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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The Victorian Liberals plan to oppose the introduction of a registration scheme for engineers is reckless and irresponsible. 
The Bill, currently before the Victorian Parliament would for the first time introduce a registration scheme for engineers in Victoria, ensuring only those properly qualified and accredited could undertake work.
The registration of engineers was an important first step in tackling the national crisis in the building and construction industry.
The Liberals plans to oppose the registration of engineers in Victoria, a measure that would begin to address the national crisis in construction, is reckless and irresponsible.
Just last week, independent research revealed the cost of repairing defects in residential apartments across Australia would cost a staggering $6.2 billion.
Liberal opposition could cost the State and consumers billions. They’ll fight for deregulation at any cost.
In Mordialloc, Victoria residents have just been advised that their apartments are no longer fit to occupy due to combustible cladding and significant fire risk.  
We now have legislation that begins to address the issues of shoddy workmanship and defective construction work and the Victorian Liberals oppose it.
Where is their commitment to helping the thousands of families who cannot live in apartments they’ve paid for, or face huge bills due to dodgy construction work and design?
Victoria is in the extraordinary position of having no registration scheme for engineers.
In Victoria, anyone can call themselves an engineer. Builders, electricians and plumbers all need to be registered but the people who design the buildings they construct do not. 
Construction workers who drive cranes, erect steel and build scaffold are required to have high risk licences to ensure site safety. Yet the Liberal Party doesn’t think engineers, who are crucial to site safety should be registered and accountable? They are again putting profits ahead of safety.
The failure to register engineers and the failure of government regulation in the building and construction industry more generally goes a long way to explaining why we now have a crisis that is bringing the sector to its knees.
It’s time for the Victorian Liberals to quit being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. Support the registration of engineers in Victoria now.
DAVE NOONAN is the CFMEU Construction and General Division National Secretary.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Registration scheme for engineers an important step to solve construction crisis: CMFEU's Dave Noonan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Plant extinctions have skyrocketed, driven in large part by land clearing and climate change. 
Earth is seeing an unprecedented loss of species, which some ecologists are calling a <a href="https://theconversation.com/earths-sixth-mass-extinction-has-begun-new-study-confirms-43432" target="_blank">sixth mass extinction</a>. In May, a <a href="https://www.ipbes.net" target="_blank">United Nations report</a> warned that 1 million species are threatened by extinction. More recently, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">571 plant species</a> were declared extinct.
But extinctions have occurred for as long as life has existed on Earth. The important question is, has the rate of extinction increased? Our research, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063" target="_blank">published today in Current Biology</a>, found some plants have been going extinct up to 350 times faster than the historical average – with devastating consequences for unique species.
Measuring the rate of extinction
“How many species are going extinct” is not an easy question to answer. To start, accurate data on contemporary extinctions are lacking from most parts of the world. And species are not evenly distributed – for example, Madagascar is home to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_of_Madagascar" target="_blank">around 12,000 plant species</a>, of which 80% are endemic (found nowhere else). England, meanwhile, is home to <a href="https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/England_Red_List_1.pdf">only 1,859 species</a>, of which 75 (just 4%) are endemic.
Areas like Madagascar, which have exceptional rates of biodiversity at severe risk from human destruction, are called “<a href="https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots" target="_blank">hotspots</a>”. Based purely on numbers, biodiversity hotspots are expected to lose more species to extinction than coldspots such as England.
But that doesn’t mean coldspots aren’t worth conserving – they tend to contain completely unique plants.
We are part of an international team that recently examined <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063" target="_blank">291 modern plant extinctions</a> between biodiversity hot- and coldspots. We looked at the underlying causes of extinction, when they happened, and how unique the species were. Armed with this information, we asked how extinctions differ between biodiversity hot- and coldspots.
Unsurprisingly, we found hotspots to lose more species, faster, than coldspots. Agriculture and urbanisation were important drivers of plant extinctions in both hot- and coldspots, confirming the general belief that habitat destruction is the primary cause of most extinctions. Overall, herbaceous perennials such as grasses are particularly vulnerable to extinction.
However, coldspots stand to lose more uniqueness than hotspots. For example, seven coldspot extinctions led to the disappearance of seven genera, and in one instance, even a whole plant family. So clearly, coldspots also represent important reservoirs of unique biodiversity that need conservation.
We also show that recent extinction rates, at their peak, were 350 times higher than historical background extinction rates. Scientists have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534717300502" target="_blank">previously speculated</a> that modern plant extinctions will surpass background rates by several thousand times over the next 80 years.
So why are our estimates of plant extinction so low?
First, a lack of comprehensive data restricts inferences that can be made about modern extinctions. Second, plants are unique in – some of them live for an extraordinarily long time, and many can persist in low densities due to unique adaptations, such as being able to reproduce in the absence of partners.
Let’s consider a hypothetical situation where we only have five living individuals of Grandidier’s baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) left in the wild. These iconic trees of Madagascar are one of only nine living species of their genus and can live for hundreds of years. Therefore, a few individual trees may be able to “hang in there” (a situation commonly referred to as “extinction debt”) but will inevitably become extinct in the future.
Finally, declaring a plant extinct is challenging, simply because they’re often very difficult to spot, and we can’t be sure we’ve found the last living individuals. Indeed, a recent report found 431 plant species previously thought to be extinct have been <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">rediscovered</a>. So, real plant extinction rates and future extinctions are likely to far exceed current estimates.
There is no doubt that biodiversity loss, together with climate change, are some of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-a-lot-of-bad-news-in-the-un-global-environment-outlook-but-a-sustainable-future-is-still-possible-115137" target="_blank">biggest challenges faced by humanity</a>. Along with human-driven habitat destruction, the effects of climate change are expected to be particularly severe on plant biodiversity. Current <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">estimates</a> of plant extinctions are, without a doubt, gross underestimates.
However, the signs are crystal clear. If we were to condense the Earth’s 4.5-billion-year-old history into one calendar year, then life evolved somewhere in June, dinosaurs appeared somewhere around Christmas, and the Anthropocene starts within the last millisecond of New Year’s Eve. Modern plant extinction rates that exceed historical rates by hundreds of times over such a brief period will spell disaster for our planet’s future.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122255/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;">
Jaco Le Roux, Associate Professor, Macquarie University; 
Florencia Yanelli, Researcher, Stellenbosch University; 
Heidi Hirsch, Postdoctoral research fellow, Stellenbosch University; 
José María Iriondo Alegría, Catedrático de universidad en el área de Botánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; 
Marcel Rejmánek, Emeritus professor, University of California, Davis 
Maria Loreto Castillo, PhD Candidate, Stellenbosch University
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/plants-are-going-extinct-up-to-350-times-faster-than-the-historical-norm-122255" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Plants are going extinct up to 350 times faster than the historical norm

