage points.  The number of loans to first home buyers in Victoria increased to 8,500, an increase of 18.0% over the quarter but a decrease of 5.7% compared to the June quarter 2018. 
Rental affordability in Victoria improved over the quarter with the proportion of income required to meet median rent decreasing to 23.0%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points over the quarter and a decrease of 0.3% over the previous year. 
<ul>
<li>Queensland</li>
</ul>
Housing affordability declined in Queensland over the June quarter with the proportion of income required to meet home loan repayments increasing to 28.2%, an increase of 0.7 percentage points over the quarter and an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the same quarter last year. 
Over the June quarter, the number of loans to first home buyers in Queensland increased to 4,755, an increase of 1.6% over the quarter but a decrease of 17.8% compared to the same quarter of 2018. 
Rental affordability in Queensland improved over the quarter with the proportion of the median family income required to meet the median rent decreasing to 21.9%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points over the quarter and a decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the same quarter 2018.
<ul>
<li>South Australia</li>
</ul>
Housing affordability in South Australia declined with the proportion of income required to meet monthly loan repayments increasing to 27.1%, an increase of 0.2 percentage points over the quarter and an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the June quarter 2018. 
Over the June quarter, the number of loans to first home buyers in South Australia increased to 1,588, an increase of 15.9% over the quarter and an increase of 10.2% compared to the June quarter 2018
Rental affordability in South Australia, improved over the quarter with the proportion of income required to meet rent payments decreasing to 22.0%, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points over the quarter but remaining stable compared to the June quarter 2018.  
<ul>
<li>Western Australia</li>
</ul>
Housing affordability in Western Australia improved with the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments decreasing to 22.4%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points over the quarter and a decrease of 1.5 percentage points compared to the June quarter 2018. 
The number of first home buyers in Western Australia increased to 3,473 in the June quarter, an increase of 4.8% over the quarter but a decrease of 7.5 percentage points compared to the same time last year.
Rental affordability in Western Australia also improved during the June quarter with the proportion of family income required to meet the median rent decreasing marginally to 16.4%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points over the quarter but an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the year before. 
<ul>
<li>Tasmania</li>
</ul>
Housing affordability in Tasmania declined over the June quarter with the proportion of income required to meet home loan repayments increasing to 25.8%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points over the quarter and an increase of 0.4 percentage points from the June quarter 2018. 
The number of first home buyers in Tasmania decreased to 430, a decrease of 9.7% over the quarter and a decrease of 6.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. 
Rental affordability in Tasmania also declined over the quarter with the proportion of income required to meet median rents increasing to 29.9%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points over the quarter and an increase of 2.3 percentage points compared with the June quarter 2018. 
<ul>
<li>Northern Territory</li>
</ul>
Housing affordability in the Northern Territory declined with the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments increasing to 20.6% in the June quarter, an increase of 0.4 percentage points over the quarter but a decrease of 0.9 percentage points when compared to the June quarter 2018. 
The number of loans to first home buyers in the Northern Territory increased to 274, an increase of 46.5% over the June quarter and an increase of 54.8% compared to the June quarter 2018. 
Rental affordability in the Northern Territory however, improved over the quarter with the proportion of income required to meet the median rent decreasing to 20.2%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points over the quarter and a decrease of 2.4 percentage points compared to the June quarter 2018.
<ul>
<li>Australian Capital Territory</li>
</ul>
Housing affordability in the Australian Capital Territory declined over the June quarter with the proportion of income required to meet home loan repayments increasing to 20.6%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over the quarter but a decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the same quarter last year. 
The number of loans to first home buyers in the Australian Capital Territory increased to 408, an increase of 4.1% over the quarter but a decrease of 24.2% compared to the June quarter 2018.
Rental affordability in the Australian Capital Territory, improved marginally over the June quarter with the proportion of income required to meet the median rent decreasing to 18.9%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points over the quarter but an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to the June quarter 2018. 
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Rental affordability hits 11-year high: REIA 

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Paradise Point, a waterfront family home set on 81 acres in Narooma, NSW has hit the market. 
The South Coast property has been listed by John Murray of Whale Coast Realty and David Nolan of Webster Nolan Real Estate. 
Situated in an elevated position with inlet views, Paradise Point at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-narooma-700050134" target="_blank">496 Riverview Road</a> features a four bedroom family home, licenced private jetty on Freshwater Bay, multi-purpose sheds and cleared open grazing paddocks. 
The residence comprises four bedrooms, sun room/dining room, living room, kitchen and carport. 
Additional features of the home include hardwood timber frame and flooring, outdoor dining area, landscaped garden, and views of water and countryside.
<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/2019/9/4/paradise%20point%202.jpg" alt="">
The 12 metre long jetty is constructed by turpentine hardwood posts, hardwood and pine frame and deck.
Another feature of Paradise Point is the ownership to the high water mark with 2.5 kilometre frontage to Wagonga Inlet.  
<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/2019/9/4/paradise%20point%203.jpg" alt="">
The European history of Paradise Point began in the late 1800s when Peter Clow owned the land, using a part of it for cattle grazing and a small sawmill.
With only three owners in its history, Paradise Point was sold to the current owner in 1977.
Paradise Point is about 10 minutes from Narooma with supermarkets, restaurants and Golf Club, 40 minutes from Moruya Airport and one hour from Batemans Bay. 
It has been scheduled to go under the hammer on October 29.
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Narooma waterfront home with private jetty listed 

