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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia’s electricity sector has begun to transition away from coal, with coal’s contribution to our electricity mix falling from around four-fifths 13 years ago to around three-fifths today.
Twelve coal-fired power stations closed between 2012 and 2017.
There are clear upsides to the transition, among them an ongoing <a href="/news">decline</a> in carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector.
For local economies, however, the closure of a coal-fired power station can create economic challenges, including higher unemployment.
We’ve quantified the effects of 12 closures
In a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-8489.12289" target="_blank">new paper</a> in the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, we use detailed Statistical Area Level 4 (<a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1270.0.55.001%7EJuly%202016%7EMain%20Features%7EStatistical%20Area%20Level%204%20(SA4)%7E10016" target="_blank">SA4</a>) data to quantify the extent to which local unemployment rates have increased following the closures of twelve coal-fired power stations across Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
There are 87 SA4 regions in Australia, each with an average population of around 290,000 people. We found that on average the regional unemployment rate climbs by around 0.7 percentage points after a station closes.
The effect remains observable for year or two, although it varies from region to region.
Clearly, labour mobility and the creation of new jobs do not fully make up for the impact of such closures.
This means there is scope and need for strategies to smooth the labour market transition as we move towards a lower-carbon energy system.
What we found
A simple look at the data indicates that local unemployment rates tend to rise after closures, both in absolute terms and relative to what is happening at the state level.
We find that this effect remains when controlling for the impacts of other key factors, such as macroeconomic shocks and the coal export price.
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/266292/original/file-20190328-139364-g9g1jv.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/266292/original/file-20190328-139364-g9g1jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-8489.12289" target="_blank">Burke, Best, Jotzo, 2019</a>
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Typically the increase in the first year is around 0.7 percentage points – for example, from 6.0% prior to a closure to 6.7% afterwards. It is a sizeable effect. For males the increase is 0.9 percentage points.
The Latrobe Valley in Victoria faces one of the biggest structural adjustment challenges. It has seen two closures of coal-fired power stations in recent years: Morwell in 2014 and Hazelwood in 2017.
As the graph below indicates, the average unemployment rate in the Latrobe-Gippsland SA4 region climbed well above the Victorian average after the first closure, before turning down.
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/266330/original/file-20190328-139371-9lm7bd.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/266330/original/file-20190328-139371-9lm7bd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/PrimaryMainFeatures/6291.0.55.001" target="_blank">ABS Labour Force, detailed</a>
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A multitude of local transition efforts are underway, coordinated by the <a href="https://lva.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">Latrobe Valley Authority</a>. These have included a <a href="https://lva.vic.gov.au/worker-transfer-scheme/" target="_blank">worker transfer scheme</a> that has found places for displaced employees at other power stations.
At the even finer-grained level SA2 level, the unemployment rate in the town of Morwell remaines stuck at around <a href="https://docs.jobs.gov.au/documents/sa2-data-tables-small-area-labour-markets-september-quarter-2018" target="_blank">17%</a>, one of the highest rates in Victoria, years after the closure. Before the closure it was around 13%.
The region’s remaining power stations – Yallourn W, Loy Yang A and Loy Yang B – are ageing. Yallourn W is the oldest, at 45 years.
We need to prepare
Structural change is an ever-present feature of a healthy economy. But, especially where rapid structural change happens due to closures of large plants in regional areas, it is important to have measures in place to ease the transition.
The Labor party has promised a national <a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-policy-can-smooth-the-energy-transition-but-much-more-will-be-needed-to-tackle-emissions-107565" target="_blank">Just Transition Authority</a> to plan for and manage the transition process as coal-fired power stations close. Whether it can help mitigate rises in local unemployment after plant closures remains to be seen.
Many of Australia’s remaining coal-fired power stations are likely to close over the next decade or two as renewable energy becomes more cost competitive and the pressure increases to meet emissions targets. The next cab off the rank is likely to be the Liddell power station in the NSW Hunter Valley, which is due to cease coal-fired operations <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/agl-tells-shareholders-it-will-close-liddell-power-plant-in-2022-20180926-p50633" target="_blank">in 2022</a>.
And then there’s the larger question of the transition away from coal mining. Export demand for coal <a href="https://coaltransitions.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/coaltransitions_finalreport_australia_20181.pdf" target="_blank">is set to fall over time</a>, winding back a large export industry in New South Wales and Queensland.
The <a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-policy-can-smooth-the-energy-transition-but-much-more-will-be-needed-to-tackle-emissions-107565" target="_blank">Just Transition Authority</a> will have its work cut out.
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This research was supported by the Coal Transitions Project and the Australian-German Energy Transition Hub. An open access version of the research paper is available <a href="https://ccep.crawford.anu.edu.au/publication/ccep-working-paper/12998/closures-coal-fired-power-stations-australia-local-unemployment">here</a>.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113369/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 Burke, Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Rohan Best, Lecturer in Economics, Macquarie 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/bad-news-closing-coal-fired-power-stations-costs-jobs-we-need-to-prepare-113369" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Closing coal-fired power stations costs jobs - we need to prepare