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
It’s a sellers’ market with low listing volumes putting them in an extremely comfortable position. 
There were very clear and consistent signs of recovery in the market and this turnaround, as well as further improvements in auction clearance results, could lead to an increase in volume.
This week’s preliminary clearance results in Sydney hit just below 85% and in Melbourne were just shy of 80%. 
However, at this stage it appeared, generally, sellers did not feel the rush to list their properties.
Clearance rates in the 80s put sellers in a very comfortable position.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/26/SYD%20MEL%20auction%20clearance.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/26/SYD%20MEL%20auction%20clearance.jpg" alt="">
We are also seeing, from the independent source of the Westpac-Melbourne Institute, significant improvements in consumer sentiment in relation to house price expectations and time to buy a dwelling indices.
In addition, when it comes to auction clearance rates in Sydney and Melbourne, we are seeing very clear signs of recovery.
The trend now is very clear with interim results in the 70s and 80s over the past four weeks and final clearance rates in the 70s for that period. 
This is significantly higher than the clearance rate in the mid 50s a year ago in those capital cities.
A combination of the election results, RBA interest rate cuts with at least one further cut on the horizon, APRA's changes to the floor assessment and tax cuts delivering more funds to households, all contributed to the confidence in the market and, consequently, for higher clearance rates that were also well connected with higher prices. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/26/Westpac%20HPE%20index.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/26/Westpac%20HPE%20index.jpg" alt="">
The recent auction clearance rates and improved consumer confidence are creating a very clear trend, that will consequently lead to price increases and a rise in volumes, as sellers expect stronger demand for their properties and, therefore, are more confident to put them on the market.
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Basically, what we are seeing is improving confidence, improving clearance rates and improving prices.
In fact, according to CoreLogic data, <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/reports/chart-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">in July 2019, dwelling values increased across all capital cities except for Adelaide, Perth and Canberra</a>.
This shows that sellers are in a good position, they see improvement in the market, and they are in control of what happens next.
Generally, both Sydney and Melbourne are performing really well, especially Sydney in recent weeks.
The key thing we are seeing is very consistent and strong results, particularly, but not only, in the high end of market.
In fact, the high end of the market continues to lead the way with extremely strong results in Northern Sydney and Hornsby (91.9%), Sydney Inner West (89.3%) and Northern Beaches (92.6%).
In Melbourne, both Inner Melbourne and Inner East delivered 82.8% and the Inner South 80.5%.
This is a good trend and with the recent rate cuts by the RBA, the high likelihood of another this year, and potentially one in first half of 2020, this are looking extremely positive.
Demand for housing and housing finance are also showing very clear signs of improvement.
With the interest rate falls and recent changes in the floor assessment, combined with serious competition between banks and non-banks making it easier for borrowers, particularly owner-occupiers to refinance and reduce mortgage repayments, there’s negative pressure to sell because vendors see the market recovering.
Often people think if there is low volume, the market it poor and high volume means it’s strong, but that's not necessarily the case. It really depends on the context.
DORON PELEG is CEO of RiskWise Property Research.
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Strong auction results and low listing volumes mean sellers hold the power: Riskwise's Doron Peleg