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The heritage Coogee residence, Smithfield Grande, was passed in on a $6 million vendor bid at its recent auction.
The 1883 Italianate mansion currently comprises 12 one bedroom, one bathroom apartments.
Gavin Rubinstein and Oliver Lavers of Ray White marketed the listing.
Situated at, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coogee-131714162" target="_blank">88 Brook Street</a> the listing said "it presents the opportunity to purchase as is, renovate further or restore this historic estate to its original grandeur and beauty".
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/9/Smithfield%20Grange%202.JPG" alt="">
Featuring soaring ornate ceilings and period fixtures, each apartment features a different layout.
The property has only changed hands four times over the past 136 years.
Set on 1,100 square metres, when fully leased it has a gross income of $307,000 according to the listing.
Steps to Coogee Beach, village shops, cafe, parks and buses, it also has parking for 12 cars.
Randwick Council indicated it intended to issue a fire safety order earlier this year.
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Heritage Smithfield Grande, Coogee trophy home passed in at auction

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There are only five floors to go until Adelaide's tallest building, Adelaidean tops out.
Adelaidean has a mix of three bedroom owner-occupier apartments with a blend of investment apartments.
The display suite will open this weekend.
There are a total of 75 apartments, including 40% of the apartments with three bedrooms. 
<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/2019/9/2/adelaidean%203.jpg" alt="">
The apartments feature large living areas, floor to ceiling double glazing, three metre ceilings on level 32-36, and at least one car park. 
All three bedroom apartments comes with double walk-in robes and two car parks. 
<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/2019/9/2/adelaidean%202.jpg" alt="">
 
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Adelaide's tallest building The Adelaidean to top out soon

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Sydney rental yields saw a slight loosening over the year rising from 3.2% to 3.3% and retaining the tightest rental yield crown for another year, according to the latest data from CoreLogic.
Melbourne was a close second at 3.6% but rental yields in Melbourne loosed 0.3% compared to Sydney's 0.1%.
Rents softened over the past month and rental rates increased in all capital cities other than in Sydney and Perth over the past year
Unit rental yields in Sydney have reach 3.9% with the median value of an apartment being just under $700,000, significantly higher than Melbourne where the median value for an apartment is $540,000.
To enlarge, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/9/4/National%20Yields.jpg" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<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/2019/9/4/National%20Yields.jpg" alt="">
Regional NSW followed the trend of loosening rental yields as well rising from 4.5% in 2018 to 4.7% this year.
While Sydney and Melbourne are leading the increases in dwelling values, equally they are the two cities leading the recent softening of rental yields.
Tim Lawless noted it was the third successive month of capital gain in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart and the second successive month of increases in Brisbane.
“While the ‘recovery trend’ is still early, it does appear that growth trends are gathering some pace, particularly in the largest capital cities,” Lawless said.
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Sydney's rental yields remain the tightest in Australia

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Centuria Property Services, the asset management arm of Centuria Capital Group, has signed an implementation agreement with parking technology startup BaseUp.
Vacant parking bays in and around commercial properties owned by Centuria’s listed and unlisted property funds will be made available via the BaseUp app, where tenants can participate and register for short-term parking solutions.
BaseUp is a provider of smart parking technology to large tenants and landlords in the commercial property market.
BaseUp provides solutions that solve one of commercial real estate’s biggest problems – underutilised parking and a lack of flexibility. 
Matthew McQueen, Portfolio Manager at Centuria, commented: "After a highly successful pilot period at two of our assets, we have now signed up for all our property residents. 
"Those at the forefront of the commercial property market – office properties in particular – are increasingly focusing on the well-being of a building’s users, a significant aspect of which is convenience of commuting and end-of-trip."
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Centuria signs agreement with parking technology provider BaseUp

