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Strata storage units in Cromer industrial precinct near Sydney’s Dee Why are on sale from $95,000 plus GST.
The Vault Storage Centre at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-nsw-cromer-502222414" target="_blank">69 Middleton Road</a> are under construction presently.
The units will range in area from 20 sqm to 88 sqm.
According to the description, storage units at The Vault Storage Centre have twice the clearance of standard units, which make them suited for both commercial or personal use.
There is a PTI security system with back to base alarmed units and CCTV throughout the complex.
The selling agent is David Falvo of Shore Commercial Property.
<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/2017/12/4/Cromer2.jpg" alt="">
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Strata storage units at Cromer on sale from $95,000 

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The Amazon effect has clearly set in.
Long before the online retail giant stepped into Australia, there was nervousness among retailers here.
Now, with Amazon officially launching its marketplace, Myers and Woolworths are among those who are preparing for the increased competition. So are other leading retailers such as JB Hifi and Harvey Norman, among others.
Myer has come up with The Myer Market, which launched recently and is a marketplace that allows third parties to sell their wares, similar to eBay.
At Woolworth's annual general meeting, its Chairman Gordon Cairns said the supermarket chain was ramping up its online offering in response to Amazon’s entry.
Meanwhile, at Mirvac's annual meeting in November, its chief executive Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said she was looking forward to Amazon’s arrival.
"Our view is that the fear is far worse than the reality's going to be," Lloyd-Hurwitz told The Australian Financial Review after the AGM.
Mirvac’s portfolio includes the country's most productive mall, the Broadway, in uptown Sydney.
Mirvac's specialty sales growth, a key indicator, is also rising. In the September quarter, specialty sales growth hit 6 per cent among Mirvac's malls, unlike many other malls 
As online shopping surges, it has also had another effect.
Real estate developers are investing record sums of money into new warehouse space, building bigger, taller structures to meet the needs of e-commerce - and the robots that help it along, Bloomberg reported.
Builders spent $US2.7 billion on US warehouse construction in October, the most since the census started keeping track in 1993.
The size of the average warehouse completed this year was 188,000 square feet, more than double the size in 2001, according to a CBRE report cited by Bloomberg.
"It's the notion of the endless aisle," said Joe Dunlap, a managing director at CBRE.
A retailer stocking 30,000 items in its stores might offer 10 times as many items for sale online. More stock means larger footprints. Higher ceilings accommodate mezzanine levels, letting operators cram more shelves into a building.
Amazon recently bought more than 2 hectares of land in Sydney’s southwest, next to a warehouse it has a lease for. It paid $7 million for the land, according to News.com.au.
Earlier this year, Amazon secured its first distribution centre in Melbourne's outer south eastern suburbs (picture above).
The online retail giant had earlier missed its widely anticipated launch on Black Friday.
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Australian retail biggies beef up online presence to combat Amazon

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A property in Sydney’s Darlington leased to a cafe has fetched $1,000,000.
The retail space at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-darlington-502612834" target="_blank">7/245-249 Abercrombie Street</a> was advertised for auction on November 30.
The property is rented out to the well-known café operator “Choco-Latte which is on a new five-year lease.
It earns $42,681.00 per annum net plus GST.
The property has an internal lettable area of 54 sqm and the zoning is B1 - Neighbourhood Centre.
The selling agent was John Race of Khoury &amp; Partners.
It previously traded for $680,000 in 2016 and for $530,000 in 2006, data from CoreLogic shows.
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Cafe in Sydney's Darlington snapped up for $1 million

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A retail freehold in Sydney’s western suburb of Parramatta has recently changed hands for $4.7 million.
The <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/236-church-street-parramatta-nsw-2150-2013976524" target="_blank">236 Church Street</a> property is in the core of Parramatta’s busy retail precinct between Macquarie Street and George Street.
It was advertised for auction on November 30.
Its land area is 238 sqm with a total building area of 458 sqm. 
The zoning is B4 mixed use and the land could be redeveloped subject to council approval.
Neighbouring retailers include the likes of JB HIFI, Jamie Oliver’s Italian, 7 Eleven, ALDI, Chemist Warehouse, University of New England, Peter Wynn’s and all the major banks. 
The selling agent was Jon Race of Khoury &amp; Partners.
The property previously sold for $1.18 million in 2001, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
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Parramatta retail property sells for $4.7 million

