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Ivanhoe’s Woolworths full-line supermarket and BWS has hit the market with expectations of more than $20 million.
The 3,552 square metre retail asset is located at 72-84 Upper Heidelberg Road.
<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/2019/3/28/72-84%20Upper%20Heidelberg%20Road%20Ivanhoe%20-%20IMG%202.jpg" alt="">
Savills Australia’s Benson Zhou, Clinton Baxter, Julian Heatherich and Jesse Radisich have been appointed to market the property.
Zhou said they expected interest from private local and offshore investors. 
“We have three local agents and four Asian Services agents working timelessly on this campaign, and have been extremely busy answering enquiries from overseas and organising inspections,” he said.
“We have received a decent level of interest from Asian investors indicating their willingness to offer more than $20 million. 
“Chinese investors have found a great level of security in the Woolworths brand so we’re also anticipating strong contest from this buyer group, particularly given the premium Ivanhoe location – one of the best suburbs they can expect to buy a full-line Woolworths in Melbourne.” 
Zhou said the long-term lease to Woolworths Limited would be a drawcard for prospective buyers. 
“The 15-year lease covenant with six five-year options to renew is a secure investment proposition, generating a net income of about $917,078 per annum,” he said.  
Baxter said a recent $4.9 million upgrade to the premises was another key selling point.
“The asset presents significant depreciation benefits of about $14.5million,” he said. 
The property includes 178 basement car parks on title. 
Zhou said the retail catchment area would grow in line with the suburb’s population. 
“The City of Banyule’s population is forecast to grow to 147,098 by 2036,” he said. 
“As a result, there is increased residential development in the area, and a gradual upward trend in the value of building approvals.” 
Expressions of interest close Wednesday, April 10 at 2pm.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Woolworths supermarket in Ivanhoe listed with $20 million expectations 

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Century 21 Australasia has appointed industry operative Warren McCarthy as their new CEO, a decade after his last big job.
McCarthy (above) is an veteran of 35 years most recently briefly at McGrath Sutherland where he was sales manager.
He'd previously held senior roles with LJ Hooker.
It was in 2004 when McCarthy took over from Grahame Cooke as the chief executive at L J Hooker, then one of Australia's leading real estate franchise chains and one of the country's most recognisable trusted brands.
At the time the Hooker empire had 700 franchises in Australia and New Zealand, and established a number of beachheads in Asia.
Around 6500 people work under the logo, producing around $25 billion in sales in 2003.
On his 2009 departure it was reported the Suncorp-owned agency, in 12 countries, comprised over 7000 people across 750 franchises.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">He then became the managing director of McCarthy Business Consultants during which time he served on the advisory board of Nextforsale and on the advisory board for Ibuynew.</div>
McCarthy began in the family business in Helensburgh south of Sydney in 1980 and the operation became an LJ Hooker franchise in 1988.
He then joined the franchisor, rising to become associate director, before managing the LJ Hooker Double Bay operation in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
The longtime executive chairman Charles Tarbey will continue to operate as Century 21’s chairman overseeing the team and the franchisees alongside McCarthy.
Tarbey told industry websites that McCarthy brings to Century 21 "a fresh mindset."
John McGrath described McCarthy as “one of Australia’s best real estate agents” when McCarthy described McGrath Estate Agents as "the benchmark and the envy of the entire real estate industry and market leaders when it comes to marketing, training, ethics, technology and sales."
Tarbey bought the Australasian arm of the Century 21 Australasia in 1995.
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Charles Tarbey appoints Warren McCarthy as his CEO at Century 21

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A 184 hectare site in northern NSW with Major Project Approval is on the market.
The site has been approved for 1,600 residential lots and dwellings comprising residential, retirement, aged care, retail and commercial. 
The Bilambil Heights and Cobaki land site is located 7 kilometres from Coolangatta at the former home of the Terranora Lakes Country Club, which closed in 1996.
The vendor is Godfrey Mantle, who was a managing director and owner of Mantle Group Hospitality, and his wife Jenny Mantle, who purchased the property from liquidators 22 years ago.
<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/2019/3/26/RENDERED%20MASTER%20PLAN_001-%20Bilambil%20Heights.jpg" alt="">
David Higgins and James Holland of Colliers International along with Randal Wilson of Wilson Property Group are marketing the site
“The approval allows for 1,604 lots and dwellings in addition to 200 bed nursing home, which is a major project for the region and will transform the locality,” said Higgins. 
“As a former 18-hole golf course, the contours provide undulating land unique for a development of this scale.
“The current plan allows for nine precincts with a variety of housing options to be built around a retail and commercial village.
“The site is elevated with each of the nine precincts providing stunning views to the Gold Coast coastline and inland ranges. 
“Interest is expected from residential and retirement developers looking to provide much needed housing for the southern Gold Coast and northern NSW community. 
“Within 11 kilometres radius of the site there is major infrastructure development, including Gold Coast Airport’s $370 million expansion, and the proposed $582 million Tweed Valley Hospital development, which will drive growth for the region and allow it to keep up with the future demand.”
The property is being offered via an expression of interest campaign which closes 17 April 2019. 
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Northern NSW 184 hectare masterplanned community site listed

