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Ray White Rural SA have secured a record price despite the COVID-19 and its restrictions.
Daniel Schell, joint principal of Ray White Rural SA together with his father and business partner Geoff Schell, have just signed a huge property sale to finalise the estate of Keith Honan for in excess of $9 million. 
The pair then conducted an extensive online clearing sale. 
The rural property which comprised 16,5813ha (4097 acres) sold over five lots to four different buyers in South Australia.
It was signed up as an auction sale just prior to the COVID restrictions and then changed to an EOI. 
“We had a huge response to the property during the six week marketing campaign with more than 80 inquiries, 30 inspections and 20+ EOIs received which resulted in record sale prices,” Mr Schell said.
<div>Not long after the Schells ran their first online clearing sale for the Honan Estate with fantastic success across 179 lots. Some  480 bidders registered for the online auction, some from as far away as Spain who bid on  these dusty ‘vintage’ bikes which ended up selling to a local buyer for $85.</div>
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 “We had more than 300 people online during the virtual auction, anyone could tune in to listen or participate in the auction by placing bids right up until the last second. There were reserves on only three main lots but these had been well exceeded prior to the live auction starting," Mr Schell said.
“The online auction was an overwhelming success providing far greater access to buyers to be involved in the sale. We opened bidding up over three days and without having to travel to the property if they were happy not to inspect the items,” Mr Schell said.
“We even had a person bidding from Spain on Lot 120 which was two vintage bicycles. A number of the key items were sold to interstate buyers. The wooden cart sold for $13,500.
“We think the success of the clearing sale has also strongly contributed to there being no other clearing sales over the past four months and therefore no competition.
“We can see the future for clearing sales as a combination of both on-site and online. Many people still like to attend a sale to see and touch the items and listen to an engine start.  
“But holding an online sale reached a wider audience and provided the buyers an opportunity to review and place bids over a couple of days. 
“We stayed in the office until the wee hours of the morning sending invoices to all successful purchasers with payment instructions.”
Collection day was two days after the action and everyone picked up and paid for their lots.
The Schells worked closely with a local business, Farm Clearing Sales, to provide an alternative option to conduct a clearing sale during the COVID19 restrictions.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mid-north SA clearing sale attracts widespread interest

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Admittedly, $700,000 is nearing the bottom end of the Lower North Shore market, but it can still buy you a unit style property with plenty of up-side, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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"Normally when we mention Sydney’s Lower North Shore, we are referring to multi-million dollar prestige properties on expansive allotments with landmark views.
"However, there is another sector of the market on the Lower North Shore which fits the criteria for this month’s lazy $700,000 discussion," the valuation firm said. 
Looking at the suburb of Neutral Bay, just 1.5 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, a one-bedroom unit with parking within a classic circa 1960 or 1970 walk-up style unit complex is still readily available. 
Although at the lower end of the market, a unit such as this in Neutral Bay still offers proximity to amenities, restaurants and retail, public transport (buses and rail depending on position) and the harbour foreshore. 
An example of a recent sale of such a property is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-neutral+bay-133207122" target="_blank"> 9/389A Alfred Street, Neutral Bay</a> (pictured below), selling in March this year for $640,000.
This is a 1960’s style, one-bedroom, one-bathroom, updated, north facing unit with a small balcony and a single car space.
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Typically, these units are in demand from young professionals, downsizers or investors. A unit such as the one described above would likely achieve a weekly rental of $500, resulting in an approximate yield of four per cent, the report noted. 
Although this return is not setting any records, capital growth is historically strong on the Lower North Shore and this forms part of the attraction for investors.
"We would expect this sector of the market to continue to perform well in the future, primarily underpinned by the central location, public transport and convenient access to the Sydney CBD," the valuation firm said. 
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What $700,000 can buy in the Lower North Shore: HTW residential 