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A Sunshine Coast investor, who was familiar with the Coolum commercial market, has snapped an industrial warehouse for $245,000.
The property at <a id="LPlnk154374" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLe+gWUrddmiCFEoTVfSuCLXq+FkE4p1rusvbe7meTHQf0FT1KP5siqkiZ3XYT4UQ6hYdTssQlpCNsY8mJKNBQQzjGzAAeLTRh3pvkzNnsVVmBjRBbxhrwglxTwOImA4bMFb+I4gG26KBMVjOjPsJh8sw==&amp;rh=ff0048223b214747420b0ac7ba40be363f116da1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">13/25 Quanda Road, Coolum Beach</a> came with a 113 square metre building area, was part of a strata tilted slab block of 19 units with easy access to the Bruce Highway and Sunshine Coast Motorway.
The asset was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial Noosa and Sunshine Coast North Property Consultant Tracey Ryan.
Ryan said the team had worked on the original development of the unit complex, selling 14 of the original 19, in the first offering.
“The unit featured retail style shop fronts on two sides, allowing two-street access and flow-through from two sides,” she said.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/7/RWC%20Quanda25_13%209.jpg" alt="">
The Quanda Road development is at the gateway to the Coolum Industrial Estate and has always sold and leased well.
“Unit 13 was a resale for a previous investor,” Ryan said.
“The property had been continuously let for the previous eight years, with some improvements being made in that time, including an open mezzanine office.
“The seller was divesting to consolidate his Brisbane-based investments and the new owner had a prospective tenant secured for post-purchase.
“The price reflected the range for sales rates in the area. The Coolum Beach small industrial unit market continues to be buoyant, with more than 70 units sold in the past two years.”
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Coolum industrial warehouse sells for $245,000

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Australia now has 2,156,319 property investors, according to the ATO.
                     Tax year 2016-17         Tax year 2015-16
One property             1,536,112           1,493,982
Two properties              407,971              395,910
Three properties            125,915              122,654
Four properties                46,460              45,229
Five properties                 19,504              18,872
Six or more                     20,357               20,017
Total                          2,156,319          2,096,664
That's a jump of 59,000 fresh investors in the 2016-17 tax year.
But the number of investors with six or more properties has barely risen with the latest ATO tally putting it at 20,357 investors in the 2016-17 tax year.
It was 20,023 in tax year 2015-16.
It is this six or more investor demographic that has attracted the attention of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in his pursuit of negative gearing changes.
The Opposition leader Bill Shorten has conceded that Labor's negative gearing/capital gains tax reforms were not “universally loved.”
“I would rather see more young couples buy their first home, than spend billions subsidising investors acquiring multiple properties,” Shorten argues.
“All of the experts know that with scarce taxpayer dollars it’s better to put money into health and aged care than give a tax subsidy to someone buying their sixth or seventh investment property,” Mr Shorten said.
According to ATO statistics a steady 71 per cent of the Australians with rental properties have just the one investment.
That's 1,536,112 individuals with the one property.
There are 1,300,344 individuals who own loss making rental properties.
There are 855,975 individuals who are in a rent neutral/profit situation with their rental investment.
An interest in a property means the property is solely owned, jointly owned or part-year owned – for example, bought or sold a property during the year.
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Australia now has 2,156,319 property investors

