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<p>A two-level, four bedroom apartment in Richmond, Victoria, listed with $1,050,000- $1,150,000 hopes for March auction, remains for sale at $1.15 million.</p>
<p>With views out to Studley Park,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-richmond-127646350" target="_blank"> t</a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-richmond-127646350" target="_blank">he 41/8 Hull St apartment </a>comes with four bedrooms,  expansive living with balconies, and family-sized kitchen.</p>
<p>It last sold at $562,000 in 2005.</p>
<p>It is close to public transport, the Epworth Hospital and Melbourne Girls' College.</p>
<p>Jellis Craig marketed it as having a <span>massive top-floor entertainer's terrace with northern views out to Studley Park.</span></p>
<p><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/2018/3/23/RICHMOND%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>It has been a rental offering, with the asking price most recently $890 a week in early 2017.</p>
<p>It was offered at $950 in late 2014.</p>
<p>It was first offered in 2010 at $920.</p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Richmond two-level apartment for sale at $1.15 million

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<div>Australasia’s biggest property group, <span id="0.7442116941323146" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.2038638881688163" class="highlight">White</span>, is preparing itself for what is tracking to be the industry’s busiest weekend of auctions so far in 2018.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A total 3,689 auctions are scheduled to take place this week across the capital cities, according to CoreLogic, a traditional rise in auctions occurring in the week prior to Easter. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Melbourne will host the highest number of auctions out of all capital cities with 1,934 homes going under the hammer, which will make it the second busiest week on record for the city.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>One of Brunswick’s most charming homes (above) is scheduled to go to auction on Saturday at midday (AEDT).</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<span id="0.5470571188022452" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.04650709860855462" class="highlight">White</span> Brunswick sales agent Alex Ilyin said no expense was spared in the build of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brunswick-127675706" target="_blank">32A Thistle St.</a>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The modern three bedroom build is full of elegant period features, from the high kickboards to a traditional fireplace.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Everything is done to a premium standard,” Mr Ilyin said. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Interest has been really great, and it’s generally come from people transitioning from their first purchase, so a lot of young professionals.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There’s a price guide attached to 32A Thistle St, Brunswick of around $1,150,000 to $1,250,000, in line with the Statement of Information.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Another exciting Melbourne auction is scheduled for 1pm at 22A Bringa Ave, Camberwell.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Marketed by <span id="0.9239246109726515" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.2920828070509026" class="highlight">White</span> Box Hill’s Jeremy Tyrrell, the single-level villa is appealing to buyers looking for the perfect downsize option or families wanting convenient access to Camberwell High and Melbourne's private school belt.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>To South Australia, where 9kms northwest of Adelaide’s CBD is a 1955 three bedroom home (above) scheduled to go under the hammer on Saturday morning. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Marketed by <span id="0.5852751586754685" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.1725198935404344" class="highlight">White</span> Adelaide’s George Kargiotis, 17 Shirley Ave at Woodville West is expected to draw a solid auction crowd comprised mainly of first-home buyers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“The owner has renovated the home which now has polished floors, fresh paint, a new second bathroom and kitchen,” Mr Kargiotis said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>In Western Australia, <span id="0.0474139130819774" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.6499063051478601" class="highlight">White</span> North Quays principal Scott Langley is managing the auction of a Kallaroo tri-level home (above).</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 827sq m coastal property is at 4 Woolwich Close, around 25kms outside of Perth’s CBD.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“It’s a great street, located in the Northshore Estate, and near parks and the newly refurbished shopping centre,” Mr Langley said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Most interested people are looking to renovate as it’s a great project home to renovate with the bonus option of subdividing and building three new dwellings.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>
<span id="0.5910561449481334" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.9265340774103629" class="highlight">White</span> Coorparoo principal Cliff Tarr is looking forward to Saturday’s auction of a Brisbane home (above) which has been held by the same family since 1964.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 885sq m corner block of land with a three bedroom house at 109 Albert St is in the popular suburb of Camp Hill, around 8km to the CBD.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Land is gold in Camp Hill,” Mr Tarr said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“It’s one for families looking for a big block, or developers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Camp Hill has a very strong volume of owner-occupier houses, great parks, elevation, city views, and it’s just a beautiful spot close to everything.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Down the M1 highway, <span id="0.771749667243177" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.011798626151508618" class="highlight">White</span> Mermaid Beach’s Troy Dowker is taking a classic Gold Coast beach house (above) to auction on Saturday afternoon.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 506sq m oceanfront block is at 120 Pacific Pde, Bilinga.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Bilinga is probably one of the more high demand suburbs, not only on the Gold Coast but across Queensland,” Mr Dowker said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Lots of people love the tranquillity and charm of the southern Gold Coast.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The four bedroom, two bathroom home has a deck overlooking the ocean, a large backyard for kids, while there’s also direct access to the beach.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Meantime, <span id="0.198446465824914" class="highlight">Ray</span> <span id="0.8808428398185644" class="highlight">White</span> Lane Cove principal Paul Nees is taking a five bedroom, two bathroom Riverview home with a premier north aspect to auction on Saturday morning.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The rare 965sq m property, at 1 Carranya Rd, has a current approved development application to extend the house, although Mr Nees said the dual-level residence already offers plenty of space.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“The house itself is a great size, plus it has a swimming pool,” Mr Nees said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“It’s within walking distance to Saint Ignatius College, which is a big drawcard.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“It’s an area with a lot of parkland and it attracts families because of the desirable school catchment.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Mr Nees expects the property to sell at the top of the auction’s $2.5 million to $2.75 million price guide. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Riverview is a small established suburb on the shores of Sydney’s Lane Cove River.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
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Ray White's pre-Easter Super Saturday offerings