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The northern Gold Coast leisure-land of Hope Island has become critically undersupplied with less than 50 new apartments currently on the market, according to a new report. 
According to property consultants Urbis, The North Shore precinct which includes Hope Island, is the most undersupplied market on the Gold Coast for apartment buyers. 
“Since the beginning of 2016, only six new apartment projects have been launched to the market across the North Shore Precinct,” said Urbis senior consultant Lynda Campbell. 
“This has resulted in a low level of supply with the September 2018 quarter ending with only 49 new apartments available for sale. 
“This is the lowest level of supply across the four Gold Coast precincts which have supply levels ranging from 277 up to 1,190 apartments.”
Despite the supply shortfall, population forecasts indicate demand for new homes and apartments will continue to rise. 
The Hope Island catchment area is expected to house an extra 35,680 people over the 20 years to 2036, or an average of 1784 new residents a year. 
Gold Coast company Aniko Group, headed by George Mastrocostas (pictured below), has moved to fill the current void in the Hope Island market with plans to launch a major resort-style apartment project this year. 
<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/2019/3/22/George%20Mastrocostas.jpg" alt="">
Aniko Group will deliver 240 luxury apartments on an 8390 square metre waterfront site at 1 Grant Avenue. 
The move follows last year’s successful sell-out of Aniko’s Three72 Marine development at Labrador and builds on the company’s appetite for high growth markets in south-east Queensland. 
“Hope Island has been very much a slow burn in terms of its maturity as an apartment market, and it’s probably only in the last few years that we’ve really seen that start to fire up,” said Mastrocostas. 
“The area has so much going for it in terms of absolute waterfront lifestyle and key transport infrastructure, and the market is starting to respond to that, especially local buyers who know the area well. 
“Waterfront living is in demand across the Gold Coast and Hope Island is one of the few areas left in the city where we can deliver quality resort-style living without the big premium of coastal apartments. 
“Hope Island has been on our wish list for some time, so we’re excited to be bringing this project to fruition at this time. The early response we have received from the market has been very encouraging.” 
The Hope Island property market is benefitting from a raft of private and public investment being ploughed into the northern Gold Coast region. 
The recent opening of the new $65 million Hope Island Marketplace has become a key investment driver by bringing a range of amenities and new jobs to the heart of the suburb.
This comes on top of the completion of the nearby $450 million Westfield Coomera. 
Infrastructure work planned for the area includes major upgrades to M1 exits and the $400 million expansion of the Gold Coast Marine Precinct, which is set to boost local jobs. 
Anika Group is poised to officially launch 1 Grant Ave soon.
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Hope Island apartment market facing critical undersupply of stock: Urbis

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Hands were being raised furiously as a total of 26 bids saw a Clayton office/warehouse sell under the hammer on site at Unit 21, 1866 Dandenong Road, for $500,000.
With a 219 square metre total building area, <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/vic/clayton/2057662/" target="_blank">the vacant property</a> provided a balance of warehouse and office space, with three car parks on the title that included two undercover.
The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial Oakleigh Sales and Leasing Consultants Joshua Colosimo and Paul Rizzo.
Colosimo said because the business park was so tightly-held, the sale figure reflected a return of $2,500 per square metre, a record price for the estate.
“There was a genuine buzz around the auction with a crowd of 40 people turning up, and the asset eventually sold to a local investor, who will look to lease the property out,” he 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/2019/3/26/007_Open2view_ID559863.jpg" alt="">
“The opening bid started at $350,000, and with competition for the site so strong, it was 25 bids later when it eventually sold for $500,000.”   Rizzo said the potential buyers understood the office/warehouse was in a prime location in one of Clayton's most tightly-held and highly sought after business parks.   “The property included a first floor office area of 80sq m* and had ample amenities including ground and first-floor toilets and shower,” he said.   “It also came with a container-height motorized roller door, three-phase power, alarm system, split system heating/cooling and had kitchenette facilities on both the ground and first floor.”
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Clayton office//warehouse sells for $500,000 under the hammer