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It takes around eight years to save to buy an apartment in Manly, often referred to as seven miles from Sydney and 1000 miles from care.
Now the northern beaches suburb has become the priciest entry point for first time apartment buyers.
It takes the average person eight years and five months to save for a deposit, according to Domain's latest data.
Manly's $890,000 entry point is the highest across the country. 
It's overtaken the pricey northern part of the Eastern suburbs, having seen its YoY deposit saving time get shorter by four months, compared to the Northern Eastern Suburbs area which has sped up seven months.
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In Melbourne, Bayside ranks as the area where it takes the longest to save for an apartment.
Its $570,000 entry price is the only area in the state where the entry price is over $500,000.
It takes around five years and nine months to save for an apartment, down from its six year time estimate last year. 
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Eight years to save a deposit for a Manly apartment

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Australia has a new richest postcode, Palm Beach the pricey peninsula playground.
It the first time in seven years that the Sydney Northern Beaches location has dethroned the Point Piper, Edgecliff, Darling Point postcode, according to Australian Taxation Office statistics released late on Thursday.
The 1,279 tax filers in Palm Beach's 2108 postcode reported an average income of $230,330 for 2016/17, while the 6,089 tax filers in Edgecliff's 2027 postcode made an average of $187,769.
<div class="widget widget-ad ">
<div class="advert" data-module="article.ad" data-ad-type="MEDIUM" data-loc="MOBILE" data-max-width="727" data-sticky-class="" data-sticky-offset="0">Postcode 2027 had ranked as Sydney's highest earning postcode since 2009/10.</div>
<div class="advert" data-module="article.ad" data-ad-type="MEDIUM" data-loc="MOBILE" data-max-width="727" data-sticky-class="" data-sticky-offset="0"> </div>
<div class="advert" data-module="article.ad" data-ad-type="MEDIUM" data-loc="MOBILE" data-max-width="727" data-sticky-class="" data-sticky-offset="0">Although in 2016/17 it also ranked behind Melbourne's 3142, where the 10,044 filers in Toorak made an average of $193,904.</div>
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Palm Beach's 2108 postcode also includes Scotland Island, Coasters Retreat, Great Mackerel Beach and Currawong Beach.
The rankings reflects the trend in the past few years of owners turning Palm Beach holiday homes into principal residences.
It is not the first time a beach retreat location has ranked at the top of the ATO list as in 2008/09 the postcode 3944 - the Mornington Peninsula suburb of Portsea - was the top-earning postcode, with an average income of $197,987.
WA's 6011 was the richest postcode in Western Australia, with the 6,431 tax filers living in Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove on Perth's western suburbs made an average of $155,264.
In ACT, the 2603 was richest, with 6,650 tax-filers in Forrest, Griffith, Manuka and Red Hill earned an average of $110,394.
In Queensland, 4007 took the top spot, with 9,278 residents of Ascot, Hamilton and Hamilton Central in northeast Brisbane earning an average of $107,478.
South Australia's top postcode was 5061, where 6,587 residents of Hyde Park, Malvern and Unley in inner-southern Adelaide made an average of $93,871.
In the Northern Territory, 885 residents in the mining town of Alyangula - postcode 885 - made an average of $83,343.
Tasmania's top postcode was 7258, where the 571 residents of the Launceston suburbs of Breadalbane, Relbia and White Hills made an average of $68,621.
The lowest-earning postcode was 2308, covering Newcastle University and Callaghan, with an average taxable income of $20,589.
The second-lowest was 4611 in Queensland, where Marshlands and Mondure residents earned an average of $23,225.
Queensland had five of the bottom 10 postcodes, with 4611 recording the second lowest average income nationally of $23,225.
The report also showed that surgeons were once again the top-earning profession, making an average of $394,866.
Anaesthetists came second, earning $367,343 on average.
Out of 1,100 occupations recorded, there were 72 where women made more than men, including authors, future traders, magistrates, pro surfers and illustrators, the ATO statistics showed in 2016/17.
The Herald Sun reported female futures traders in Australia earn nearly 4 per cent more than their male counterparts, with an average income of $315,197.
This year’s stats present an overview of 16.5 million 2017 income tax returns for 13.9 million individuals, 970,000 companies, as well as super funds, partnerships and trusts. 
Australians reported donating $3.5 billion in charitable donations with an average gift size for those who did donate of $770.
The most generous state was Western Australia, with 30 per cent of residents claiming an average deduction of $1190. 
Northern Territory residents recorded the lowest charitable donations, with 34 per cent of residents claiming an average deduction of $405.
 