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In the Sutherland Shire, $700,000 is a popular price point for first home buyers with agents noting that properties with a price of $750,000 and below are often quick to sell, even under current market conditions, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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The report notes a good example of the type of property is the sale of a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with a one-car garage in Cronulla which sold in mid- June for $645,000. 
The first floor 1980’s unit has been updated internally and is located within 200 metres of the sand.
A typical rent for this type of unit would be around $425 per week, representing around a 3.5 per cent gross return.
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"Whilst below the median price for all suburbs in the Sutherland region, you can still pick up a house for around the $700,000 mark, although they are pretty few and far between, meaning you have to make some compromises," the valuation firm said. 
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<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-heathcote-133280594" target="_blank"> 11 Rosebery Street in Heathcote</a> (pictured above) sold for $690,000 in mid-April. The property was a single level cottage in need of repairs and renovations on a smaller than average lot of 416 square metres, however the property was well located to the railway station, local shops and local primary school.
"With the current possibility of an oversupply of modern units in suburbs such as Caringbah and Miranda, at this price range an older style one- or two-bedroom unit in a smaller development in a desirable location, such as a one-bedroom unit in Cronulla, is likely to be the best performer over the short to medium term for both value growth and rental return," the valuation firm said. 
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What $700,000 can buy in the Sutherland Shire: HTW residential 

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For under $700,000, the Liverpool LGA still provides opportunities for investors and home occupiers to get into the market or grow their portfolio, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
The HTW report notes within the strata titled market, the Liverpool LGA offers an array of choice, from CBD living to a more traditional residential community setting.
"The Liverpool CBD unit market has struggled over the past 18 months. We consider that the amount of supply entering the market and the lack of business growth within the CBD has contributed to values remaining steady or even decreasing," the valuation firm said.  
An example of this is a 2004 built three-bedroom, two- bathroom unit at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-liverpool-133388142" target="_blank"> 10/25-27 Castlereagh Street</a> (pictured above).
The unit sold in May 2015 for $520,000 and recently resold in May 2020 for $510,000.
Whilst the Liverpool CBD unit market has struggled in recent times for investors, price levels in the sub $550,000 range do allow first home owners to enter the market in a central location close to shops, schools and train lines. 
Compared to the Parramatta CBD, it offers very affordable living, the report noted. 
"However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Liverpool, which is seen as Sydney’s third city. The development of the Western Sydney Airport and the rezoning of 25 hectares of land in the heart of Liverpool will reinvigorate life and promote more commercial space in the area," the valuation firm said. 
The ultimate aim is to remove the need for workers to travel to the traditional Parramatta and City hubs. This may be just what Liverpool needs to breathe life back into the Liverpool unit market in years to come.
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Within the Liverpool LGA, the Torrens Titled market under the $700,000 mark is constantly decreasing in opportunity, however suburbs such as Busby, Cartwright and Ashcroft which have generally been overlooked do provide great hidden opportunities for owner-occupiers and investors as shown in the examples below, the report noted. 
Geographically speaking, these suburbs are within 20 minutes drive of Sydney’s third CBD (Liverpool CBD) and only 30 minutes from the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis precinct.
"The style of housing and land size in this area provide a very affordable investment to either owner occupy, knockdown rebuild, sit and hold, or look to construct a granny flat on the site to obtain a second rental stream," the valuation firm said. 
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An example is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-cartwright-133476678" target="_blank"> 63 Mawson Drive, Cartwright </a>(pictured above) which sold in May for $565,000.
For the price typically reserved for units, the property affords three bedrooms and one bathroom on 579 square metres of land. 
A second dwelling is possible, however subject to council approval.
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Another example is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-busby-131058822" target="_blank"> 8 Kelvin Place, Busby</a> (pictured above), which sold in February for $625,000.
The property affords a renovated three-bedroom, one- bathroom home on 651 square metres of land.
 Detached at the rear is a council approved one- bedroom, one-bathroom, self-contained granny flat. 
The achievable rental for the main dwelling is $440 per week and $220 per week for the granny flat, calculating to a strong 5.5 per cent gross return.
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What $700,000 can buy in South-Western Sydney: HTW residential 

