<html><body>
Australia’s first engineered timber office, International House Sydney, has picked up NSW’s top property award.
Lendlease was presented with the Property Council of Australia’s Rider Levett Bucknall NSW Development of the Year award. 
“International House demonstrates that mass timber construction is a viable alternative to conventional construction and stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainable design excellence,” says the Property Council’s NSW Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald.
Designed by Tzannes architects and completed in April 2017, International House Sydney stands six storeys high. Each floor was constructed entirely from cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated timber, including floors, columns, walls, roof, lift shafts and stairs. The timber structure is supported by a ground retail level of conventional concrete. 
The building delivers an open, flexible floorplate, with a total floor space of 7,000 square metres and a striking design featuring recycled hardwood colonnades and an exposed timber structure. 
Timber is around 30% lighter than concrete or steel, potentially cutting crane, scaffolding and foundation costs. Economic modelling undertaken by Forest and Wood Products Australia has found timber construction can cut schedules by 15%. Engineered timber also has a carbon footprint up to 60% lower than other materials such as concrete and steel. 
“The well-documented health and sustainability benefits of using timber in the built environment have contributed substantially to its market appeal, securing a single, well-known financial services tenant for the entire building,” Fitzgerald adds. 
Fitzgerald also applauds International House’s “outstanding green credentials”, including a 6 Star Green Star rating.
“Around 3,500 cubic metres of sustainably-grown and recycled timber was used in construction, which saved thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions by cutting down on concrete. The use of natural materials makes International House a warm and welcoming building that also promotes an innovative approach to sustainable growth,” Fitzgerald adds.
Lendlease also took home the RLB NSW Development of the Year award in 2018 for Barangaroo South.
“Lendlease has set an ambitious carbon-neutral goal for the entire Barangaroo South precinct, and International House Sydney contributes to this goal while also showcasingour industry’s contribution to a low-carbon future,” Fitzgerald adds.
The NSW Development of the Year award is part of the national 2019 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards program. RLB has partnered with the Property Council to present the awards program since its inception in 1982. 
International House is vying for the SAS International Award for Best Office Development and the WSP Award for Best Sustainable Development – New Buildings at the national awards, which will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney on Friday 17 May.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Barangaroo South's International House Sydney wins NSW’s top property honour