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<p>Dubbed the “Versace of Brisbane”, one of Queensland’s most elaborate mansions is on the market for the first time.</p>
<p>The six-storey residence at <a href="https://ngurealestate.com.au/buy/53-wendell-street-norman-park-qld-4170-c37a17">53 Wendell St, Norman Park</a> has a design inspired by the owners’ international travels.</p>
<p>Construction was completed less than three years ago with the brief to capture the view of Brisbane’s CBD.</p>
<p>NGU Real Estate CEO Emil Juresic is marketing the five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence.</p>
<p>It includes a nine-person lift, swimming pool, two spas, an entire floor master suite, six-car garaging, cellar, outdoor shower, theatre, gas fire pit, outdoor barbecue and self-contained top-floor accommodation. </p>
<p> <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/2018/3/23/NGU%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>“This is a home so sublime, it’s hard to find the right words to describe it properly,” Juresic said.</p>
<p>“I’ve sold a large volume of luxury homes but this one is on another level and has to be one of the best homes in Australia.”</p>
<p>No dollar has been spared in its creation, he added.</p>
<p>Bubble feature walls wrap the internal stairwell, replicating the nuts and bolts pattern on the heritage-listed Story Bridge.</p>
<p>A glass cut-out in the floor of a hallway was inserted following a visit to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.</p>
<p><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/2018/3/23/NGU%203.jpg" alt=""> </p>
<p>“It is a six-storey mansion fitted with the finest materials, on the best street in Brisbane and with the most spectacular views of the Brisbane River, CBD and New Farm Park,” Mr Juresic said.</p>
<p>NGU Real Estate’s marketing video for 53 Wendell St, Norman Park has received more than 204,000 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ngurealestate/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> views since launching online on March 18.</p>
<p> </p>
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The residential 'Versace of Brisbane' on the market