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The recent relaxation of travel restrictions and gatherings in public has given the Byron Shire a much-needed confidence boost, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation.
The HTW report suggests although any tangible improvement in the local economy is yet to be realised in the property market, local agents remain optimistic about the long term growth of the property market in Byron Bay and surrounds and this leads us to consider where it is possible to park $700,000 on a property in the Byron Shire at present.
"If Byron Bay is your cup of tea, then count out the $700,000, raid the kids’ piggy banks and check under the couch for any loose change, because you are going to need it," the valuation firm said. 
 Whilst it is not quite that bad, the options are pretty restricted within Byron Bay proper. 
Most properties start at prices well above $700,000 but if that is the limit of your budget, it is still possible to pick up an early 1990’s three- bedroom townhouse on the north-west edge of town in the $650,000 to $700,000 price range.
However, instead of a gentle stroll to the beach with a towel draped over your shoulder, it will be necessary to purchase a bike and ride the ten minutes to the beach instead, the report noted. 
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"Looking elsewhere in the shire, the pickings become a little easier at Ocean Shores which offers reasonable proximity to beaches, albeit of a less well regarded standard than the acclaimed beaches of Byron Bay. 
"Nevertheless, it is possible to find a wider choice of property in Ocean Shores that includes a sprinkling of detached, older style houses and relatively modern townhouses and villas," the valuation firm said. 
A retro family home in Ocean Shores has recently been sold for $700,000.
The three bedroom, one bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-ocean+shores-133552854" target="_blank">2 Binya Place</a> (pictured below).
Set on a 702sqm block, the single level home is just 200m from a Waterlily park with tennis court and children's play quipment/ 
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Further afield, Mullumbimby offers a small opportunity to find an older style cottage but with the proviso that additional funds would be required to carry out update works as $700,000 will only buy the most basic standard of house.
A current listing is a three bedroom house in Mullumbimby priced at $557,000. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mullumbimby-133733834" target="_blank">10 King Street</a> home (pictured below) come with open plan living, dining and kitchen, three bedrooms and easy care lawns. 
It is located within walking distance to the town centre.
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"If land banking is more your cup of tea, it is still possible to find the odd block of land in the outer areas of Mullumbimby in the price range of $450,000 to $500,000," the valuation firm said. 
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What $700,000 can buy in Byron Bay: HTW residential 

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The impact of the COVID-19 virus is yet to be realised by the local market, however is having a major impact on local businesses in the areas of Lennox Head, Ballina and surrounds, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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The report notes verbal discussions with local agents indicate a decrease in interest in listed properties along with a decrease in vendors placing properties on the market. 
The North Coast of New South Wales has seen very little infections, with the majority of infections recorded in the Byron Bay locality. 
The closure of the Queensland border has had an impact on local business and in turn has had a negative impact on open houses in the local area.
Agents remain positive for the North Coast due to the recent surge of people retreating from the major cities. This coupled with economic uncertainty has helped keep property prices inflated in the coastal areas.
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"So far, we are still in a fairly firm market with some recent sales in Lennox Head, Ballina and surrounding areas making good prices. 
"Sales of vacant land in Epiq and surrounding areas have slowed slightly with some local builders indicating that land owners are postponing building till the economy stabilises," the valuation firm said. 
The market drivers within the sought-after coastal areas of the Ballina Shire are typically influenced by the performance of capital city markets - most notably the Sydney and Melbourne markets and to a lesser extent the Brisbane and coastal south- east Queensland markets, the report noted. 
 Whilst the demand resulting from these capital city markets has typically been concentrated in the more desirable areas of Byron Bay and the surrounding localities, in more recent years potential purchasers have expanded their searches into the desirable areas of the Ballina Shire - most notably Lennox Head, Skennars Head and East Ballina, as well as the rural localities of Newrybar, Brooklet, Fernleigh and Tintenbar.
A four bedroom house in Wollongbar has recently been sold for $640,000.
The family home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wollongbar-133863474" target="_blank">5 Analei Street </a>(pictured below) comprises open plan kitchen, dining and lounge, four large bedrooms, sunroom and double garage.
It also features in ground pools, large garden and solar power.  
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A current listing is a two bedroom townhouse in Ballina with a price guide of $460,000 to $490,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-nsw-ballina-133967578" target="_blank">7/58 Martin Street</a> home (pictured below) comes with new kitchen, two bedroom upstairs, balcony and courtyards. 
It is situated close to school, hospital, parkland and town centre. 
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Ballina property market remains firm: HTW residential 