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
More shared spaces, safer streets and fewer cars in the city are all part of a <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/news-and-media/Pages/Ten-year-transport-plan-to-create-more-space-for-people.aspx" target="_blank">newly released 10-year plan</a> by the City of Melbourne. <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/pages/Future-Melbourne-Committee-7-May-2019.aspx" target="_blank">This evening</a>, Town Hall will consider the ambitious <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/MeetingAgendaItemAttachments/856/15289/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.4.pdf" target="_blank">draft transport strategy</a> that would boost pedestrian, cycling and tram access across the CBD’s <a href="https://ictedservices.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5537796fd883401b7c951605c970b-pi" target="_blank">Hoddle Grid</a>.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272690/original/file-20190506-103053-17wr7re.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/272690/original/file-20190506-103053-17wr7re.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A map of central Melbourne, with the Hoddle Grid, including the ‘little’ streets, at its heart. <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_central_Melbourne_3384553.PNG" target="_blank">Wikimedia</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA</a>
A significant amount of on-street parking and road space would be reallocated to walking, cycling and greenery. Some “little” streets would be converted to shared zones that give priority to pedestrians, with reduced speed limits. <a href="https://www.sfmta.com/demand-responsive-parking" target="_blank">Variable parking pricing</a> would be trialled and <a href="https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/12/how-to-fix-traffic-congestion-in-australia/" target="_blank">congestion charging</a> not be ruled out.
The strategy recognises the role of technology in delivering community benefits. It supports trials of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/5/1262" target="_blank">shared mobility</a> (all types of conveniently accessible rental vehicles) and <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-mobility-as-a-service-maas-to-solve-our-transport-woes-some-things-need-to-change-105119" target="_blank">tech-enabled seamless travel solutions</a> (people using mobility as a service, typically via an app and single payment platform, when they need it).
The result of these digital technology-driven mobility shifts is a lower proportion of people owning vehicles.
The strategy also foresees transport in the city will be emissions-free by 2050. On-demand <a href="https://theconversation.com/get-set-for-take-off-in-electric-aircraft-the-next-transport-disruption-114178" target="_blank">travel and deliveries by air</a> could be in the mix of solutions.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272671/original/file-20190506-103078-14bcp3p.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/272671/original/file-20190506-103078-14bcp3p.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
An analysis of public feedback to the city council on walking in the city. <a class="source" href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transportstrategy" target="_blank">Participate Melbourne/Melbourne City</a>
While the plan might seem radical, these policies are sensible, comprehensive and crucial to the city’s future. They’re aligned with <a href="https://theconversation.com/four-ways-our-cities-can-cut-transport-emissions-in-a-hurry-avoid-shift-share-and-improve-106076" target="_blank">best practice</a> in leading global cities.
Some cities have far more aggressive policies and emissions reduction targets. Around the world, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/cities-going-car-free-ban-2018-12?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank">15 cities</a> are already starting to ban cars altogether from urban centres.
Melbourne’s transport strategy “refresh” follows a year of reviews and public consultation (you can see the public responses <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transportstrategy" target="_blank">here</a>).
There will be implementation challenges, which the draft strategy acknowledges. It notes the need to provide access for people with disability.
The plan also includes ongoing access for commercial vehicles, delivery vans and emergency services.
Responding to travel trends
The new strategy recognises that Melburnians’ travel habits have changed and will continue to adapt to modern-day urban living. This includes recent trends towards increased use of public transport and active travel options such as cycling and walking.
Today, walking accounts for about 90% of all travel in the Hoddle Grid, yet pedestrians are <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/cbd-drivers-could-spend-more-time-at-red-lights-under-council-plan-20190502-p51jkg" target="_blank">allocated only 24% of street space</a>.
Across Melbourne since 2003, the <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/2018/files/infrastructure-statistics-yearbook-2018.pdf" target="_blank">growth in public transport use has been around three times the growth in private transport use</a>. Over this time the <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/2018/files/infrastructure-statistics-yearbook-2018.pdf" target="_blank">growth in car use has been slower than population growth</a>.
Growth in private and public transport passenger kilometres in Melbourne since 2003
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272643/original/file-20190505-103045-1dxxfi3.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
More than 900,000 people move into, within and through the municipality each day, the strategy notes. This is expected to climb to 1.4 million people a day in 2036. The city’s streets and places would need to adapt to support these changes.
Another policy in the draft strategy is to reduce through-traffic. Around 43% of cars coming into the city are heading for a destination beyond the Hoddle Grid. Spencer Street, King Street and William Street carry most of that traffic.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272657/original/file-20190505-103053-1sw4vip.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Proportion of through-traffic entering the Hoddle Grid at each entry point. <a class="source" href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/MeetingAgendaItemAttachments/856/15289/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.4.pdf" target="_blank">City of Melbourne, Draft Transport Strategy 2030, page 53</a>
The strategy calls for the city council to work with government to contain through-traffic to freeways and arterial roads. Removing non-essential vehicle trips can free up space to make streets safer and more efficient. It also improves access for emergency vehicles, on-road public transport and deliveries.
Rethinking transport priorities
The draft strategy represents a call for action to overcome unsustainable transport practices. For Melbourne to thrive, the transport priorities need to be rearranged to meet travel demand, emissions targets and citizens’ changing needs.
In adopting this approach, the strategy reflects the changing landscape and emerging trends of urban mobility, as well as community expectations.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272653/original/file-20190505-103068-t7wyc4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
The changing landscape of urban mobility. <a class="source" href="https://www2.theiet.org/resources/books/transport/lowcarbmob.cfm" target="_blank">Low Carbon Mobility for Future Cities: Principles and Applications</a>, Author provided
The draft strategy gives priority to policy solutions that will improve liveability and promote a safe and healthy city. These focus on active modes of transport, integrating transport and land use, investments in pedestrian-oriented initiatives, optimising use of scarce space and encouraging public transport.
The strategy also looks to overcome barriers to urban innovation. It points to the need for more agile regulation to support emerging modes of travel such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-problem-isnt-dockless-share-bikes-its-the-lack-of-bike-parking-102985" target="_blank">dockless bikes</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/banning-tiny-vehicles-would-deny-us-smarter-ways-to-get-around-our-cities-113111" target="_blank">e-scooters</a>.
What’s the next step?
Councillors will consider the draft strategy at a <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/pages/Future-Melbourne-Committee-7-May-2019.aspx" target="_blank">Future Melbourne Committee meeting today</a>. If endorsed, it will be released for further public consultation and feedback for six weeks.
The strategy will require a shift in travel behaviour. Whether the public embraces or objects to the new policy directions remains to be seen. The details will be critical.
Many would be excited by this vision and would want certain policies rolled out today, not by 2030. Others might be sceptical and some would still want to drive into the inner city, even if other attractive travel options are made available.
If well executed and implemented, the strategy’s proposals will improve liveability and access to the city. Together with some state government projects, such as <a href="https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project" target="_blank">Melbourne Metro</a>, these policies will help to modernise the city’s infrastructure to meet the needs for smart and sustainable growth and jobs.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116518/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;">
Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology
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/move-away-from-a-car-dominated-city-looks-radical-but-its-a-sensible-plan-for-a-liveable-future-116518" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Move away from a car-dominated city looks radical but it’s a sensible plan for a liveable future