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In the absence of federal policy, states are pursing their own renewable targets.
Australia’s primary federal renewable energy target – to have <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/government/renewable-energy-target-scheme" target="_blank">33 terawatts of renewable energy by 2020</a> – has essentially been achieved. There is much uncertainty as to what is next.
In the absence of a new national target, the states have been leading the way and <a href="https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resources/project-tracker" target="_blank">driving renewable energy</a> in Australia. Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland between them have invested some A$20 billion into building 11,400 megawatts of generation capacity.
While the states have worked admirably to advance renewable energy – and federal energy policy has long been politically toxic – there is a clear cost to pursuing many fragmented policies instead of a unified vision.
Our research, modelling the effect of state versus national renewable energy targets in the National Energy Market system found there was little difference in the overall cost, but that states without strong renewable targets tended to miss out on investment.
We need national thinking
<a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/9a3734e82574546679510bdc99d57847.pdf" target="_blank">Most jurisdictions</a> have net zero emissions targets by 2050. States also have ambitious but achievable shorter-term renewable energy targets and programs.
There are plenty of arguments for states pursuing their own renewable energy targets, not least because they can fill the policy vacuum left at the national level.
States are responding to the immediate need to replace retiring power stations and can explore innovation with greater ambition. It makes perfect sense for states to compete to attract jobs and investment.
But Australia’s federal government has a <a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement" target="_blank">domestic and international obligation</a> to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. National policies are more efficient, can harness better resources across our diverse geography and maximise returns for the whole system.
What’s more – as many column inches have pointed out – strong federal policy improves investment certainty and reliability, lowering the cost of inevitable infrastructure upgrades. And those upgrades can be better integrated into our existing national electricity system if the building (and money) doesn’t stop at internal borders.
To provide some insight and help move the debate forward, the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the <a href="https://www.energy-transition-hub.org/" target="_blank">Australian-German Energy Transition Hub</a> have collaborated on research that was presented at an <a href="https://www.wemcouncil.org/wp/icem/" target="_blank">international conference</a> in Denmark earlier this year.
Quantifying the difference
We simulated two scenarios: first, that all states implement polices to achieve their respective renewable energy and net zero emissions targets by 2050.
The second scenario assumed a national target would be used to result in the “same outcome” of 100% renewable energy by 2050.
The model calculates required energy investments with 5-year increments from today to 2050, including considering the existing generation currently operating. The model simultaneously optimises the mix of generation, transmission and storage to minimise the total system cost from 2020 to 2050.
A key difference in results is where and when new generation is built. Under the state-driven approach, unsurprisingly, investment shifts towards states with more ambitious targets.
The two figures below show how state-based targets drive more investment into Queensland than would be the case under a national target scheme.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286465/original/file-20190731-186819-1j9zsem.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/286465/original/file-20190731-186819-1j9zsem.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Spatial distribution of renewable generation)
Broadly speaking, under a national target, we see more efficient use of renewable energy and associated resources. NSW – with net zero 2050 target but no interim renewable energy target – would get a greater share of the renewable energy investment.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286469/original/file-20190731-186814-1rk0hzu.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/286469/original/file-20190731-186814-1rk0hzu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Change in energy generation %)
NSW would consistently see substantially more investment under a national target scheme. This would be around 20% more generation in the 2030s in NSW, and up to 20 terawatt-hours more energy generated in the years 2030 to 2045.
The rollout of “where and when” to build new renewable and other generation to replace ageing fossil fuel power plants also impacts heavily on the sequencing and timing for major transmission upgrades across the NEM – especially interconnectors between states.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286470/original/file-20190731-186792-142o7z3.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/286470/original/file-20190731-186792-142o7z3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Transmission networks modeled)
The graph shows that under a state target based approach we build more transmission infrastructure earlier than under a national approach. Under a national target approach, we would end up building more transmission infrastructure – albeit later.
Again, broadly speaking, we would build more generation at renewable energy resource-rich areas such as NSW which happen to be near major demand centres like cities. This would delay the need for some infrastructure spend.
What about system reliability and energy costs?
The good news is it appears under either a state-based or a national target approach the outcome in 2050 is similar. The difference in total system costs is only about 1% higher in the state-based targets scenario – so, virtually nothing.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286460/original/file-20190731-186797-1csnld1.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/286460/original/file-20190731-186797-1csnld1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Evolution of electricity generation – total system)
State-based renewable energy targets lead to redistribution of renewable investments in favour of the states with a mid-term renewable energy target.
In the Australian context, the current state-based renewable energy targets have no impact on undermining power system reliability and virtually negligible impact on pushing up power prices.
Perhaps NSW should take particular note – as it would appear that it would benefit greatly from either a national target approach or an interim state target for itself.
The debate about state versus national approaches to energy policy has been going for the past 30 years and no doubt will be around for another 30. In the meantime, we need a stronger hand on the transition tiller or we will waste precious resources and time, and likely have major unintended consequences.
Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne. 
Changlong Wang, Researcher, The Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne. 
Roger Dargaville, Senior lecturer, Monash University.
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/we-need-a-national-renewables-approach-or-some-states-like-nsw-will-miss-out-121192" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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We need a national renewables approach, or some states will miss out