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GUEST OBSERVATION
If you’ve eaten fresh strawberries recently, they likely came from one of Australia’s city foodbowls. Around <a href="https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/bitstream/handle/11343/121776/Melbourne%27s%20Food%20Future%20planning%20a%20resilient%20city%20food%20bowl%20%287.1mb%29.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y" target="_blank">40% of the nation’s strawberries are produced on Melbourne’s fringe and 28% on Brisbane’s fringe</a>. All of Australia’s state capitals have city foodbowls that are an important source of fresh food, particularly fruit and vegetables.
These foodbowls also <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-climate-change-hits-our-food-supply-city-foodbowls-could-come-to-the-rescue-51406" target="_blank">increase the resilience to pressures on city food supplies from climate change</a>, particularly drought. But Australia’s cities are growing rapidly and their foodbowls are under threat as farmland gives way to housing.
The <a href="https://research.unimelb.edu.au/foodprint-melbourne" target="_blank">Foodprint Melbourne research project</a> today released its <a href="https://research.unimelb.edu.au/foodprint-melbourne/publications/roadmap-resilient-sustainable-melbourne-foodbowl" target="_blank">final report</a> outlining a “roadmap” of recommended actions for protecting and investing in Melbourne’s foodbowl. And there are signs that state governments are waking up to the threat to fresh food supplies.
In 2017, the South Australian government took action to preserve Adelaide’s foodbowl. Legislated <a href="https://www.saplanningportal.sa.gov.au/planning_reforms/new_planning_tools/environment_and_food_production_areas" target="_blank">Environment and Food Production Areas</a> now protect significant areas of farmland on the city fringe from urban development. The Queensland Farmers Federation has <a href="https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/5815518/protecting-brisbanes-foodbowl/" target="_blank">called for the Queensland government to take similar action</a> to protect Brisbane’s foodbowl.
In Victoria, the government recently began <a href="https://engage.vic.gov.au/protecting-melbournes-ag-land" target="_blank">public consultation on protecting Melbourne’s farmland</a>. The government has committed to <a href="https://www.danandrews.com.au/policies/protecting-melbournes-green-wedges-from-skyscraper-guy" target="_blank">permanently protect “strategic agricultural land”</a> on the city fringe.
This is an important step in preserving Melbourne’s foodbowl. Existing measures to protect this farmland – including the city’s <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/greenfield/more-information/urban-growth-boundary-key-facts/" target="_blank">urban growth boundary</a> and “<a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/green-wedges" target="_blank">green wedges</a>” – have not prevented ongoing loss of farmland. Stronger measures are clearly needed.
What actions does the roadmap present?
Collaboration with stakeholders from local and state government, industry, civil society groups and farmers has informed the roadmap of actions to protect Melbourne’s foodbowl.
The report recommends permanently fixing the city’s <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/greenfield/more-information/urban-growth-boundary-key-facts/" target="_blank">urban growth boundary</a> and introducing a “food production zone”. This could reduce speculative investment in farmland at risk of development. These measures would also create confidence to invest in farms and infrastructure in the foodbowl.
Protecting farmland is a critical first step in securing Australia’s city foodbowls, but this alone will not be enough.
If Australia’s city foodbowls are to continue to feed cities, farmland protection must be accompanied by other strategies. These would promote farm viability, water access, sustainable farming and <a href="https://research.unimelb.edu.au/foodprint-melbourne/publications/infographic-circular-food-systems-for-a-resilient-melbourne-foodbowl" target="_blank">recycling of nutrients essential to food production</a> (like phosphorous and nitrogen).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/265711/original/file-20190325-36264-1ctwssa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/265711/original/file-20190325-36264-1ctwssa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Roadmap for a resilient and sustainable Melbourne foodbowl. Foodprint Melbourne
<a href="https://theconversation.com/feeding-cities-in-the-21st-century-why-urban-fringe-farming-is-vital-for-food-resilience-106162" target="_blank">Promoting the viability of farming</a> in city foodbowls and ensuring farmers have access to water are just as important as protecting farmland.
Foodbowls can recycle city waste
City foodbowls have access to large volumes of city wastewater and organic waste. This can increase these farms’ resilience to growing <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-food-system-is-at-risk-of-crossing-environmental-limits-heres-how-to-ease-the-pressure-104715" target="_blank">environmental pressures on food production</a>. City foodbowls offer opportunities to use natural resources more efficiently by creating <a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/Cities-and-Circular-Economy-for-Food_Exec-Sum_240119.pdf" target="_blank">circular food systems</a> that “close the loop” on valuable resources from city waste by returning these to the soil.
City wastewater, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/it-takes-a-lot-of-water-to-feed-us-but-recycled-water-could-help-55502" target="_blank">recycled water from water treatment plants</a> and treated stormwater, can provide a relatively secure source of water for food production in a <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/state-of-the-climate/State-of-the-Climate-2018.pdf">drying climate</a>.
Composts and <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-5001-6_15" target="_blank">biofertilisers</a> made from city organic waste can improve soils on farm. This is a more sustainable alternative to conventional fertilisers based on non-renewable resources (like <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-015-0442-0" target="_blank">phosphate rock</a>).
Learning from other cities
Australia’s cities need to have flexible responses to increase the resilience of their food systems. This requires city planners to take a precautionary approach now to protecting their foodbowls. International leaders in protecting city fringe food production, <a href="https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/bitstream/handle/11343/214114/Foodprint%20Melbourne%20Food%20for%20Thought%20July%202018.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y" target="_blank">such as Toronto and Vancouver in Canada</a>, offer valuable lessons in how to achieve this.
<a href="https://research.unimelb.edu.au/foodprint-melbourne/publications/roadmap-resilient-sustainable-melbourne-foodbowl">Our report</a> recommends that Melbourne follow Vancouver in developing an <a href="http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/regional-planning/PlanningPublications/RegionalFoodSystemStrategy.pdf" target="_blank">integrated food systems planning strategy</a>. This will support collaboration between government departments and other stakeholders in promoting farm viability, water access, nutrient recycling and sustainable farming in the city’s foodbowl.
The report also recommends that local governments on Melbourne’s fringe should form an alliance to develop a common vision and actions to strengthen the city’s foodbowl – as the <a href="http://www.foodandfarming.ca/about/" target="_blank">Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance</a> has done in Toronto. And it emphasises the importance of actively promoting city foodbowls to the public. The <a href="https://www.greenbelt.ca/foundation" target="_blank">Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation</a> in Ontario is a good example of this.
If Australia’s city foodbowls are to keep producing fresh local food for current and future generations, the public needs to be more aware of city fringe farmers’ role in feeding cities.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/114085/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;">
Rachel Carey, Lecturer in Food Systems, University of Melbourne
Jennifer Sheridan, Researcher in sustainable food systems, University of Melbourne
Kirsten Larsen, Food Systems Research and Partnerships, University of Melbourne
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/to-protect-fresh-food-supplies-here-are-the-key-steps-to-secure-city-foodbowls-114085" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: Apple orchards are among the farmland that has been lost to urban growth. Matthew Carey/Foodprint Melbourne, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-NC-SA</a>
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To protect fresh food supplies, here are the key steps to secure city foodbowls