<html><body>
The north-western Sydney suburb Castle Hill is seen as a desirable location and a suburb many locals aspire to live in, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
"This suburb provides a variety of real estate, but houses begin from $1.2 million for entry-level dwellings to executive style mansions at between $3 million and $4 million," says the valuation firm. 
The report notes the main draw cards are high quality schools, larger blocks, quiet leafy streets and close proximity to a major shopping centre, bulky goods precinct and the Norwest business park.
In addition there are two new train stations being built within the suburb.
The median value in Castle Hill for houses in 2018 was $1.4 million, according to realestate.com.au.
"For that sort of money, you can get an updated four-bedroom home on a decent parcel of land with potentially a pool," says the HTW report. 
The house at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-castle+hill-130380630" target="_blank"> 23 St Marks Avenue </a>(pictured below) recently sold for $1.35 million and provides four bedrooms, three bathrooms, double garage and a pool on a 923 square metre block.
<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/2019/5/7/castle%20hill%201.jpg" alt="">
An example of a high-end property is this six-bedroom, six-bathroom executive dwelling at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-castle+hill-128303606" target="_blank">3 Lomond Place </a>(below) with an eight-car garage.
This home features high quality inclusions with an in ground pool all improved on 2,000 square metres of landscaped land. This property sold for $3.8 million in June 2018.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/7/castle%20hill%202.jpg" alt="">
"The absolute entry level for dwellings in Castle Hill is the sub-$1 million market. Any dwellings under this mark have a number of less desirable features, but for the savvy purchaser, present a foothold in the market," says the HTW valuer.
The dwelling at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-castle+hill-130174250" target="_blank">3 Gary Street</a> (pictured below) sold for $940,500 in January. It provides three bedrooms and one bathroom with a built-in garage.
Overall the property is in below average condition and is positioned on a 696 square metre corner block.
<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/2019/5/7/castle%20hill%203.jpg" alt="">
"The compromise for buying this property is being located on the outskirts of Castle Hill and the dwelling is in need of attention which could be costly. Is it worth it? It all depends on what you want.
"Some people want a detached house they can add value to and escape strata living. Others may wish to spend similar money on a more modern townhouse offering the same or maybe more accommodation with superior features throughout.
"Long term, land in Sydney will become more valuable and having 700 square metres in Castle Hill should prove to be a smart decision."
In the past five years, dwellings in Castle Hill have risen 52% off the back of a huge price boom in Sydney.
While the median has dropped in the past 12 months, Castle Hill in the long term is seen as "a wise move given the solid fundamentals and major draw cards that underpin the area", said HTW. 
</body></html>