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A Brighton Beach bathing box on the popular Dendy's Beach has sold for a record $330,000 plus.
It topped the previous record, set last year when a newly-built hut sold for $326,000.
Marshall White agent Barb Gregory secured the pre-auction sale of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-brighton-126914706" target="_blank">Bathing Box 60</a>. It was expected to fetch between $270,000 and $297,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/27/BBox60.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
On top of purchasing and maintenance costs, owners have to pay about $1650 each year in licensing fees and council rates.
The first box that traded at auction was in 1999 at $58,000.
Brighton houses have sold up to $22 million.
Listing agent Barb Gregory, once a proud owner of a $3200 beach box, regrets when she and her friends sold it a few years later.
There will no doubt be high hopes for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-126970182" target="_blank">Bathing Box 76E</a> now, which goes to auction this weekend (below).
Its the second time the box has been listed in less than two years. It has $300,000 hopes for its weekend auction having last traded for $285,000 in January last year.
It was built by Bayside City Council in 2015.
Julian Augustini at Hodges Brighton has the listing.
<img class="size-full wp-image-256417" src="https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/01153002/capi_4481376920f6ebd530ce840d7d7c1b6c_baeb11864be07ee5ebf26163252e0168.jpeg" alt="76E Bathing Box Esplanade, Brighton - For Leader R" style="font-size: 12.16px;" data-capiid="baeb11864be07ee5ebf26163252e0168">
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Brighton bathing box edges record price

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Thomas Foods International has bought the South Australian sheep and cattle station, Mt Schanck for more than $50 million.
The Evans family, whose patriarch is former AFL chairman Ron Evans, sold the <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/mount-schank-sa-5291-2013959171" target="_blank">2870 hectare property</a> set south of Mount Gambier.
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The deal was negotiated by CBRE a week before its expression of interest campaign was set to close.
The ABC reported in 2016 that Thomas Foods was a South Australian-based company that had emerged to become the largest family-owned processor in the country, the third-biggest processor in the country behind corporate giants JBS and Teys Australia.
Ron Evans and his wife Andrea purchased Mt Schanck off-market from the Clarke family in 2002, according to Fairfax Media.
The Clarke family owned Mt Schanck for more than 140 years, having purchased it in 1861 from the Arthur brothers of Van Diemen's Land.
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">It includes an 1860s four-bedroom homestead and an 1870s six-stand shearing shed.</div>
It came with close to 5000 megalitres of water entitlements.
The Adelaide-based Thomas Foods has annual revenue of more than $1 billion.
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The media mogul Kerry Stokes and veteran cattleman Peter Murray have yet to find a buyer for their 7820-hectare Cygnet Park Farms portfolio on Kangaroo Island which is up for sale asking about $50 million.
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Buyers have been spoilt for choice as Hassad Australia sold its SA farming land on the Eyre Peninsula and Mid North including 7106 hectares at Cummins and Ungarra spread across 11 farms being marketed by Elders.
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<div class="story-share__facebook ">Hassad Australia – owned by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund – bought the land less than five years ago but now selling to focus more on investments beyond the farmgate.</div>
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Mt Schanck sold for $50 million plus to Thomas Foods