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
The recent case of Burgess v Burgess [2018] WASC 279 (‘Burgess’) continues a line of cases that consider the conflict that arises where a person acts as executor of a deceased estate while also receiving superannuation death benefits in their personal capacity.
Broadly, Burgess and the following cases revolve around the executor/administrator’s duty to collect assets of the deceased on behalf of an estate. As a fiduciary role, an executor/administrator must not, without proper authorisation, allow their personal interests to conflict with their obligations owed to the estate.
These cases are sure to have an increasing impact on death and succession planning in an SMSF context as around 70% of SMSFs are two-member funds and, in relation to couples, each spouse typically appoints their spouse as executor of their estate. Accordingly, many surviving spouses may thrust into a position of potential conflict in relation to their duties as an SMSF trustee\director and as an executor.
McIntosh v McIntosh – administrator was held to be conflicted
McIntosh v McIntosh [2014] QSC 99 (‘McIntosh’) involved a mother who was appointed as the administrator of her deceased son’s estate. While acting in that role, the mother also applied to three of her son’s industry/retail super funds to receive his death benefits in her personal capacity, which she received. If these death benefits had instead been paid to the estate they would have been distributed equally between her and her former husband (as the deceased parents) under the laws of intestacy in Queensland as their son died without a will. 
After some legal posturing between the mother’s and the father’s lawyers, the mother filed an application in the Queensland Supreme Court to determine the matter which found:
… there was a clear conflict of duty … contrary to her fiduciary duties as administrator. When the mother made application to each of the superannuation funds for the moneys to be paid to her personally rather than to the estate, she was preferring her own interests to her duty as legal personal representative to make an application for the funds to be paid to her as legal personal representative. She was in a situation of conflict which she resolved in favour of her own interests. As such she acted … in breach of her fiduciary duty as administrator of the estate …
Accordingly, the mother was required to account to the estate for the super benefits she had personally received. Also of note was in this case was the fact that the mother was a nominated beneficiary in respect of each of the super funds via non-binding nominations. Had binding death benefit nominations (‘BDBNs’) been in place, no conflict would have arisen. For further analysis of this case <a id="LPlnk850753" href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/smsf-strategy/mcintosh-v-mcintosh-2014-qsc-99-important-implications-smsf-succession-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">click here</a>.
Brine v Carter – executor was held not to be conflicted
Brine v Carter [2015] SASC 205 examined a potential conflict arising in the case of an executor which did not require the executor to account to the estate. Professor Brine had appointed his three children and Ms Carter, his de facto spouse, as the executors of his estate. Professor Brine had two super accounts/pensions in the same industry super fund. As one pension had no residual value and could only be paid to his surviving spouse, the dispute related to the remaining pension, which could be paid to a dependant or the legal personal representative (deceased estate). Professor Brine had completed a non-binding death benefit nomination in favour of his legal personal representative to receive this pension amount.
Ms Carter applied to the super fund trustee to receive the benefits in both accounts in her personal capacity.
Ms Carter had previously represented to the other three executors on multiple occasions that the estate was not an eligible beneficiary of the super benefits. However, after making their own enquiries, the deceased’s three children found out that they could claim the death benefit on behalf of the estate and proceeded with this claim.
The super fund trustee then exercised its discretion to pay both pension benefits to Ms Carter and the remaining executors formally disputed this decision. Due to her conflict, Ms Carter recused herself from any discussions or actions relating to the dispute notice issued to the fund trustee by the executors and did not object to it but remained an executor. Ms Carter in fact made further submissions to the trustee in her personal capacity claiming the benefits.
After the super fund trustee affirmed its decision and other dispute processes provided no further recourse, the remaining executors applied to the South Australian Supreme Court for an order that Ms Carter account to the estate for these benefits. The court found that:
<ul>
<li>Ms Carter was in a position of conflict regarding her duties as an executor.</li>
<li>Ms Carter’s appointment as an executor via the deceased’s will, while providing some acknowledgement by the deceased of a conflict, was not by itself sufficient to overcome her position of conflict. Rather, a specific conflict authorisation was required.</li>