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<p>The Federal Court has imposed civil penalties of $70,000 each on the directors of Storm Financial, Emmanuel and Julie Cassimatis, who were previously found by the court to have breached their duties as directors.</p>
<p>They were also disqualified from managing corporations for 7 years.</p>
<p>This draws to a close ASIC's Storm-related litigation, which has included investors receiving compensation in relation to losses suffered on investments made through Storm. </p>
<p>Storm Financial operated a system of advice, created by the Cassimatises, in which 'Stormified' clients were advised to invest substantial amounts in index funds, using 'double gearing' (Storm Model).  Clients would usually take out a home loan and a margin loan in order to purchase units in index funds, create a 'cash dam' and pay Storm's fees.  Clients were then encouraged to take 'step' investments over time.  In late 2008 and early 2009, many of Storm's clients were in negative equity positions, sustaining significant losses. </p>
<p>The Townsville based Storm collapsed in early 2009. </p>
<p>In the original judgment, Justice Edelman had found that a sample of investors who were advised to invest in accordance with the Storm Model, received advice that was inappropriate to their personal circumstances. Each of those investors were over 50 years old, were retired or approaching and planning for retirement, had little or limited income, few assets and had little or no prospect of rebuilding their financial position in the event of suffering significant loss.</p>
<p>Justice Edelman found that the Cassimatises had each engaged in a course of conduct which amounted to one breach of the requirement that they exercise their powers as directors with the degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person would have exercised in that situation.  The maximum penalty for a breach of directors' duties (s180) is $200,000.</p>
<p>ASIC commenced this civil penalty proceeding against the Cassimatises in late 2010. The trial took place between 30 May and 30 June 2016.  In August 2016, Edelman J handed down judgment in relation to liability against the Cassimatises, finding that they had each breached their duties as directors.</p>
<p>In September 2012, ASIC entered into a settlement agreement with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to make available up to $136 million as compensation for losses suffered on investments made through Storm. The $136 million was in addition to payments of approximately $132 million, and other benefits that CBA had already provided to Storm investors under its Resolution Scheme.</p>
<p>In May 2013 ASIC secured $1.1 million in compensation on behalf of two former Storm investors, Barry and Deanna Doyle.</p>
<p>In May 2013, ASIC intervened in the application for Court approval of the settlement of the related class action brought against Macquarie Bank in respect of Storm as it had concerns about the fairness of the settlement arrangements.  On 12 August 2013, the Full Federal Court agreed that the distribution of the settlement sum was not fair and reasonable to all group members.  Under a revised settlement, Macquarie Bank agreed to pay $82.5 million by way of compensation and costs.</p>
<p>In September 2014, ASIC entered into a settlement agreement with the Bank of Queensland Limited to pay approximately $17 million as compensation for losses suffered on investments made through Storm.</p>
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Storm Financial's Emmanuel and Julie Cassimatis cop $70,000 civil penalties