Castle Hill could be a good long-term investment: HTW residential 

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
The Newcastle Herald has won eight Walkley awards for journalistic excellence over the past seven years. This includes a Gold Walkley for the groundbreaking reportage that led to Australia’s royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse. It has told stories of national and international importance.
But this local newspaper, serving the NSW regional city of Newcastle and the surrounding Hunter region, is not profitable enough for Nine Entertainment Co, which acquired it in the takeover of Fairfax Media last year.
Nine has offloaded it and the rest of Fairfax’s Australian Community Media (ACM) division, comprising about 160 regional news titles, 130 community-based news websites and 650 editorial staff.
But this is the best news the staff of the Newcastle Herald have had for a long time. There’s a cautious optimism among both staff and readers that the newspaper (which began as the Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News in 1858) could undergo – like the city itself – revitalisation.
Cautious optimism
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272289/original/file-20190502-103063-pwor6g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
The Newcastle Herald, Saturday December 8, 2018. The Newcastle Herald
The new owner is a consortium of former Fairfax real estate supremo Antony Catalano and the Thorney Investment Group, a company that “concentrates on producing <a href="https://www.thorneyopportunities.com.au/news-announcements" target="_blank">absolute returns for shareholders</a> over the medium to long term”.
Catalano has said he plans to “grow the business, not shrink it to greatness”. He has assured Herald staff that he is about “hiring, not firing”. That’s comforting following cutbacks and two brutal rounds of redundancies in the past seven years.
Yet these inspiring assurances may prove hard to keep.
Newspapers – and journalism more generally – still face structural headwinds. Neither platform prophets nor philanthropists have found a dead-cert solution to the dried-up rivers of gold once richly fed by classified and display advertising streams.
The ACM division is still profitable, but its revenue in the first half of the 2019 financial year was down 8% on the previous year (A$194.1 million, against A$212.1 million), with advertising revenue down 13% (to A$121.2 million).
So optimism about the benevolence of the Herald’s new owner must be cautious indeed.
Benefiting the community
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/272273/original/file-20190502-103049-1hdomjp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=27%2C22%2C1496%2C2129&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="" width="235" height="334">
The Newcastle Herald, Monday, October 22, 2018. The Newcastle Herald
But optimistic we must be. Research provides empirical evidence to support just how important a local newspaper is to a local community.
According to a US study published in the <a href="https://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/public-finance-local-news.php" target="_blank">Columbia Journalism Review</a> in 2018, local government becomes more wasteful without a local newspaper.
The researchers compared local government costs in counties where a newspaper had closed with demographically comparable counties still with a newspaper. It’s evidence media scrutiny is essential to governments being kept accountable.
Local media coverage is also associated with better informed voters and higher voter turnouts, the study’s authors suggest.
Good local journalism sees, knows and cares about the local community. It reflects that community’s history, present and where its future might lie.
Setting the agenda
This is certainly the case with the Newcastle Herald.
Newcastle is the nation’s second-biggest non-capital city, with a population of about 325,000; the population of the Greater Hunter Region is about 625,000. The Newcastle Herald is the only newspaper serving the region six days a week.
As such the newspaper plays a significant role in setting the news agenda for other local media.
Journalists and production staff at remaining commercial news outlets in Newcastle all operate – in the words of one senior newsroom contact – on the smell of an oily rag. Repeated savage cuts and increased networking have played their part in reducing commercial radio bulletins to rip-and-reads of the day’s Herald. Even the ABC has decreased the number of local radio bulletins it provides.
The Newcastle Herald clearly influences the city’s only local commercial television news bulletin (from NBN Television, owned by Nine Entertainment).
Local, original stories
The Herald has maintained its relevance largely because of the local, original stories it has pursued. It has done this despite its own newsroom being slashed, with a third of the journalists it had seven years ago.
Its much admired reporting on child sexual abuse (the Catholic diocese of Newcastle-Maitland was a hotspot of crimes and cover-ups) is just one example.
The paper has also led the way with coverage of the <a href="https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5309813/a-catastrophe-for-some-women-pelvic-mesh-report/" target="_blank">medical traumas of local women</a> that propelled a <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/MeshImplants" target="_blank">Senate inquiry</a> into pelvic mesh devices in 2017.
It also exposed the story of Cabbage Tree Road, a cluster of 50 cancer cases near a drain carrying toxic chemicals from the Williamtown RAAF base. The Herald’s reporting came from journalists knocking on the door of every home on the road. (The NSW Health Department <a href="https://www.theherald.com.au/stry/5229588/outcry-as-study-dismisses-williamtowns-cancer-cluster-fears/?cs=6099" target="_blank">has dismissed</a> there being a link.)
Investigative journalism is expensive to produce. No other local commercial outlet in the area has the resources to do public-interest and accountability journalism. They all rely on the Newcastle Herald to set the agenda.
For the good of Newcastle and dozens of other local regional and rural communities, we can only hope the Herald’s new owner can do better than its last.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116276/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;">
Paul Scott, Lecturer, School of Creative Industries, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-a-local-newspaper-means-to-a-regional-city-like-newcastle-116276" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