<li>As the other executors claimed the super benefits on behalf of the estate and had full knowledge about their rights prior to the super fund trustee’s decision, they effectively consented to Ms Carter claiming the benefits in her personal capacity despite her conflict. From that point, Ms Carter did not act in breach of her duty as an executor as there was no connection between her breach and the benefit she received.</li>
<li>Ms Carter was not required to account to the estate.</li>
</ul>
Brine v Carter provides a particular set of facts that resulted in a somewhat incongruous outcome that allowed an executor to apply for and receive death benefits in her personal capacity despite a potential conflict arising. The court noted that had the other executors not been aware of Ms Carter’s application, and had they also not made an application on behalf of the estate, Ms Carter would have been liable to account to the estate. This outcome was therefore due to the particular facts in this case. In many other factual scenarios, the conflict could easily have resulted in the spouse having to account to the estate.
Burgess v Burgess – sacred trustee obligations
In Burgess v Burgess [2018] WASC 279 Mr Burgess died without leaving a will in May 2015 and was survived by his wife and two minor children. A year after his death, Mrs Burgess applied to become administrator of his estate and was appointed on 27 June 2016.
Mr Burgess had super benefits in four large public offer funds and Mrs Burgess made a claim to two of those funds to be paid her deceased husband’s death benefits. She applied for and received benefits from one fund prior to her appointment as administrator and applied for and received benefits from another fund after her appointment.
Mr Burgess’ estate (including any super paid to the estate) would be split among Mrs Burgess and their two young children. By the time of hearing, one super fund had paid benefits to the estate. The fourth fund had not yet made any payment and Mrs Burgess had not made any application to it. Further, there were no BDBNs in place in relation to any of the funds.
Due to the uncertainties, Mrs Burgess herself made an application to the Western Australian Supreme Court. Ultimately, the court followed the principles in McIntosh and found that:
<ul>
<li>Mrs Burgess would retain the benefits from the first super fund, as she was not an administrator at the time of application and thus no conflict had arisen in relation to the first fund.</li>
<li>Mrs Burgess was required to account to the estate for the benefits applied for and received after she was appointed. There was a conflict of interest and as administrator she was bound to claim the benefits on behalf of the estate after she was appointed administrator.</li>
<li>Mrs Burgess was bound to claim the remaining super benefits on behalf of the estate.</li>
</ul>
The court’s comments in Burgess demonstrate the strict fiduciary obligations placed on an executor or administrator. Martin J explained Mrs Burgess’ obligations at para [84] as follows:
In an age of increasing moral ambivalence in western society the rigour of a court of equity must endure. It will not be shaken as regards what is a sacred obligation of total and uncompromised fidelity required of a trustee. Here, that required the administrator not just to disclose the existence of the (rival) estate interest when claiming the superannuation moneys in her own right from the fund trustee. It required more. It required her to apply as administrator of the estate for it to receive the funds in any exercise of the fund trustee's discretion.
Martin J gave the following comments at para [85] regarding the fiduciary duties of an executor:
The interests of a deceased estate require a 'champion' who cannot be seen (even if they are not) to be acting half-heartedly, or with an eye to achieving outcomes other than an outcome that thoroughly advances the interests of the estate - to the exclusion of other claimants.
Martin J made the point that the undesirable outcome in this case might have been avoided had Mr Burgess made a will that explicitly contained a conflict authorisation or if he had signed BDBNs in relation to his super benefits. In lamenting the outcome Martin J at para [91] stated:
The result is, of course, messy for the family and less clear cut than might otherwise have been desired. However, that is a result of wider trustee integrity policy principles of the law which take effect and prevail. They are of vital importance and are applicable to universal circumstances extending well beyond the present rather regrettable factual situation. The present is a situation, I reiterate, that might have been avoided by the two measures I earlier mentioned.
Other important cases
In the case of Re Narumon [2018] QSC 185 the court considered whether attorneys under an enduring power of attorney (‘EPoA’) could validly execute both a BDBN confirmation/extension as well as a new BDBN on behalf of a member. Whether an attorney will have such power will depend on the SMSF governing rules, the EPoA document, the relevant powers of attorney legislation in the applicable state/territory and the federal superannuation legislation.