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<p>Citizen engagement is, or should be, central to city planning. When it comes to planning and implementing transport infrastructure the focus tends to be on how to engage the public, when to engage, and what form this should take. But we should be asking another, more important question: how can citizen engagement make infrastructure planning more democratic?</p>
<p>In many cases proposed transport infrastructure and the conflicts and debates it provokes are actually about much more than the project proposal. If the project is a new light rail system, for instance, the questions are: Who and what will it serve? What will it look like? And what impacts (positive and negative) will it have on the city over time?</p>
<p>Any efforts then to reduce citizen participation, to stifle the question “What kind of city do we want to be?”, will meet with resistance.</p>
<p>Recent <a href="https://government.unimelb.edu.au/news-and-events/news/university-of-melbourne-launches-next-generation-engagement-project" target="_blank">academic</a> and <a href="http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/future-cities.aspx" target="_blank">government</a> projects and reports on citizen participation and infrastructure planning have called on our governments to do three things:</p>
<ol>
<li>consult and engage citizens early in infrastructure planning</li>
<li>improve quality and access of citizen engagement at the strategic planning stages</li>
<li>use more sophisticated strategic planning tools and practices to improve decision-making.</li>
</ol>
<p>However, a key challenge, as echoed in <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/ITC/DevelopmentofCities/Submissions" target="_blank">submissions</a> to a current parliamentary <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/ITC/DevelopmentofCities" target="_blank">inquiry into city development</a>, is the disconnect between <a href="http://www.afr.com/business/cities-need-data-not-more-stakeholder-consultation-sap-20180226-h0wnvm" target="_blank">citizen participation and decision-making</a>. To overcome this disconnect, early consultation and new participation platforms are critical. Yet these alone cannot resolve this problem.</p>
<h2>How does democracy come into this?</h2>
<p>Engaging citizens in a meaningful way in infrastructure planning is good and necessary for many reasons. That we live in a country that purports to be a democracy is central to that argument. But there are other reasons too. These include the potential to make decisions that better respond to citizens’ needs and desires.</p>
<p>Another reason that often goes unstated is that infrastructure is a public thing. Whether it is ultimately publicly or privately owned, operated and controlled, there is a relationship between infrastructure and democracy that ultimately makes infrastructure planning and implementation a contested process. Savvy consultation does not alter this fact.</p>
<p>As the political scientist Bonnie Honig recently <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=k0JdDgAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA5&amp;dq=interpellate+us+into+democratic+citizenship&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj71aTu8-rZAhVKe7wKHdRyCoYQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&amp;q=interpellate%20us%20into%20democratic%20citizenship&amp;f=false" target="_blank">argued</a> in her book, Public Things: Democracy in disrepair:</p>
<p>Public things [such as infrastructure] are part of the ‘holding environment’ of democratic citizenship; they furnish the world of democratic life … They also constitute us, complement us, limit us, and interpellate us into democratic citizenship.</p>
<p>Since 2013 I have researched citizen participation in infrastructure planning. The focus has been on multi-billion-dollar, transformational urban transport infrastructure proposals in Australian and Canadian cities.</p>
<p>My primary focus has been on projects such as the <a href="https://theconversation.com/east-west-link-shows-miserable-failure-of-planning-process-40232" target="_blank">East-West Link</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/transurbans-west-gate-tollway-is-a-road-into-uncharted-territory-89164" target="_blank">West Gate Tunnel</a> in Melbourne, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/westconnex-audit-offers-another-17b-lesson-in-how-not-to-fund-infrastructure-73206" target="_blank">Westconnex</a> in Sydney (working with <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/glen-searle-103536" target="_blank">Glen Searle</a>). But my interest is not in contested tollway projects alone. I also examined the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/transit-referendum-voters-say-no-to-new-metro-vancouver-tax-transit-improvements-1.3134857" target="_blank">2015 Vancouver plebiscite on transit funding</a>, and the rollout of two light rail projects in the Greater <a href="http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/hurontario-lrt.aspx" target="_blank">Toronto</a> and <a href="http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/hamilton-lrt.aspx" target="_blank">Hamilton</a> Area (GTHA) in Canada.</p>
<p>Research of this kind into cross-city, cross-country and cross-modal (road and public transport) transit systems produces insights into the relationship between citizen participation and infrastructure planning. It makes visible both party-political and socio-political struggles for the present and future city, which infrastructure – be that a major road or a light rail system – often represents.</p>
<p>Transport infrastructure awakens controversy because these projects embody the debates that frame who we are as a group of people living in a city.</p>
<h2>A process of sidelining the citizens</h2>
<p>The question of what kind of city we want to be is often left to strategic planning. However, this question needs to remain at the forefront of decision-making in project planning too.</p>
<p>Take the cancellation of the East-West Link project. You would be excused for assuming that this cancellation, following the election of the current Victorian government in 2014, was a rejection of inner-city toll roads and a “roads must be built to tackle congestion” paradigm.</p>
<p>But weeks later the government announced the now A$6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel project. This announcement was met with similar concerns to those raised against the East-West Link. These centred on the very undemocratic processes that produced these projects in the first place.</p>
<p>Another key concern was about the efficacy of building tollways when other valued alternatives such as public transport are not only available but also desired. Indeed, these are set out as ambitions for the future city in a succession of metropolitan plans.</p>
<p>In the weeks and months after the West Gate Tunnel announcement, a community liaison group and then a public process of evaluating the environmental effects were organised. This did result in some design modifications. However, this was a process about how best to manage out conflict and limit engagement to questions about design.</p>
<p>This is common practice for transport infrastructure planning across Australia. It it is not what can be reasonably called “best practice” in citizen engagement.</p>
<p>The lack of transparency and carefully controlled consultation remove the publicness of infrastructure.</p>
<h2>Market-led planning and its impacts</h2>
<p>The West Gate Tunnel is a case study in both market-led planning and how these processes can be an assault on democratic, participatory planning. These proposals and other public-private partnership schemes continue to be devised, as seen recently with a proposed “<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/future-melbourne/tech-giants-push-for-piece-of-30bn-super-city-in-east-werribee/news-story/51e77278242514b23567bf6b9e00050c" target="_blank">super city</a>” in East Werribee.</p>
<p>It’s clear more needs to be said about the links between citizen participation and infrastructure planning in this context. To design better citizen consultation is to better understand what galvanises citizen interest and protest.</p>
<p>It is more than just the project. It is what the project represents. In many cases, it is a departure from a clearly stated vision for the city.</p>
<p>Our ability as citizens to assert what is in the public interest – throughout the infrastructure planning process – can be further severed when unsolicited proposals become commonplace.</p>
<h2>A way forward</h2>
<p>A recent alliance between the Coalition and the Greens in the upper house <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/tools-down-at-west-gate-tunnel-after-liberals-greens-halt-6-7b-dud-20180307-p4z3am" target="_blank">revoked the West Gate Tunnel planning amendment</a>. It’s a reminder that any planning process that undermines inclusive citizen participation and ignores the publicness of infrastructure planning will meet with resistance. Westconnex, the East-West Link, <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/roe-8-34736" target="_blank">Roe8</a> in Perth, and now the West Gate Tunnel are all examples of this.</p>
<p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/92840/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Infrastructure cannot be divorced from the city and its citizens. But as long as citizen engagement is limited, infrastructure will be a hotly contested area of decision-making.</p>
<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/crystal-legacy-18412" target="_blank">Crystal Legacy</a>, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722" target="_blank">University of Melbourne</a></em></span></p>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sidelining-citizens-when-deciding-on-transport-projects-is-asking-for-trouble-92840" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Citizens should be included when deciding on transport projects