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<h1>Proposed poultry standards leave Australia trailing behind other industrialised countries</h1>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clive-phillips-2048" target="_blank">Clive Phillips</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>
Battery cages will not be phased out of Australia’s chicken farms, according to a draft of <a href="http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/poultry/" target="_blank">industry guidelines</a> released this week.
The proposed <a href="http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/poultry/" target="_blank">Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry</a>, currently open for public consultation, will if approved form the basis of federal and state legislation on poultry welfare.
A <a href="http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/files/2015/07/Public-Cons-Version-Poultry-non-cage-systems-support-paper-Oct-16.pdf" target="_blank">supporting paper</a> to the standards argues that extra cage space does not guarantee better welfare for hens. Further, it claims that battery cages allow better inspection and more efficient management of the birds, the biosecurity risks and the environmental impact.
<hr>
Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-know-what-youre-getting-when-you-buy-free-range-eggs-81675" target="_blank">How to know what you’re getting when you buy free-range eggs</a>
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But continuing battery farming flies in the face of a global trend, as both countries and consumers turn against small cages.
<h2>Why do we battery farm?</h2>
In the latter half of the last century, a system of restraining laying hens in rows of small cages (like the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_cage" target="_blank">cells in a battery</a>), with up to five in each, became popular as a means of maintaining good health and high productivity in large numbers of birds.
This was introduced to meet a growing demand for national <a href="http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/battery-hens-and-broiler-chickens" target="_blank">self-sufficiency in food production</a> after two world wars which threatened, and at times delivered, widespread famine. Now the world has moved on and global trade is flourishing, but the battery cage remains.
<hr>
Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-comes-first-the-free-range-chicken-or-the-free-range-egg-77869" target="_blank">What comes first: the free-range chicken or the free-range egg?</a>
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It was not long before the poor welfare of birds in these “battery cages” became a concern for consumers. In 1964, Ruth Harrison’s <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.cabi.org/bookshop/book/9781780642840" target="_blank">Animal Machines</a> described the restriction on birds’ behaviour; their inability to forage for food, flap their wings, preen and dust-bathe; and the strange, injurious plucking of other birds’ feathers that is so common in these small spaces.
Scientists then proved that birds had a strong motivation to perform many of the behaviours that were rendered impossible in the cages, such as <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0376635795000275" target="_blank">laying eggs in a nest</a>. They also found that birds in small cages are <a href="https://www.european-poultry-science.com/Welfare-of-laying-hens-housed-in-cages-and-in-aviaries-what-about-fearfulness,QUlEPTQyMTc1MTAmTUlEPTE2MTAxNA" target="_blank">more fearful</a> than those in more spacious accommodation.
Research has also shown that hen don’t adapt to the cages, because the longer they are confined the more they compensate by <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347287800635" target="_blank">flapping and stretching when released</a>.
<h2>Moving away from battery farming</h2>
In 1999 the <a href="http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/battery-hens-and-broiler-chickens" target="_blank">European Union</a> announced a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Council_Directive_1999/74/EC" target="_blank">ban on battery cages from 2012</a>, 20 years after <a href="https://www.upc-online.org/battery_hens/SwissHens.pdf" target="_blank">Switzerland</a> became the first country in the world to phase them out. <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10891877" target="_blank">New Zealand</a> and <a href="https://www.cfhs.ca/canadas_battery_cage_phase_out_officially_begins" target="_blank">Canada</a> are now in their phase-out period, ending all battery cage egg production in 2022 and 2032, respectively.
In the United States, a state-by-state ban has been progressing, often stimulated by the requirements of retail outlets. So far <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/confinement_farm/facts/battery_cages" target="_blank">three states, California, Michigan and Ohio</a>, have taken action to end the production of eggs in battery cages. Several major retailers have now committed to cage-free eggs.
While Australia’s draft standards conclude that birds in battery cages have an acceptable level of welfare, many Australians don’t agree. The proportion of caged eggs sold in supermarkets has fallen from <a href="https://www.australianeggs.org.au/who-we-are/annual-reports/#item-818" target="_blank">75% to 49%</a> over the past decade.
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Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/double-standards-in-animal-ethics-why-is-a-lab-mouse-better-protected-than-a-cow-75810" target="_blank">Double standards in animal ethics: why is a lab mouse better protected than a cow?</a>
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The supermarket chains recognise their customers’ concerns and are phasing out eggs from battery cages: <a href="https://www.coles.com.au/corporate-responsibility/responsible-sourcing/responsible-sourcing" target="_blank">Coles</a> from their own brand from 2013, and <a href="http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/woolworths-to-phase-out-cage-eggs.php" target="_blank">Woolworths</a> and <a href="http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/aldi-caged-eggs-to-be-phased-out-as-supermarket-bows-to-customer-pressure/news-story/be8ccf0680bf59e48192ba83936fe2fb" target="_blank">Aldi</a> applying the ban to all eggs from 2025.
The European Union has developed and supported <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12365505" target="_blank">furnished cages</a>, which are much larger than previous cages and specifically provide necessary “enrichment items” such as perches, nests, and litter for pecking and scratching.
The Australian standards argue that these are only required for the birds’ mental state, not their biological functioning. This view implies that a hen’s mental suffering is unconnected to its welfare, a claim that has been steadily eroding in the face of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.cabi.org/vetmedresource/ebook/20143282089" target="_blank">research into animal consciousness</a>.
For example, my research group recently discovered that <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347217301707" target="_blank">hens’ vocalisations</a> are more informative to other hens than thought possible, demonstrating their capacity for rich communication.
To deny the significance of an animal’s mental state is to deny the premise of animal welfare at all. Without this consideration, animals would basically have the same rights as plants.
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Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-have-animal-welfare-laws-but-they-dont-stop-the-suffering-30703" target="_blank">We have animal welfare laws but they don’t stop the suffering</a>
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Despite this, the proposed standards’ accompanying paper relies on narrowly restricted studies, such as a report from industry body Australian Egg that claims there are no difference in the stress levels of birds in <a href="https://www.australianeggs.org.au/dmsdocument/529-non-invasive-assessment-of-stress-in-commercial-housing-systems" target="_blank">battery cages, barns and free-range farms</a>.
Only 12 flocks in total were studied. The stress hormone cortisol was used as the basis of comparison between farm types, even though <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262851068_Monitoring_stress_hormone_metabolites_as_a_useful_non-invasive_tool_for_welfare_assessment_in_farm_animals" target="_blank">little enters the egg and confounding variables are likely to affect cortisol levels</a>.
These limitations are why much animal science today looks at welfare in terms of behaviour, disease and lifetime measures as well as biological markers.
It’s disappointing to see Australia’s welfare standards trail behind much of the world and the clearly expressed attitude of many Australians. With the standards open for consultation until February 26, it is to be hoped that consumer advocate groups, researchers and members of the public register their concern.
 