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Normandie Park, the 84 hectare mixed farming property in Exeter, has been sold, after a year on the market.
One Agency Maday Property agents Kate Maday and Henry Caprel had a guide of $5.6 million to $6 million.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-mixed+farming-nsw-exeter-700076610" target="_blank">Old Argyle Road property</a> last traded for $4 million in 2017 when offloaded by Dr Leo Shanahan and his wife Joan who wanted $4.9 million.
It was bought by businessman Ying Huang, wife of ad agency executive Robin Chen.
Normandie Park was built in 1962 and designed by Allen Jack+Cottier, having been commissioned by barrister and former Liberal parliamentarian Thomas Sidney McKay.
It was previously owned by the late NSW Liberal Legislative Council politician Thomas McKay, who served between 1966 and 1978, and who died in Exeter in 2004.
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<div class="biopar">McKay was a wartime wing commander, barrister, diary farmer, national and NSW amateur golf champion and councillor of Wingecarribee Shire in the 1950s.
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Allan Jack + Cottier designed the nine bedroom, six bathroom homestead, surrounded by established plantings, trees, dry stone walling and pathways.
The pavilion styled modernist home was constructed with double brick, with a series of interconnected wings connected by hallways. 
The stylish interiors feature three metre ceilings, open plan living, and floor to ceiling glass windows and doors. 
There are a number of slow combustion fireplaces, a large games room, media room, an internal courtyard, a bar room and central kitchen.
Away from the main residence is a fully self-contained three bedroom home. 
The property is made up of nine paddocks of prime pastoral land with basalt and loam soils, a running creek, dams, bore, and water troughs. 
 
 
 
 
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Allan Jack + Cottier designed Normandie Park, Exeter trophy home sold

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A mortgagee house in Brassall has been sold with an asking price of $320,000, the same price it was listed for.
The Skardon Crescent home has undergone recent repairs including new hot plates and oven, new air-conditioner, new ceiling fans throughout, and a fresh coat of paint inside. 
The 712 square metre block is situated on a corner overlooking bushland.
The home features four-bedrooms, two-bathrooms, and a lockup garage.
It was built in 2011.
First National Real Estate agents Lyn Armit and Allison Brennan have the listing.
 
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Brassall, Queensland mortgagee home sold for $320,000