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<p>The 2018 City Wealth Index uses four critical measures to identify the cities that matter to the wealthy – wealth, investment, lifestyle and future. </p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">Wealth</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">Investment</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">Lifestyle</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">Future</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">Overall Rank</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>New York</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>London</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>San Francisco</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Los Angeles</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">12</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Chicago</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">18</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Singapore</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Paris</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">14</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Tokyo</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">22</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Hong Kong</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">25</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Washington DC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">12</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Sydney</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">20</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">14</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">17</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">11</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Dallas</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">9</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">35</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">9</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">12</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Boston</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">24</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">21</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Houston</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">29</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">14</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">14</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Miami</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">19</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">19</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">20</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">14</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Atlanta</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">20</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">24</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">16</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Beijing</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">37</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">19</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">17</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Shanghai</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">29</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">21</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">23</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">18</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Munich</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">39</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">23</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">26</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">20</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">19</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Madrid</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">52</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">25</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">9</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">24</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">20</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="86">
<p>Melbourne</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">44</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="76">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="70">
<p align="center">25</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="60">
<p align="center">26</p>
</td>
<td nowrap width="78">
<p align="center">20 </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>Liam Bailey, Global Head of Research at Knight Frank, commented this year’s index produced some very interesting results with regard to the projected growth of wealthy households around the world that will be exciting to track.</p>
<p>"However, North America’s domination of the current household wealth tables is unequivocal.</p>
<p>"Although the economic powerhouses such as New York and London dominated the overall rankings again, it is interesting to note the power of other US cities.”</p>
<p>Knight Frank’s Head of Residential Research, Australia Michelle Ciesielski noted Sydney sits at 11<sup>th</sup> overall on the City Wealth Index, influenced by ranking seventh in the category ‘investment’ in property over the two years ending 2017. <em style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.15999984741211px;"><br></em></p>
</body></html>