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88302/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">The <a href="http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/poultry/poultry-public-consultation/" target="_blank">public consultation period</a> runs until February 26.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clive-phillips-2048" target="_blank">Clive Phillips</a>, Professor of Animal Welfare, Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/proposed-poultry-standards-leave-australia-trailing-behind-other-industrialised-countries-88302" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Battery cages won't be phased out of Australia's chicken farms

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Sarah Pease from Sylvania Park, Enmore via Uralla was the buyer when David Nolan at Webster Nolan Real Estate and Bruce Rutherford at Boltons Landmark sold the Armidale offerings, Kingsford and Sun Valley at auction last week. 
The vendors Rob and Kelly Lamoureux are returning to Canada, with their children now overseas.
The marketing campaign resulted in over 90 enquiries and 36 inspections.
With a total of 11 registered bidders, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-livestock-nsw-armidale-7926638" target="_blank">Kingsford</a> (above), was the first property offered then followed by Sun Valley.
The Kingsford bidding started at $2.5 million and after 42 bids was knocked down for $4.65 million.
The Sun Valley bidding started at $3 million and after 13 bids was knocked down for $4.025 million.
The Lamoureux's came to Australia 30 years ago, as a young married couple, from a farming and ranching background respectively. Kelly leaving a large family cattle ranch in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and Rob a diverse background in farming and mixed livestock. 
Their adventure was precipitated by the desire to find a kinder climate.
Coming from the long harsh winters of western Canada the lovely four seasons of the New England made life on the land much easier, David Nolan advised.
Rob and Kelly have run a very successful commercial herd of cross bred cows. In the last 3 years their steers have taken out the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion twice at both Beef Spectacular in NSW and Paddock to Plate at the Ekka in Queensland. 
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New England farm sales secure $8.6 million

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A reimagined Alistair Knox-designed home has been listed in Research, some 24 kilometres north east of Melbourne.
The three bedroom, two bathroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-research-126979634" target="_blank">Camelot Close home</a> has a $2.3 million to $2.5 million price guidance through Fletchers Real Estate.
"It is one of Alistair Knox's finest designs," agent Chris Chapman said of the transformed design of the old mudbrick master.
<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/2017/12/4/Knox2.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
Chapman said it is one of the area's grandest homes.
The home, restored to honour its origins, features soaring high ceilings, windows expanses and a blend of rustic timbers with sleek modern finishes.
A seperate one bedroom studio sits on the 10 hectare estate surrounded by bushlands. There's also a swimming pool and tennis court.
Expressions of interest for the home close December 12.
 