What a local newspaper means to a regional city like Newcastle 

<html><body>
The RBA has resisted calls to cut the official cash rate, but will be looking closely at this month’s employment data, whether wages growth remains flat and potentially the next round of inflation figures before they pull the trigger. 
Sally Tindall, research director at RateCity.com.au, said borrowers might have to wait until August before getting a rate cut. 
“Australia didn’t get a rate cut, but it’s still not off the cards. Based on the May statement from Phillip Lowe, its likely they’ll hold off until they see more consistent trends in employment and inflation,” she said.   
“But consumers don’t have to wait for the RBA to save money on their home loan. 
“The downturn in the market is putting pressure on banks’ bottom lines. What they need is more business on their books. 
“The best way for borrowers to get a rate cut is to turn themselves from an existing customer into a new one.”
How to get yourself a rate cut 
“Go online, find out what your bank is offering new customers, but also see what others are offering, because ultimately the lower the rate, the more money you’ll have left in your pocket,” said Tindall.
“Call your bank and ask them to match the rate offered to new customers, and if they aren’t prepared to budge you are well within your right to take your business to another lender; that’s the beauty of a variable home loan rate.” 
Lowest ongoing variable rates
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap> </td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap> </td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Company
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Rate
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Reduce Home Loans
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
3.44%
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Freedom Lend
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
3.44%
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Loans.com.au
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
3.48%
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</body></html>

Rates remain on hold for the 33rd month, but here’s how to get a rate cut

<html><body>
A three bedroom Eglinton, Western Australia home has been listed by mortgagees for $325,000.
John Douglas of Professionals holds the listing. 
Nestled on a 290 sqm allotment, the 2014 built home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-eglinton-131126606" target="_blank">87 Cinnabar Drive</a> comes with open-plan living/dining area, home theatre/formal lounge, modern kitchen, carpeted master bedroom and two other bedrooms. 
Other features include internal laundry, reverse cycle air conditioning and rear access to double lock up garage. 
The house is situated opposite a park.
It was previously listed with a price guide of $339,000 and $369,000 back in June 2018 which was reduced to $329,000 by the end of November 2018 when the property was taken off market again.
Last sold in 2013 the previous home traded for $193,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
According to CoreLogic, the annual change in median price in <a href="/developments/eglinton-wa-6034">Eglinton</a> over the past 10 years is -2.8%.
</body></html>

Three bedroom Eglinton, WA mortgagee home listed for $325,000

<html><body>
A four bedroom Cranbrook, Queensland house has been listed for mortgagee sale with a price guide of $249,000.
Annette Rowlings of Explore Property Townsville holds the listing.
Set on a 635 sqm block, the hi-set home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-cranbrook-131146058" target="_blank">41 Bergin Road</a> comprises four bedrooms upstairs, kitchen and iving zones downstairs plus extra rooms, inground swimming pool and undercover outdoor entertaining area. 
Other features include power room, garden shed and off street parking. 
It's close to James Cook University, Townsville General Hospital and Stockland Shopping Centre.  
Last sold in 1996 the home traded for $146,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a house in <a href="/developments/cranbrook-qld-4814">Cranbrook</a> sits at $240,750, according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -2.8%.
</body></html>

Cranbrook, Queensland mortgagee home with salt water pool listed for $249,000

<html><body>
A two bedroom Southern Sydney apartment has been listed for mortgagee sale with a price guide of $450,000.
Dimitri Keramea and Bobbi Trajkovski of Laing + Simmons St George hold the listing.
With elevated views of the district and city, the apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-miranda-131152510" target="_blank">45/19 Central Road, Miranda</a> features open plan lounge and dining area, two bedrooms, and internal laundry which can be converted into study. 
It's within close proximity to Westfield, Miranda Station, parks and eateries. 
It has been scheduled for a June 1st auction. 
Last sold in 2001 the home transacted for $300,000.
<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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt="">
The median price for a unit in <a href="/developments/miranda-nsw-2228">Miranda</a> is $685,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 6.9%.
 