In Re Narumon the member (Mr Giles) became incapacitated and his attorneys under an EPoA, his wife (Mrs Giles) and his sister (Mrs Keenan), purported to both extend a prior lapsed BDBN and to execute a new BDBN, both of which provided for death benefits to be paid to them. The EPoA document did not expressly authorise the attorneys to enter into a conflict transaction. The Court found that the extension of the prior BDBN was valid since:
<ul>
<li>the fund’s governing rules allowed the prior BDBN to be confirmed and provided that any power or right of a member could be exercised by an attorney;</li>
<li>while the EPoA document did not expressly deal with superannuation matters, the meaning of ‘financial matters’ in the relevant (Queensland) legislation was wide enough to cover superannuation; and</li>
<li>while a ‘conflict transaction’ entered into by an attorney can invalidate a transaction, the confirmation of the prior BDBN was not a conflict transaction. While the BDBN benefited the attorneys it was found not to amount to a conflict as it simply ensured the continuity of Mr Giles’ prior wishes.</li>
</ul>
However, the new BDBN executed by Mrs Giles and Mrs Keenan was found to be a conflict transaction as it provided for a different payment of death benefits which slightly benefited Mrs Giles more than the extended BDBN. Thus, the new BDBN was invalid. For a detailed analysis of this case and its lessons <a id="LPlnk492694" href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/announcements/important-supreme-court-decision-provides-further-guidance-on-binding-death-benefit-nominations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">click here</a>.
In the case of Re Marsella; Marsella v Wareham (No 2) [2019] VSC 65 the deceased’s daughter, who was also a co-trustee, was ordered to repay death benefits back to the fund and was removed as a trustee along with her co-trustee husband for acting ‘grotesquely unreasonable’ in conflict of her trustee duties and in bad faith. This case explores the high legal standards placed on SMSF trustees and highlights the need for careful attention to SMSF succession planning. For a detailed analysis of this case and its lessons <a id="LPlnk205523" href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/announcements/grotesquely-unreasonable-and-smsf-trustees-paying-death-benefits-re-marsella/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">click here</a>.
SMSFs
It is important to consider the impact of these cases from an SMSF perspective as it is typical for the spouse of a deceased SMSF member to also be an executor or administrator of that member’s estate. In such a situation, a potential and real conflict may arise between the executor/administrator’s obligations as trustee of the estate and their desire to receive superannuation death benefits in their personal capacity. 
These cases reiterate the importance of planning for death and SMSF succession. In all cases, the conflict difficulties would likely have been avoided had the deceased had a will with appropriate conflict authorisations and/or BDBNs were in place to remove the trustee’s discretion as to whom death benefits could be paid.
In any super death benefits matter, advisers and trustees should ensure that applications to receive benefits are not made without first considering, among other things, the possible conflict implications. Moreover, advisers should recommend that their clients proactively implement SMSF succession and death benefit strategies that ensures the surviving spouse is not placed in a position of conflict that could undermine their ability to receive their spouse’s death benefits. This might involve special provisions in wills, EPoAs, BDBNs, death benefit deeds and other legal documents.
Conclusion
This line of cases illustrates that the courts treat the fiduciary duties of an executor/administrator in a strict and ‘sacred’ manner. Further, the courts will uphold these obligations despite what might be seen as a strict and inflexible approach resulting in an ‘unfair’ outcome.
DBA Lawyers is well placed to advise and document succession strategies to overcome these risks. We offer, among other services:
<ul>
<li>Succession planning advice</li>
<li>BDBNs</li>
<li>Death benefit deeds</li>
<li>Constitutions with successor directors</li>
<li>SMSF deeds with numerous succession strategies</li>
</ul>
For an article on succession planning strategies <a id="LPlnk80306" href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/smsf-deeds/smsf-succession-strategies-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">click here</a>.
Without proper prior planning, SMSF members could be left with conflicts, resulting in substantial time and cost hurdles in the event there is any dispute.
Shaun Backhaus is a Lawyer at DBA Lawyers  and can be contacted <a id="LPlnk319001" href="mailto:sbackhaus@dbalawyers.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">here</a>.
Daniel Butler is a Director at DBA Lawyers and can be contacted <a id="LPlnk625190" href="mailto:dbutler@dbalawyers.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">here</a>.
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Can a spouse claim their deceased partner's super if they are also the estate executor?