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Sydney’s newest residential tower will rise 270 metres, comprising 80-storeys much of it serviced apartments.
It is so tall it will need approval Aeronautical Impact Assessment approvals.
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As it penetrates Sydney Airport’s Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS), the infringement triggers a requirement, under the Airports (Protection of Airspace Regulations 1996 (APAR), to need approval for the development from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development (DITCRD).
It will need to see if it can affect the safety, regularity or efficiency of aircraft operations at Sydney Airport.
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The Ingenhoven and Architectus scheme proposes a super-slim skyscraper sitting atop a podium that incorporates several levels of retail, two childcare centres and the Event Cinemas which is subject to a long-term lease. 
It will be the tallest residential building in Sydney. China’s state-owned Greenland tower on the old Sydney Water Board building will be 235m high.
Ingenhoven + Architectus beat off design competition entrants such as Bates Smart, Foster + Partners and WilkinsonEyre.
Their $567 million estimated cost came in nearly $14 million cheaper than their nearest competitor. 
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The design proposed by Ingenhoven + Architectus aimed to be a landmark for economical, ecological and socially sustainable future-orientated development.
An ‘energy façade’ was proposed with slanted horizontal elements and exposed structural columns to provide sun shading and act as potential hybrid solar collectors.
Its sustainability endeavours also include electric vehicle charging for 5% of car spaces on completion, with capacity to increase over time to reflect the car fleets of the future. 
<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/2019/8/28/George%20Street%20Cinema%20entrance.jpg" alt="">
The George Street frontage (above) was proposed to consist of retail tenancies and a central entrance to the curvilinear through-site link to the building lobbies and Kent Street (below).
<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/2019/8/28/Kent%20Street%20frontage.jpg" alt="">
The developers secured approval for added height from the City of Sydney in 2014, well above the site’s existing 150 metre limit, after promising community benefits including two childcare centres and a community meeting facility.
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The cinema was constructed in 1976 as the Hoyts Cinema.
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<source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-960.webp" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-960.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-720.webp" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-720.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-640.webp" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-640.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-480.webp" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-480.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-240.webp" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-240.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-120.webp" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-120.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/jpg"></source><img src="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/raw/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1.jpg" alt="Düsseldorf-based firm Ingenhoven and Architectus will design the $1 billion George Street super-slim skyscraper at 505-523 George Street."><div> </div>
<div>Mirvac and Coombes Property Group are the joint developers.</div>
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Coombes Property Group acquired the 4,308sq m site in 2009 from Challenger Financial Services for $85 million.
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<source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-960.webp" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-960.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-720.webp" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-720.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-640.webp" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-640.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-480.webp" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-480.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-240.webp" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-240.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-120.webp" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-120.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/jpg"></source><img src="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/raw/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d.jpg" alt="The mixed-use tower will rise 80-storeys and will include a hotel, units, two childcare centres, retail outlets and a cinema. "><div> </div>
<div>Construction is expected to take five years with construction likely to commence in 2020 subject to council approval.</div>
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Its 507 apartments include 55 studio, 144 one bedroom, 224 two bedroom and 84 three bedroom apartments.
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270 metre tall Event Cinema, George Street tower needs Aeronautical Impact approval