 
 
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Re-imagined Alistair Knox home for sale

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Adelaide had the nation's cheapest sale when $220,000 was paid in Aldinga Beach.
It was a mortgagee sale of a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-aldinga+beach-126907886" target="_blank">43 Butterworth Rd, Aldinga Beach</a>. It last traded at $157,500 in 2008.
It was a three bedroom 1975 built home.
Last month a three bedroom Aldinga Beach house sold for $261,000, which was also the weekend's cheapest result.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-aldinga+beach-126282106" target="_blank">26 Stirling Street</a>, the 670 square metre property has potential to either be renovated or redeveloped.
Built in 1978, it last sold in 2002 for $129,950.
 
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Mortgagee sells Aldinga Beach home

Sydney developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-element">Central Element</a>&nbsp;is doubling down in Drummoyne, lodging plans for a boutique apartment development on St Georges Crescent, only one-kilometre down the road from its first Drummoyne development, Bianca.

The new project at 15A-21 St Georges Crescent,&nbsp;a&nbsp;1,701sqm north-facing site overlooking Iron Cove, will have 45 apartmnts across 10 levels. Eight of the units will be dedicated to affordable housing.

The site sits within walking distance of Drummoyne Village, Birkenhead Point, ferry services and the Bay Run, and offers harbour views towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge and CBD skyline.

Designed by MHN Design Union, the development will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside resident amenity including a gym, landscaped communal open space and three levels of basement parking.

The project has been lodged under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, with Drummoyne Village identified as a town centre capable of accommodating additional housing supply.

Central Element acquired the site earlier this year as part of its continued expansion across Sydney's eastern suburbs, lower north shore and inner west.

The developer's current pipeline includes luxury apartment projects Pearl Bondi and a separate development on Lamrock Avenue in Bondi, a residential project in Barry Street, Neutral Bay, and a mixed-use seniors living community in Greenwich.

Central Element Managing Director Nathan Chivas said the project would address a shortage of new owner-occupier housing opportunities in Drummoyne.

"While we're seeing a significant shift across Canada Bay as major infrastructure investment, population growth and planning reform drive a new chapter for the region, in suburbs like Drummoyne there remains a genuine shortage of new boutique luxury housing opportunities for owner occupiers," Chivas said.

"Sites of this nature are increasingly difficult to secure, particularly those that combine a north-facing aspect with direct water outlook. Our St Georges Crescent project responds directly to the market demand, offering a level of exclusivity, outlook and lifestyle in the highly sought after suburb."

The development application has been lodged with the City of Canada Bay Council, with the project expected to launch to market in early 2027.

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Joel Robinson

Central Element seeks second Drummoyne apartment development

The NSW Government has unveiled plans that could deliver around 1,300 new homes across Nowra and Kiama, continuing its push to unlock housing in well-located regional centres along the South Coast.

The proposals, now on public exhibition, would pave the way for around 830 homes in Nowra and a further 450 homes in Kiama, while also introducing affordable housing requirements and increased building heights in key locations.

The larger of the two proposals is centred on Nowra, where the NSW Government is seeking to rezone land within the Mandalay and Riverfront precincts.

The Mandalay sub-precinct, located close to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital, Nowra Library and the city's aquatic centre, could accommodate around 530 new homes. Around 30 per cent of housing delivered on Homes NSW-owned land would be dedicated to social and affordable housing, equating to roughly 100 homes. Building heights would increase from the current two-storey limit to between three and six storeys.