</body></html>

Two bedroom Miranda, NSW apartment listed by mortgagee

<html><body>
A three bedroom Faulconbridge, New South Wales mortgagee home has been scheduled for auction on June 8 with a price guide of $460,000. 
Mark Barton of Bartons Real Estate Springwood holds the listing.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-faulconbridge-131153678" target="_blank">93 Chapman Parade</a>, the house comes with three bedrooms, entertaining area, utility room, two street access and big yard. 
The 1980 built home is within close proximity to primary and secondary schools. 
Set on 697 sqm the home was last listed as a rental in 2011 with an asking price of $370/pw.
Last sold in 2013 the home transacted for $390,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a house in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/A%20three%20bedroom%20Faulconbridge,%20New%20South%20Wales%20mortgagee%20home%20has%20been%20scheduled%20for%20auction%20on%20June%208%20with%20a%20price%20guide%20of%20%24460,000.%20" target="_blank">Faulconbridge</a> is $685,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 6.4%. 
</body></html>

Faulconbridge, NSW home set for mortgagee auction hammer

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA WA) has congratulated the WA state government on a return to surplus in this year’s budget, however expressed a level of disappointment that this has not led to more significant stimulus measures for the struggling property market.  The Treasurer should be commended for his careful management of the state’s finances to get us to the point of a surplus in 2019/20 and progress toward his 150,000 new jobs target. While we welcome the temporary increases to Keystart thresholds that are the result of this stronger financial position, we do think that there is more the McGowan government could do to support people purchasing homes. The property industry has a significant impact on the WA economy contributing approximately $21 billion to Gross State Product in 2017/18, therefore measures to support households can also significantly boost our economy and local jobs.  The state government’s revenue, via property taxes in particular, would be boosted considerably if the property market recovery was further supported  The budget papers on one hand, recognise the decreased revenues that have resulted from ongoing weaker property market conditions and on the other hand, make predictions in the forward estimates about projected increases in revenue that are expected to come from sources such as transfer duty. Unless we see more support for the recovery, the government will not see an increase in revenue from these sources. FOREIGN BUYERS SURCHARGE:
UDIA also believes that the Foreign Buyers Surcharge (the surcharge) is not providing the government with as much revenue as was initially predicted in last year’s budget papers.  Last year the Treasurer was very enthusiastic about the prospect of about $120 million in expected revenue over four years resulting from the surcharge.  This year, the surcharge revenue figures are hard to judge given they are buried in the broader Transfer Duty line items. Last year the surcharge was listed as a separate line item with clear forward estimates related to revenue.   I just don’t see how that target will be reached given the decline in foreign investment we are experiencing,  when attracting foreign investment free of surcharges could have been a unique selling proposition and drive further investment for Perth. MARKET STIMULUS:
In terms of further market stimulus, UDIA wants to see a stamp duty concession introduced for seniors looking to downsize into more liveable homes.  As well as ensuring that seniors live in homes suitable to their needs, broader government revenues would benefit from a concession on stamp duty given the greater market activity it would generate.  Not to mention that it will free up more homes for younger families to access,. I hope that the Treasurer is true to the advice he gave to us today and considers a seniors stamp duty concession as the state finances continue to improve. INFRASTRUCTURE:
UDIA has also welcomed expenditure on METRONET, redevelopment plans for the East Perth Power Station and other major road infrastructure.  It is very encouraging to see that construction will start on the Thornlie-Cockburn and Yanchep rail lines this year.
The precincts around the new stations will create important opportunities to provide a diversity of more affordable, connected housing to the people of WA.
Infrastructure costs have fallen significantly in recent years, and given the surplus achieved and forecast, there is no better time for the government to invest in infrastructure. We are still keen to find out what the government’s value capture policy will be so that industry has more clarity regarding how that will impact development in those precincts. Details on Value Capture have not been listed in the budget papers.   Overall, UDIA is pleased to see that the state is in a more stable financial position than it has been in recent years and we trust that the state government will build on the Keystart initiative and continue to support the property market recovery moving forward.
TANYA STEINBECK is the UDIA WA CEO
</body></html>

WA government must build on initial housing stimulus measures: UDIA WA's Tanya Steinbeck

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <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>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Staff reporter

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News