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Construction giant Icon claims it has spent $24 million since the evacuation of the Opal Tower skyscraper last December.
Fifteen owners are still locked out of their Sydney Olympic Park apartments as the cracking repairs continue.
One owner sold the worst affected apartment to Icon on the 10th floor.
Icon was the company that built the tower which was completed in August last year.
Icon told the ABC the Opal Tower event was insurable, however it did not reveal how much of the $24 million it was planning to claim.
The amount includes money spent on housing residents in temporary accommodation.
The ABC reported Icon's NSW business reported $163 million in revenue for 2018, down from the $335 million in 2017.
It reported a $1.63 million net profit in 2018, down from $6.8 million in 2017.
An Icon spokesperson said the company's approach to Opal Tower since the Christmas Eve evacuation "cannot be questioned".
"[This is] all without admission of liability," a company spokesperson told the ABC.
Domain recently reported Sydney Olympic Park apartment sales in the suburb have dropped 85 per cent in the six months to June compared to the same time last year.<iframe title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/nsw_3" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="1" height="1" data-google-container-id="7" data-load-complete="true" data-integralas-id-7d0c1289-2a86-1366-5f35-e19975ab98cf=""></iframe> 
Across Sydney, buyers interest in new apartments has slipped, with views per listing for new apartments down 9 per cent in the first half of 2019.
Agents noted the Opal Tower event had tarred the entire suburb.
“Sydney Olympic Park has been affected because [buyers] think the entire park is a problem, not a particular building,” one agent said.
 “They’re all looking for that one word … [asking] is Icon the builder?”
McGrath agent John McManus, who is selling an apartment in Sydney Olympic Park, said buyers were skeptical about all new builds. 
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Builder Icon spends $24 million after Opal Tower cracking