Sydney and Melbourne rank in top 20 in Knight Frank City Wealth Index

<html><body>
<div>
<p>Sydney has the nation's most evenly distributed new apartment market which puts it at less risk of inner city oversupply, the 2018 UDIA State of the Land Report suggests. </p>
<div title="Page 4">
<div>
<div>
<p>Sydney accounted for 28% of total market supply in 2017 with 37,740 lots/multi-units completions, which reflected a similar production output to 2016 but a 48% uplift on 2014 </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Just over a fifth of new Sydney unit completions (apartments, townhouses and terraces) were within five kilometres of the city centre in 2017.</p>
<p>It compared to almost half of all Melbourne unit completions.</p>
<p data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-7770372_137="2971" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-7770372_137="4000" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-7770372_137="1">In Adelaide and Brisbane almost two-thirds of new unit completions were within their respective five kilometre inner rings.</p>
<div title="Page 4">
<div>
<div>
<p>Population growth, or lack of it, is the primary driver of demand for new dwellings, the report noted.</p>
<p><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/2018/3/23/UDIA%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><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/2018/3/23/UDIA%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The UDIA said a third of new Sydney units were within 5 to 10 kilometres of the CBD, 28 per cent of completions were 10 to 20 kilometres out and 18 per cent of completions were as far as 50 kilometres from the centre of town, according to data compiled for the report by CoreLogic.</p>
</div>
<div>
<div id="article-inline-ad">The UDIA report also found that new multi-unit completion (10 units or more) hit a record 77,365 in 2017, up 8 per cent on 2016 and 64 per cent higher than three years ago.</div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Most of this growth was due to a 25 per cent rise in Melbourne unit completion which reached 25,900 last year, just below the 28,300 units completed in Sydney.</p>
<p>It noted the heighted levels of new residential supply being delivered had been led by Melbourne which recorded a total production of almost 49,000 lots/multi-units in 2017, which was up 96% on 2014.</p>
<div title="Page 4">
<div>
<div>
<p>Melbourne’s total market output accounted for 37% of the combined capital city lots/multi-unit production in 2017. </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-7770372_137="9975" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-7770372_137="9975" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-7770372_137="4000" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-7770372_137="1">Brisbane's unit market fell 3 per cent over the year to 11,900 completions while Perth slumped 38 per cent to just under 5000 completions.</p>
<p>Among the smaller unit markets, Adelaide completed 2130 units, up 39 per cent, with Canberra's new unit market doubling to 4100 units last year.</p>
<div title="Page 4">
<div>
<div>
<p>Residential supply from Perth has retracted sharply over the last three years, with the 2017 output of 11,900 lots/multi-units representing 9% of national capital city supply, down from the 16% national market share with 17,900 lots/multi-units in 2015. </p>
<p><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/2018/3/23/UDIA%203.jpg" alt=""></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
</body></html>

UDIA says spread of Sydney apartment construction would reduce oversupply risks

<html><body>
<p>The latest Northbridge prestige offering comes with jetty and deepwater mooring which is not affected by Middle Harbour tides.</p>
<p>It can accommodate a 27 foot motor cruiser or yacht at the bottom of tiered native gardens.  </p>
<p><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-northbridge-126988726" target="_blank">The three storey, six bedroom home</a> sits on 2,042 sqm with the grounds coming with a championship sized synthetic grass tennis court which was designed in consultation with champion Mark Edmondson.</p>
<p>The Dorset Road home's lower level is dedicated to recreation including full kitchen and billiard room leading out to the pool and alfresco area.</p>
<p><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/2018/3/22/northbridge.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>"Entertaining here is a breeze," says Christie's International listing agent Martin Ross.</p>
<p data-reactid="345">The cul-de-sac abuts Northbridge Golf Club and virgin native bushland. </p>
<div>
<div>The Northbridge record was set last July at $21 million on Coolawin Road, bettering a nearby $15.2 million sale in 2016. There was also a $15 million sale late last year of another Coolawin Road home, which was designed by Alex Popov on a sloping 2010 sqm waterfront.</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="cT-imageLandscape lead"> </div>
</div>
</body></html>

Northbridge prestige home for sale

<html><body>
<p>The Gold Coast region was the busiest non-capital city region last week, with 53 auctions; however Geelong recorded the strongest clearance rate at 80 per cent, according to CoreLogic.</p>
<p>Click here<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/3/16/clearance%202.jpg" target="_blank"> to enlarge.</a></p>
<p><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/2018/3/16/clearance%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>A townhouse in Geelong sold at auction for $461,000 (pictured below).</p>
<p><span>The home was sold by Peter Fort from Whitford.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-vic-geelong-127592414">12/203-207 Little Malop Street</a> unit offers two bedrooms, central bathroom and open living with private courtyard.</p>
<p><span><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/2018/3/16/geelong.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>Located in the heart of Geelong CBD, it is within walking distance of Westfield, restaurants, parkland, the waterfront and the hospital precinct.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p> </p>
</body></html>