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Shift to residency sees Sydney's Palm Beach top ATO tax payers list

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Investors will have just over six months to secure established property acquisitions to negatively gear if Labor wins the anticipated May election, it will be confirmed today.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen will use a speech to the Financial Services Council to announce January 1, 2020 as the start date for the policy, The Australian Financial Review indicated. 
The date also applies to the grandfathered capital gains tax policy.
The policy will need to pass through the Senate to take effect should Labor win government.
The timing announcement is likely to take any urgent imperative out of investors seeking to secure a negatively geared acquisition before the upcoming Federal election.
The six months following could see a spike in investor interest in securing established properties to negatively gear.
However this week The Urban Development Institute of Australia warned that the policy after implementation would see investors likely rely only on owner-occupiers to buy any listed investment properties which could be a "tough landscape" for investors.
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has reiterated its strong opposition to the Labor Party’s negative gearing and capital gains tax policy following the announcment that the 1 January 2020 would be the start date for their negative gearing and capital gains tax increases if they were to win the Federal election. 
“The REIA has always been concerned with the impact the policy would have on housing markets, buyers, renters and economic activity,” REIA President Adrian Kelly said.  “This concern is magnified in the current market. 
“There is almost truck loads of analysis and reports showing the adverse impacts of the policy on mum and dad investors, home owners, renters, the construction industry, state governments and the economy.
“The latest was last week when SQM Research showed that:  house prices would drop between 5% to 12% on a weighted average for the capital cities for 2020 to 2022 over and above any other falls being experienced; rents are expected to increase by between 8% and 15% on a weighted average for the capital cities for 2020 to 2022; housing construction activity will fall by 25% to 30% from 2019 levels, which; will have employment and GDP impacts; property sales turnover is forecast to fall by a further 12% to 15%, resulting in; a drop in state stamp duty revenue of approximately $2.3 billion.
“For first home buyers, who according to Labor, should see improved housing affordability by a “levelling of the playing field” will now face a faltering economy, lower employment prospects, the possibility of higher interest rates under a Labor Government* and higher rents whilst they save for a deposit,” Mr Kelly said.  
 
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Labor sets January 1, 2020 start date for its CGT and negative gearing policy implementation 

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Mosaic Property Group’s new boutique luxury development Bela in Mermaid Beach has secured $43 million in since its launch in mid-December 2018.
46 apartments have sold at the 25-level residential development on Peerless Avenue.
Bela is Mosaic Property Group’s first foray into the Gold Coast apartment market.
<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/2019/3/28/1.06_Exterior_Pool.jpg" alt="">
Amenities at the development include a pool, spa, steam and sauna, gym and dedicated yoga space, bike storage, residents’ deck, executive lounge, and concierge services.
Other features include a Resident’s Club on level 25 with wine cellar, private dining rooms, kitchen, library, lounge and media room. 
<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/2019/3/28/2.04_Interior_Sub-Penthouse_Kitchen.jpg" alt="">
Mosaic Property Group’s Managing Director Brook Monahan said the group wanted to create something unique for an iconic, historically significant part of the Gold Coast.
“The incredible team at Rothelowman in collaboration with Mosaic’s design team have helped translate our vision of meshing nostalgic coastal architecture with an unsurpassed residential experience that elevates the emotional connection to the water we know coastal buyers really value,” said Monahan.  
“The apartments have been designed for the discerning owner-occupier, with large open plan layouts and carefully considered details that come together to create spaces that we genuinely think people will love living in.
“And then there is the amenity, which is so far beyond anything else on offer on the Coast, particularly for a boutique building of this size.
“In fact, it's more akin to what you would see reserved for five- and six-star hotels and or buildings with far greater scale than Bela.”
Apartments at the project range from 98 square metres to 298 square metres and prices starting at $560,000 for two bedrooms, $1,015,000 for three bedrooms, and $2,450,000 for four-bedroom penthouses.
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Bela by Mosaic secures $43 million in sales in 12 weeks