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Chinese owned Union Agriculture's Mount Falcon Station in south-east NSW has hit the market.
It has been listed by Angus Macleod from Colliers International with $13.5 million to $15 million hopes. 
It was once owned by internet entrepreneur Sean Howard.
Situated in the Upper Murray region, the cattle property at Tooma, NSW comprises 2800 hectares of productive country near the Snowy Mountains.
It features high rainfall of 750mm per annum, fencing, infrastructure and manager's residence. 
Mount Falcon is currently run as a commercial beef operation with an approximate carrying capacity of 20,000 to 23,000 dry sheep equivalents.
<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/2019/8/26/tooma%202.jpg" alt="">
The farm breeds F1 wagyu and the herd will be offered for sale to the potential buyer separately.
It has been owned by the Chinese investment group since 2011.
<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/2019/8/26/tooma%203.jpg" alt="">
The property has been scheduled to go under the hammer on September 5.  
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Chinese owned beef farm Mount Falcon Station listed

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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) will refund over $8 million in consumer credit insurance (CCI) premiums and fees including interest to more than 15,000 consumers.
This follows ASIC’s review of the sale of CCI by lenders in Report 622 Consumer credit insurance: Poor value products and harmful sales practices, and forms part of ASIC’s broader priority to address harms and unfair practices impacting consumers in insurance.
Allianz’s refund relates to the sale of cover to consumers who were ineligible to make a claim for unemployment or disability, the sale of death cover to customers under 21 years of age who were unlikely to need that cover, and the charging of fees to customers who paid premiums by the month without adequate disclosure.
The remediation program covers certain CCI products issued by Allianz including mortgage and loan protection policies sold through financial institutions. These CCI products provided cover against the risk of consumers being unable to meet loan commitments because of death, injury, illness or involuntary unemployment.
To address these issues, Allianz will,
<ul>
<li>for ineligible sales of unemployment and disability cover,</li>
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<li>refund premiums charged plus interest for active, cancelled or lapsed policies sold between 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2018;</li>
<li>reassess all withdrawn and declined claims where the consumer was ineligible for the policy at the time of sale;</li>
<li>invite consumers to submit a claim if they have not already done so and pay valid claims plus interest; and</li>
<li>continue to honour active policies and not rely on employment eligibility criteria as a basis to decline an unemployment or disability claim;</li>
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<li>for sales of death cover to customers under 21 years of age,</li>
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<li>refund all premiums charged plus interest for active, cancelled or lapsed policies sold between 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2018; and</li>
<li>preserve existing death cover for active policyholders on current terms without charging for it;</li>
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<li>for monthly policy payment customers,</li>
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<li>refund all administration fees and loading charged plus interest; and</li>
<li>correct any future direct debit amounts.</li>
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ASIC Commissioner Sean Hughes said, ‘Disappointingly, our work on the sale of CCI has highlighted widespread mis-selling and poor product design. This remediation outcome is only one of many examples where CCI has failed consumers. We expect insurers to cease to sell insurance products that provide little or no value.’
‘We need a financial system that is fair. Insurers and other financial institutions need to rise to the challenge and embed the principle of fairness into their businesses to ensure we do not see any further instances of this kind of poor value product being pushed on to consumers’ added Mr Hughes.
Allianz will stop issuing new CCI policies from 30 September 2019. It will continue to fulfil its obligations to existing CCI policyholders. 
Allianz is expected to write to all affected consumers about their refund offer from October 2019. Consumers with questions about their cover should contact Allianz by email at <a href="mailto:here_to_help@allianz.com.au" target="_blank">here_to_help@allianz.com.au</a>.
<h2>Background</h2>
ASIC’s recent review of the sale of CCI has resulted in refunds of over $100 million due to more than 300,000 affected consumers. On 11 July 2019, we released Report 622 Consumer credit insurance: Poor value products and harmful sales practices (REP 622) detailing our findings and setting minimum standards for lenders and insurers who issue or sell CCI.
ASIC is currently consulting on a proposal to ban the sale of CCI and direct life insurance through unsolicited telephone calls. The proposed ban aims to address unfair sales conduct and protect consumers from being sold products that they do not need, want or understand.
ASIC has also commenced investigations into a number of entities that have been involved in mis-selling CCI to consumers.
Separately, in 2018, Allianz refunded $45.6 million to 68,000 consumers for add-on insurance sold through car dealerships that were of little or no value.
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ASIC prompts Allianz to refund over $8 million in consumer credit insurance premiums