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Melbourne designer Bernadette Pimenta Couture has committed to a refurbished office space to be used as a showroom for her bridalwear selection.
Bernadette Pimenta has been a fixture in the fashion industry for more than 27 years.
The designer has moved into the prime section High Street Armadale and will use the space for their new design and fitting studio for its hand-crafted gowns.
The move highlights the high demand for retail space in Armadale's tightly held, coveted High Street precinct.
Fitzroys James Spencer leased the refurbished 187 sqm space at Level 1, 1062 High Street on a three-year deal with a three-year option at $50,000 per annum net.
Spencer said the floor had been used in the past as an office, but the overwhelming demand from independent and international retailers for a prime location in one of Melbourne’s most prized shopping strips has seen this transformed into a boutique retail space.
According to Fitzroys’ Walk the Strip, Armadale saw retail vacancies fall by 7.9% over 12 months to 4.1% during 2018, making it one of the best performers of Melbourne’s shopping strips.
“High Street Armadale is one of the strongest retail strips in Melbourne at the moment, supported by major retail brands. The sheer lack of retail space available in the strip underpinned the decision to turn the beautiful office space into a retail showroom experience for retailers,” he said.
“We are consistently talking to reputable retailers who want to be on High Street, Armadale and the outlook for demand and the strip is bright.”
The shopping strip’s strong catchment and inner-city location has attracted high-end independent and international fashion retailers, with ACNE Studios, Carla Zampatti, Zimmermann and Scanlan Theodore all located in the prime section and within a few metres of Bernadette Pimenta’s new space, as well as the recently opened bespoke store of H&amp;M’s upmarket sister label Cos.
 