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A Fitzroy North landholding on Queens Parade with triple street frontages is being offered to market.
The 3,200 sqm development site is situated on a prime corner landholding at 81-89 Queens Parade, with triple street frontages to Alexandra Parade, Queens Parade, and George Street.
Savills Australia’s Clinton Baxter, Jesse Radisich and Benson Zhou have been appointed to manage the expressions of interest campaign with expectations of above $18 million.
“The upside potential of this site is profound, and we have already commenced fielding interest from major local and offshore developers keen to know more about this project,” said Mr Baxter.
“There is approved planning in place for an 8-level Cox Architecture mixed-use commercial project.”
“81-89 Queens Parade is arriving at a time and place that meets the strongest commercial office markets in decades,” added Mr Baxter.
Mr Zhou said that “whilst there has been talk of reducing Chinese capital in our market, Savills has sold more than half of our last 20 deals to buyers of Chinese background. Really there has been a flight to quality projects and investments, the money definitely is still there for the best projects like this one.”
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Savills marketing mixed-used Fitzroy North development site

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Barwood House, an 1885 home with valley views at Wallalong, a rural suburb in the Hunter Region, has sold. 
Surrounded by cottage gardens, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wallalong-131489166" target="_blank">Barwood House</a> sits on 3,950 square metres has retained its original features, including six period fireplaces and high ceilings.
The homestead has four bedrooms, a country style kitchen an entertaining deck and courtyard.
In the grounds is a swimming pool, an outbuilding with three office spaces, work room and a workshop.
Charlie Lund and Tori Lund of The Agency Hunter Valley had the listing. 
<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/2019/7/29/wallagong%202.jpg" alt="">
Nestled on a 3,950 square metres, the homestead at 48 High Street comprises combined formal lounge/dining room, informal living/meals space, country style kitchen, four bedrooms, entertaining deck and courtyard.
The traditional features of Barwood House include six period fireplace, high ceilings, hardwood floorboards, and french doors.
<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/2019/7/29/wallagong%203.jpg" alt="">
Other highlights include in-ground pool, sunroom, ducted air conditioning, double undercover carport, and outbuilding with three office spaces, work room and workshop.
 
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1885 Wallagong trophy home Barwood House sold