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Oysters are filter feeders, extracting nutrients from the water, so that makes them very susceptible to water pollution such as that from bushfires.
We are trying to understand how ash from the 2019-20 bushfires has affected the waterways and oyster farms of New South Wales. Their production is worth more than A$59 million a year.
On the state’s south coast we’re working with oyster farmers as citizen scientists to determine how the ash can lead to harmful algal blooms and oyster deaths.
Over the past two years, farmers have taken more than 9,000 water and oyster samples across 13 estuaries. It’s the largest ever set of water quality and oyster health measurements from oyster-producing estuaries.
This spans the period before, during and after the recent bushfires, providing a unique opportunity to track their impact.
We are still analysing results, but it’s already clear the combination of bushfire ash followed by rainfall led to large increases in microalgae (phytoplankton) in estuaries, including species that can cause harmful algal blooms.
From coast to coast
More than half of the value of Australia’s oyster industry comes from NSW. Along the state’s 2,000km coastline, oyster leases are found in 32 estuaries, north to the Tweed River near the Queensland border and south to Wonboyn Lake near the Victorian border.
Leases are occupied within estuarine ecosystems, with each of these estuaries having a unique climate, catchment condition, area and entrance type.
Some of the NSW farmers are both oyster farmers and Rural Fire Service members, who faced the unenviable task of trying to save both their livelihoods and their homes at the same time during the 2019-20 fire season.
Oysters provide ecosystem services to waterways in which they grow. They shelter invertebrates such as worms, crabs and snails, and they provide natural breakwalls for shoreline protection.
Via their filter feeding of microalgae, individual oysters can <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0044848683903137" title="The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas: Part I. Feeding behaviour of larvae and adults">filter several litres of seawater per hour</a>, and their presence <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-oysters-and-no-its-not-what-youre-thinking-90697">improves water quality</a>.
Oysters are used as early-warning biomonitors of waterway health in environmental monitoring programs around the world.
Our new approach to examine the effect of water quality on oyster health is to look at environmental DNA (eDNA). This means we filter water and extract DNA directly from the filtrate. We then use molecular genetic tools to detect and quantify <a href="https://aem.asm.org/content/77/19/7050.short" title="sxtA-Based Quantitative Molecular Assay To Identify Saxitoxin-Producing Harmful Algal Blooms in Marine Waters">harmful microalgae and bacteria</a>.
The ripple effect: from bushfire to waterway
The recent bushfires were a timely reminder that what happens on land can impact waterways and that coastal regional areas are susceptible.
The NSW government <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/fire/park-recovery-and-rehabilitation/recovering-from-2019-20-fires/understanding-the-impact-of-the-2019-20-fires">says</a> the 2019-20 bushfires covered 5.4 million hectares, roughly 7% of the state. Nationally, more than 17 million hectares were affected.
Many oyster-growing estuaries were impacted by bushfires in their catchments, especially on the NSW south coast.
While <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/07/massive-relief-torrential-rain-douses-bushfires-across-parts-of-australia">rain this summer</a> gave a reprieve from the fires, it can wash ash into the estuaries, bringing with it excessive nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) or trace elements (iron, manganese, arsenic, chromium, aluminium, barium and lead).
These supplements can act as fertilisers, triggering the excessive growth of marine microalgae.
Harmful algal blooms
The growth of some microalgae is essential, but an excess of certain microalgal species (some of which can naturally produce toxins) can result in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/15/2/33" title="Recent Trends in Marine Phycotoxins from Australian Coastal Waters">harmful algal blooms</a>.
A harmful algal bloom in an estuary will trigger the closure of oyster harvesting until oysters are clean. One of the largest and most significant harmful algal blooms <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/shellfish-toxin-makes-first-appearance-in-bass-strait/4939514">impacted the Tasmanian shellfish industry</a> in 2012-13. It resulted in an economic loss of around A$23 million.
Bushfire ash may have a more direct impact, by covering the surface of the water so light, which microalgae need to grow, can’t penetrate. This can cause microalgae to die or grow very slowly.
A mass death of microalgae could then change the amount of oxygen available in the water for the growth of oysters and other marine life. Excessive particulate matter in the waterway can also clog the gills of oysters, affecting their ability to filter feed.
A sustainable food
In Australia, seafood is very safe to eat. Strict monitoring and testing by <a href="https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/keeping-food-safe/summer-eating/seafood-safety">government regulators</a> have ensured illnesses are extremely rare.
Government regulators are active participants in developing new, more streamlined approaches to food safety monitoring. This combination of scientists, government regulators and oyster farmer citizen scientists working together is a model for a healthy and viable future for oyster aquaculture in the face of challenging events.
After all, oysters are <a href="https://www.marineconservation.org.au/is-aquaculture-sustainable/">regarded</a> as one of the most sustainable forms of animal protein so they need our protection.
A <a href="https://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/how-eating-more-oysters-could-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions/">recent study</a> showed that replacing 10% of animal protein with oysters in the diet of the US population would lead to greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking 11 million cars off the road.
Australia also has a <a href="http://aquaticcommons.org/9751/">rich heritage</a> of oyster aquaculture. For thousands of year, oysters were a staple food of First Nations people.
The <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/fish-species/species-list/sydney-rock-oyster">Sydney Rock Oyster</a> is one of the native species that’s been cultivated as a profitable industry in Australia since European habitation.
They’ve been farmed sustainably for more than 150 years. These oysters are still the basis of a profitable industry, which has grown in size over recent years.
We hope the results of our research will ensure the long-term viability of an industry <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/fisheries/fisheries-and-aquaculture-statistics">worth millions of dollars</a> to the Australian economy but, just as importantly, helps support many coastal communities.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131294/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;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shauna-murray-112963">Shauna Murray</a>, Associate Professor; Faculty of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/penelope-ajani-267601">Penelope Ajani</a>, Chancellors Post Doctoral Fellow, Climate Change Cluster, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ah-shucks-how-bushfires-can-harm-and-even-kill-our-delicious-oysters-131294">original article</a>.
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Ah shucks, how bushfires can harm and even kill our delicious oysters