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A new digital marketing tool is helping to put historic colonial-era towns on the radars of Sydney buyers according to a leading local real estate expert.
Amplify is an automated marketing for social media and search function developed by CCT and is exclusive to Raine &amp; Horne.
Chas Groom, Co-Principal Raine &amp; Horne, claims that with the help of Amplify, more than 4 million consumers viewing properties marketed by the Raine &amp; Horne group over the last year.
The technology also combines with social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn to drive more traffic to properties listed on the traditional real estate portals.
“Amplify is paying dividends for us as we can now target buyers in parts of Sydney that appear to have an interest in buying the bigger properties and old school country feel that townships such as Wilberforce and Ebenezer offer,” Groom said.
“We have a lot of younger families moving to this region, and we have much affordable housing with median three-bedroom houses selling for about $660,000 in towns such as Webbs Creek, Ebenezer, Wilberforce, and Sackville.”
Groom says the rise in interest is attributable to the technology.
“We are finding that many buyers are seeing our properties on the social media platforms thanks to Amplify and are then going to the property portals for more information before making contact with our office,” he said.
“It’s for this reason that I know that Amplify is working for our business. For example, we know that buyers are spending an average of one minute 35 seconds every time they click on one of our properties via Amplify. This compares to an industry average of about nine seconds.”
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New digital marketing tool putting historic towns on Sydney buyers' radars

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A three-storey, A-grade commercial office building at Yeerongpilly has been listed by the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation (CBIC).
The purpose-built site at 665 Fairfield Road was constructed in 2012 for the Brisbane City Council.
The site has 4,198 square metres of net lettable areas across three levels and 71 car spaces.
It is being sold fully leased with a WALE of eight years, and a further two x five-year options to extend.
Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Joint Heads of Middle Markets QLD, Mike Walsh and Peter Court along with Nick Spiro, and Savills’ Peter Chapple and Gregory Woods will manage the on-market expressions of interest campaign, due to commence on 1 April, 2019.
It is significant opportunity for investors to secure a high-quality office building, said Mike Walsh, Joint Head of Middle Markets QLD, Cushman &amp; Wakefield.
“Located in an affluent and growing inner-city area, the property is also poised to benefit from major surrounding development activity,” Walsh said.
“This includes Consolidated Properties’ $850 million Yeerongpilly Green project which will include a Woolworths-anchored shopping hub and more than 55,000 square metres of commercial space.”
Strong demand from local and offshore investors is expected, said Peter Court, Joint Head of Middle Markets QLD, Cushman &amp; Wakefield. 
“Overall, the fundamentals of the Brisbane market remain positive and we continue to see aggressive appetite for well positioned commercial building with yields continuing to compress in testing cyclical lows.”
Peter Chapple, State Director, Capital Transaction, Savills, said: “With the site 100% leased to the Brisbane City Council it will attract interest from all interest from all investor types active in the Australian market.”
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City of Brisbane list commercial office building at Yeerongpilly

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Stone Real Estate have opened a branch in the Albury Wodonga region.
Agents Craig and Kelly Huckel initially intended to become an independent agency before joining Stone.
“When we saw the way in which Stone carried out its marketing plus all the technology and strategy that goes along with presenting properties we couldn’t go past this,” said Craig Huckel (pictured above), principal of the new office. 
“We were looking to be independent but could see immediately that the way they presented themselves and as well as their properties was next level. 
“It’s a very city looking brand and we’re very excited to deliver this type of marketing into Albury Wodonga.” 
Kelly, who will serve as manager of the new office, said reactions to Stone’s website technology during their first opens during the week had been hugely favourable.
“Stone’s technology improves the customer experience enormously,” Kelly (pictured below) said. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/28/HIRES%20Kelly%20Huckel%20Stone%20Albury.jpg" alt="">
 Stone franchise director Luke Cameron said the Huckels are the ideal candidates to introduce Stone to Albury’s real estate market.
“They’re both excellent leaders and business people as proven by their track records in both real estate and their past careers,” Cameron said.
“We couldn’t be happier they’ve chosen to join Stone.”
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Stone Real Estate open branch in Albury Wodonga 

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

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

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]

Staff reporter

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