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Bernadette Pimenta commits to High Street, Armadale tenancy

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Brisbane-based fund manager Cromwell Property Group is seeking to acquire London-listed RDI REIT.
Cromwell confirmed this morning to the ASX it has made an approach to the board of RDI regarding a potential transaction.
"Any transaction would be consistent with Cromwell’s strategy to work with our capital partners to grow funds under management and continue to expand its investment footprint in the UK and Europe." the submission said.
Over half of Cromwell’s $11.5 billion of assets under management as at 31 December 2018 is concentrated in Europe.
Discussion are ongoing between the parties.
"There can be no certainty that a formal offer will be made nor as to the terms of any offer," Cromwell Group went on to say.
By law, Cromwell is required to have announced a firm intention to make an offer or announce it does not intend to make an offer by April 23.
The deadline can be extended with the consent of the UK Takeover Panel.
RDI, whose largest investments include Wigan's Grand Arcade, St George's Shopping Centre in Harrow and West Orchards Shopping Centre in Coventry, is independently valued at £1.65 billion.
Their shares last closed at £1.30.
 
 
 
 
 
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Cromwell Property Group make approach to acquire London-listed RDI

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The RBA has noted despite the relatively weak picture for household income growth, the tax revenue collected from households has grown solidly in recent years.
In the past year, taxes paid by households increased by around eight per cent, more than double the rate of growth in gross household income of 3½ per cent, according to the RBA assistant governor Luci Ellis, in a speech to the Housing Industry Association.
"It's normal for growth in tax revenue to outpace income growth a bit: that is how a progressive tax system works," Ellis said in the speech titled What's Up (and Down) with Households?
"A useful rule of thumb is that, in the absence of adjustments to tax brackets to allow for bracket creep, for every one percentage point of growth in household income, taxes paid by households will on average increase by about 1.4 percentage points. 
"So the ratio is more like a bit over two-to-one at the moment, rather than 1.4 to one.
"That is at the high end of the range this ratio reaches, but as this graph shows, it is not unprecedented (Graph 12).
"But this effect has cumulated over time, so that the share of income that is paid in tax has been rising (Graph 12, bottom panel).
Ellis noted that household income growth has remained slow even as labour market conditions have been improving.
"Unlike slow wages growth, though, it is less clear how much weak non-labour income growth will weigh on consumer spending."
"There might be reasons to think that weak non-labour income growth is less worrisome than weak wages growth.
"But you would not want to rely on that possibility to underpin your views on the outlook for consumption.
"So this is an area we need to watch closely.
"Household consumption spending is a large part of economic activity.
"A significant retrenchment there would lower growth and feed back into a weaker labour market, as well as into decisions to purchase housing," she said.
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<img src="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2019/images/sp-ag-2019-03-26-graph12.gif" alt="Graph 12: Household Income and Tax">
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Ellis noted what is noteworthy is that for all of the past six years, growth in tax paid has exceeded income growth by an above-average margin, at a time when income growth itself has been slow (Graph 13).
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<img src="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2019/images/sp-ag-2019-03-26-graph13.gif" alt="Graph 13: Household Income and Tax scatter">
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"Aside from the usual bracket creep, some deductions and offsets have declined, boosting the overall tax take.
"Interest rates on investment property loans are now higher than for owner-occupiers, but overall the interest rate structure on mortgages is lower than it was a few years ago.
"So landlords will have lower tax deductions for interest payments on loans on investment properties.
"At the same time, the significant run-up in housing prices in some cities over the past decade will have increased the capital gains tax liability paid by investors selling a property.
"Turnover in the housing market has declined.
"But as best we can tell, the price effect has dominated the effect of declining volumes, and total capital gains tax paid has increased."
She noted compliance efforts and technological progress in tax collection have boosted revenue collected from a given income. 
Eliis further noted some of these drivers boosting tax paid could persist for a while, but they aren't permanent.
"For example, the earlier period of strong housing price growth will only increase capital gains tax revenue if the asset was owned during that period.
"It can be expected to become less important, the further into history it passes.
"Similarly, increased compliance increases the <cite>level </cite>of tax paid on a given level of income.
"It is not a change in the trend growth rate in tax paid. That said, the effect could last for a while as efforts shift to different aspects of compliance."
Ellis's speech concluded that without enough income, and so without a strong labour market, confidence and capacity would be in doubt.
"This is not the only reason we are watching labour market developments closely.
"But the nexus between labour markets, households and housing are crucial to our assessment of the broader outlook," Ellis said.
To read Ellis' full speech, <a href="/expert-insights/investing/whats-up-and-down-with-households-rba-assistant-governor-luci-ellis">click here</a>.
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Nexus between wages, labour markets, household spending and housing being watched by RBA 

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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

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

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

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

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

Staff reporter

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