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It is critical that government and industry continued to work together to ensure build-to-rent schemes could become more feasible to help address the current housing affordability issues facing so many Australians.
Build-to-rent is popular overseas in countries like the Unites States, but is still in its early stages in Australia.
As a major investor in affordable housing First State Super wants to expand our investments in this sector and see the barriers removed to make way for the market to grow.
Growth in this sector is not as financially viable in Australia as it is internationally due to a number of challenges presented by the Australian financial system with its current tax laws.
The build-to-rent sector in the United States was significant, largely made possible by the financial system in the US – particularly the banking and debt systems and urged for greater tax incentives in Australia, including GST reform and a reduction in stamp duty.
Additional changes to policy to make build-to-rent more attractive in Australia were needed including reductions to land tax as well as additional concessions for density requirements under planning laws.
In order for build-to-rent projects to be successful there needs to be a reduction in land tax and more release of State and Federal land available for development. The Australian landscape has proven to be difficult with a higher cost of land holding it back compared to some overseas markets.
First State Super welcomed the NSW Government’s recent announcement that it would cut land tax for the next 20 years for new build-to-rent housing projects and would give a 50 per cent discount on land tax to developers who invested in build-to-rent schemes. Additional schemes for build-to-rent housing projects would be welcomed to allow for more investment in this space.
Now is the opportunity for governments, industry and investors to work together and respond to these challenging issues and allow for more investment opportunities of scale in affordable housing and build-to-rent developments.
First State Super has commenced its first ‘build to rent’ affordable housing project in New South Wales and is interested in expanding its investments across Australia, in addition to other affordable housing initiatives.
Over the past 12 months First State Super has invested $250 million in key worker affordable housing initiatives in NSW and Victoria; one of the largest commitments of this kind of any Australian super fund.
These key worker affordable housing investments have seen hundreds of new or renovated apartments and units rented to nurses, teachers, police, paramedics, aged and disability support workers and other key workers at 80 per cent of the market rate.
We know that for many key workers finding safe, secure quality housing near their workplace is a challenge. These investments support key workers to secure affordable rental accommodation close to work and other important amenities.
However, they also support our crucial construction sector to maintain jobs and move forward with important projects despite the economic uncertainty.
First State Super will be making further announcements regarding additional investments in affordable housing shortly and has committed to increase that investment to $400 million this year.
There is a real opportunity for investors like us to collaborate with government to respond to the significant issue of housing affordability, to help support future housing needs across the country, provide a welcome boost to construction and to support jobs.
DAMIEN GRAHAM is the First State Super Chief Investment Officer 
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Build-to-rent is a key element of housing affordability going forward: Damian Graham

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

Joel Robinson

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" 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%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

Staff reporter

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