Geelong auction market remains strong 

<html><body>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Warren Ginsberg, from Ray White Double Bay, finished last week in a flurry with a trifecta of sales <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_495084649"><span class="aQJ">on Friday</span></span> to seal four contracts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_495084650"><span class="aQJ">in four days</span></span> to the value of $11.2 million.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">A timeless residence at <a id="m_-6465388716788642138LPlnk206200" href="https://maps.google.com/?q=50+Olola+Ave,+Vaucluse&amp;entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=https://maps.google.com/?q%3D50%2BOlola%2BAve,%2BVaucluse%26entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1521758800931000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHU-QvA3-p123qQh9kayfvOYYUydA"> 50 Olola Ave, Vaucluse</a> received significant interest, with 132 enquiries across three weeks (pictured below).</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><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/2018/3/23/Original31412505.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">Ginsberg said he was happy with the quick nature of these premium sales.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“For three out of the four sales last week, the average time on market was 17 days giving confidence the market is still strong,” Ginsberg said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We’ve seen double-digit growth for many years now, so it was inevitable a general price decrease was looming, however I’m confident the market can still offer great returns based on the low days on market.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Studdy family sold <a id="m_-6465388716788642138LPlnk118069" href="https://maps.google.com/?q=480+Old+South+Head+Rd,+Rose+Bay&amp;entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=https://maps.google.com/?q%3D480%2BOld%2BSouth%2BHead%2BRd,%2BRose%2BBay%26entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1521758800932000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEkuKY4EXKz1Ot9_JBF0gWVsXwvKg"> 480 Old South Head Rd, Rose Bay</a> (pictured below).</p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><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/2018/3/23/Original31474663.jpg" alt=""><br></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>“As a mortgage broker, I’ve seen the average time on market up to 40 days in some instances and for Warren to exchange within half that time and exceed our asking price by 13 per cent is really incredible,” Oliver Studdy said.</span></p>
</body></html>

Quick Olola Avenue, Vaucluse sale

<p>The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.</p>

<p>For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.</p>

<p>Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.</p>

<p>It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.</p>

<p>Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]</p>

<p>Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.</p>

<p>"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.</p>

<p>"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.</p>

<p>"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.</p>

<p>"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]</p>

<p>While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.</p>

<p>The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.</p>

<p>One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.</p>

<p>The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.</p>

<p>Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.</p>

<p>The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.</p>

<p>Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.</p>

<p>Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.</p>

<p>There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]</p>

<p>Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.</p>

<p>While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.</p>

<p>Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.</p>

<p>"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.</p>

<p>"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]</p>

<p>Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.</p>

<p>For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.</p>


Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

<p>Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.</p>

<p>Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]</p>

<p>Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.</p>

<p>"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.</p>

<p>"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.</p>

<p>"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]</p>

<p>Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.</p>

<p>Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.</p>

<p>The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]</p>

<p>A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.</p>

<p>Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.</p>

<p>A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.</p>

<p>Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]</p>


Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

<p>The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.</p>

<p>The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.</p>

<p>The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.</p>

<p>Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.</p>

<p>The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.</p>

<p>The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.</p>

<p>Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.</p>

<p>The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.</p>

<p>Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.</p>

<p>"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.</p>

<p>"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."</p>

<p>Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.</p>

<p>"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.</p>

<p>"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."</p>

<p>Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.</p>

<p>"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.</p>

<p>"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."</p>

<p>The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.</p>

<p>Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.</p>

<p>"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.</p>

<p>"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."</p>

<p>Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.</p>

<p>"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.</p>

<p>Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.</p>

<p>Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.</p>

<p>"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.</p>

<p>"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."</p>

<p>The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.</p>


NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

<p>Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.</p>

<p>Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.</p>

<p>The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]</p>

<p>Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.</p>

<p>"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.</p>

<p>"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]</p>

<p>Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.</p>

<p>A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.</p>

<p>The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.</p>

<p>Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]</p>

<p>While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.</p>

<p>The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.</p>

<p>The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]</p>

<p>The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.</p>

<p>Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.</p>

<p>"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.</p>

<p>The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.</p>

<p>The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.</p>

<p>Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.</p>

<p>"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.</p>

<p>"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."</p>

<p>Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]</p>


Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

<p>As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.</p>

<p>Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.</p>

<p>At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]</p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.</p>

<p>Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.</p>

<p>“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]</p>

<p>Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.</p>

<p>The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.</p>

<p>Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.</p>

<p>“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]</p>

<p>A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.</p>

<p>The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.</p>

<p>The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]</p>

<p>“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”</p>

<p>At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.</p>

<p>ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]</p>


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