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
“What we need to do is rebuild confidence in Australia’s building and construction sector,” said federal minister Karen Andrews after the July 2019 meeting of the Building Ministers’ Forum.
This has been a recurring theme since the federal, state and territory ministers commissioned Peter Shergold and Bronwyn Weir in mid-2017 to assess the effectiveness of building and construction industry regulation across Australia. They presented their <a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/July%202018/document/pdf/building_ministers_forum_expert_assessment_-_building_confidence.pdf" target="_blank">Building Confidence report</a> to the ministers in February 2018.
In the 18 months since then, the combined might of nine governments has made scant progress towards implementing the report’s 24 simple recommendations. Confidence in building regulation and quality has clearly continued to deteriorate among the public and construction industry.
In last week’s Four Corners program, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/cracking-up/11431474" target="_blank">Cracking Up</a>, Weir was asked whether she would buy an apartment. She responded: “I wouldn’t buy a newly built apartment, no […] I’d buy an older one.” She went on to say:
"We have hundreds of thousands of apartments that have been built across the country over the last two, three decades. Probably the prevalence of noncompliance has been particularly bad, I would say in the last say 15 to 20 years […] And that means there’s a lot of existing building stock that has defects in it […] There’ll be legacy issues for some time and I suspect there’ll be legacy issues that we’re not even fully aware of yet."
These comments may not have delighted those developers trying to sell new apartments, or owners selling existing apartments, but they are fair and correct. Confidence will not be restored until all the governments act together to improve regulatory oversight and deal with existing defective buildings.
Residents of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/lacrosse-fire-ruling-sends-shudders-through-building-industry-consultants-and-governments-112777" target="_blank">Lacrosse</a>, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/same-as-grenfell-tower-cladding-fears-as-fire-rips-through-melbourne-cbd-apartment-building-20190204-p50vgl" target="_blank">Neo200</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-big-lesson-from-opal-tower-is-that-badly-built-apartments-arent-only-an-issue-for-residents-109722" target="_blank">Opal</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/buck-passing-on-apartment-building-safety-leaves-residents-at-risk-119000" target="_blank">Mascot</a> towers and other buildings with serious defects are already living with the impact of “legacy” problems. Over the weekend, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-23/cladding-and-mould-forces-residents-out-of-apartment-block/11443976" target="_blank">another apartment building was evacuated</a> – this time in Mordialloc in southeast Melbourne. The building was deemed unsafe because it was clad with combustible material and had defects in its fire detection and warning system.
A costly but essential fix
Fixing such defects is a costly business. A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal <a href="https://www.vcat.vic.gov.au/resources/owners-corporation-no1-of-ps613436t-owners-corporation-no-2-of-ps613436t-owners" target="_blank">decision</a> established that replacing the combustible cladding on the Lacrosse building in Melbourne would cost an average of A$36,000 per unit. At Mascot Towers, consultant engineers <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-23/mascot-towers-repair-bill-soars-to-20-million/11439856" target="_blank">estimated the cost</a> of structural repairs at up to A$150,000 per unit on average.
According to <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/governing-the-compact-city-the-role-and-effectiveness-of-strata-management-in-higher-density-residential-developments/" target="_blank">UNSW</a> and <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/residential/cladding-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-20190612-p51wrw#logout" target="_blank">Deakin</a> research, between 70% and 97% of units in strata apartments have significant defects. Let’s assume 85% have such defects and the average cost of fixing these is only $25,000 per unit. That would mean total repair costs for the 500,000 or so tall apartments (four-storey and above) across Australia could exceed A$10 billion.
The Victorian government has taken the lead on combustible cladding, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/flammable-cladding-removal-fund-victorian-government/11311518" target="_blank">setting up and funding a A$600 million scheme</a> to replace it. It’s also replacing combustible cladding on low-rise school buildings even though these may comply with the letter of the National Construction Code.
No other state has yet followed this lead. This is concerning given the risk to life. No one viewing images of the <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/how-hundreds-of-lives-were-thrown-into-chaos-when-neo-200-caught-fire-20190429-p51i62" target="_blank">Neo200 fire</a> in the Melbourne CBD could doubt how dangerous combustible cladding can be.
The other states and territories should immediately copy the Victorian scheme. While not perfect, and probably underfunded, it is a positive step to improve public safety. The Andrews government should be congratulated for doing something practical while its counterparts in New South Wales and Queensland, which have many buildings with combustible cladding, fiddle about.
All governments share responsibility
The federal government’s response has been inadequate. When asked about contributing to the Victorian scheme, Karen Andrews said: "The Commonwealth is not an ATM for the states […] this problem is of the states’ making and they need to step up and fix the problem and dig into their own pockets."
This flies in the face of reality. All nine governments are responsible for building regulation and enforcement. All signed the <a href="https://www.abcb.gov.au/Resources/Publications/Corporate/2017-Inter-Governmental-Agreement" target="_blank">intergovernmental agreement</a> on building regulation.
The federal government, which chairs the Building Ministers’ Forum, leads building regulation in Australia. The <a href="https://www.abcb.gov.au/ABCB/The-Board" target="_blank">Australian Building Codes Board</a>, which produces the <a href="https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/ncc-online/About" target="_blank">National Construction Code</a>, is effectively a federal government agency. The precursor to the national code, the Building Code of Australia, was a federal initiative.
It is clear Australian governments have worked effectively together in the past to combat threats to life and safety, or to provide consumer protection nationwide. Examples include initiatives as diverse as the <a href="https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n5314/html/ch09.xhtml?referer=&amp;page=16" target="_blank">national gun buyback</a>, the <a href="https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/what-we-do/how-we-operate/history/" target="_blank">creation of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission</a> (<a href="https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/what-we-do/our-role/">ASIC</a>) and the <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/transport/cars/general/articles/takata-airbags-what-you-need-to-know-in-australia-230717" target="_blank">program to replace defective Takata airbags</a> in cars.
The crop of building defects we see today are a direct result of negligent regulation by all nine governments over the past two decades. Clearly, they all have a legal and moral duty to coordinate and contribute to a program to manage the risks and economic damage this has created.
All the evidence points to a <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/governments-failed-to-act-on-warnings-of-combustible-cladding-dangers-20190226-h1br6n" target="_blank">long-term failure to heed repeated warnings about the dangers</a>. Governments and regulators were captive to the interests of the development lobby, building industry and building materials supply industry.
The governments must stop playing a blame game. Effective programs are urgently needed to fix defects, including combustible cladding, incorrectly installed fire protection measures, structural noncompliance, structural failure and leaks.
The Australian Building Codes Board, which is directly responsible for the mess, should be reformed to ensure it becomes an effective regulator. The National Construction Code <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-a-new-national-construction-code-but-its-still-not-good-enough-113729" target="_blank">should be changed</a> to make consumer protection an objective in the delivery of housing for sale.
All parties involved will have to take some pain: regulators, developers, builders, subcontractors, consultants, certifiers, insurers, aluminium panel manufacturers, suppliers and owners. Only governments can broker a solution as it will require legislation and an allocation of responsibility for fault.
The alternative will probably be a huge number of individual legal cases and a rash of owner bankruptcies, which may well leave the guilty parties untouched.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122180/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Lecturer in Architecture, 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/would-you-buy-a-new-apartment-building-confidence-depends-on-ending-the-blame-game-122180" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Would you buy a new apartment? Building confidence depends on ending the blame game

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

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