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Burnside, the Scone district farm, sold at its recent auction for $1.25 million.
The 220 ha Upper Dartbrook property, some 15 minutes from Scone, sits in a valley suitable for cattle and horses.
The property is subdivided into seven paddocks.  
With well drained alluvial soils, the flats flanking the Dartbrook Creek were marketed by McCallum Inglis as ideal for irrigation pursuit.
<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/2019/8/27/scone%202.jpg" alt="">
The house set in an elevated position overlooking the creek, comprises two bedrooms, with enclosed verandas. There is also an adjoining two bedroom cottage.
Last year the clip for a music single called "Shout the land a drink" was filmed in Upper Dartbrook. It was the brainchild of Golden Guitar winner Matt Scullion and performed by "The Hay Balers," with all profits going to drought stricken farming communities across NSW. 
<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/2019/8/27/scone%203.jpg" alt="">
 
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Burnside, Scone farm sold

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The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) has reduced the banning period for former mortgage broker, Michael Wilkins, from three years to 18 months.
Mr Wilkins of Watanobbi, NSW, was banned by ASIC, from providing financial services for three years on 31 January 2018. 
The ASIC delegate had found that Mr Wilkins had acted dishonestly and/or improperly towards clients by completing loan application forms on behalf of clients, having clients sign incomplete forms, and hiding from Westpac that the loans were for self-managed superannuation funds.
The ASIC delegate found that Mr Wilkins had put information in the loan applications submitted to Westpac that was ‘false in a material particular’, and that on five occasions in June and July 2010, Mr Wilkins submitted loan applications on behalf of clients in which he deliberately overstated their savings by between approximately $130,000 and $179,000.
Mr Wilkins sought a review of ASIC’s decision in the Tribunal and a decision was delivered on 22 August 2019.
The Tribunal accepted ASIC's contention that the applicant had put information that was ‘false in a material particular’ in loan documents submitted to Westpac but found that there was insufficient evidence to make a finding of dishonesty in relation to client forms or the nature of the loans.
For this reason, the Tribunal concluded that a shorter banning order was justified.
When deciding that an 18-month banning order was appropriate, the Tribunal stated ‘the declarations of accuracy and completeness required in standard form loan applications of major financial institutions (and other credit providers) may appear formulaic and routine. But they mean what they say.
Any significant failure to appreciate that reality, and to observe the requirement of scrupulous honesty underlying it, is likely to merit the sanction of a banning order. That sanction is appropriate in Mr Wilkins’ circumstances.’
 
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AAT reduces banning period for Michael Wilkins NSW mortgage broker

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

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.

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Staff reporter

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