A separate rezoning proposal for the Nowra Riverfront Precinct would unlock a further 377 homes while creating stronger connections between the Shoalhaven River and the CBD. The plans include building heights ranging from five to 12 storeys, floor space ratios of up to 2:1 and a requirement for two per cent affordable housing.

Together, the two proposals would deliver more than 900 homes across the broader Nowra area, reinforcing the city's role as one of regional NSW's key growth centres.

The housing push builds on previous infrastructure commitments in the Shoalhaven, including government funding aimed at supporting thousands of future homes in West Nowra through upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure.

Further north, the NSW Government is also progressing plans for the former Kiama Depot site, a two-hectare parcel near Kiama's town centre.

The rezoning proposal would transform the former industrial site into a residential community capable of delivering up to 450 homes. Buildings would range between six and eight storeys, with at least 10 per cent of homes allocated as affordable housing. The proposal also includes approximately 600 parking spaces and improved walking and cycling connections.

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the proposals are designed to increase housing supply in locations close to jobs, transport and services.

"For too long, families have struggled to find somewhere to live, and activating underutilised sites allows us to deliver the new homes these families need," Scully said.

"The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of unlocking well-located sites close to transport, jobs, and town centres and building the homes our communities need.

"These rezonings are about removing barriers to housing delivery and making sure land is put to better use so more people can find a place to call home within the communities they choose."

The latest rezonings form part of the Minns Government's broader strategy to accelerate housing delivery across NSW, particularly in established centres where existing infrastructure can support additional population growth.

Community consultation on the proposals is now underway, with feedback set to inform the final planning controls before the rezonings are determined.

Around 1,300 new homes earmarked for Nowra and Kiama as NSW Government pushes housing supply

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mrcb">MRCB International</a> has commenced construction on its latest Gold Coast apartment development, Maris, on the site of the former Sundale Motel in Southport.

The start of construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">Binah</a> follows an exceptionally strong sales campaign, with more than 90 per cent of apartments sold since launch. Every purchaser has been local, an&nbsp;indicator of confidence in both the development and Southport's evolution into a thriving CBD.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maris-southport-20-queen-street-southport-qld-4215">Maris</a> will deliver 192 residences across 20 levels. The project forms part of MRCB's Australian and New Zealand development pipeline now exceeding $1.6 billion in gross development value, alongside a growing portfolio of projects globally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=350663]

The company also commenced construction on its $600 million 26 Vista residences in Surfers Paradise last year, following strong sales momentum, with over 70 per cent of residences sold.

Maris has been designed to meet evolving buyer demand, offering architecturally designed layouts suited to long-term liveability. The approach reflects a growing preference for quality and adaptability among Gold Coast buyers.

Positioned next to the Broadwater in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southport-qld-4215">Southport</a> CBD, Maris sits directly opposite the Broadwater Parklands light rail station and within easy reach of retail, dining and lifestyle precincts, placing residents at the centre of one of the Gold Coast's most connected and rapidly maturing urban centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=372756]

Maris will offer a full suite of resort-style residential amenities, including a pool, gym and sauna, along with a rooftop level featuring decks, lounges and dining and yoga areas that command sweeping views across the Broadwater and out to the ocean.

Binah, a New South Wales headquartered company co-founded by Amen Zoabi and Khalil Hafza in 2008, has expressed its excitement at establishing its first partnership with MRCB.

Binah's Managing Director Khalil Hafza said partnering with MRCB on Maris is a significant moment for Binah.

"MRCB's financial strength and a track record that speaks for itself give this project a solid foundation, and this marks the beginning of what will be a long and successful relationship.

"With the right people, systems and partnerships behind it, Maris is set to become a significant addition to the Gold Coast's premium residential market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=350664]

MRCB International CEO Ravi Krishnan said the project's progression to construction reflects both sustained demand and tightening conditions across the apartment sector, as well as MRCB's continued confidence in the Gold Coast market.

"Commencing construction at Maris is a significant step and reflects the depth of demand for quality apartments in well-connected urban locations," said Krishnan.

"Across Southeast Queensland, new apartment supply remains constrained, particularly in established precincts with infrastructure and amenity already in place. Projects like Maris are increasingly critical in meeting that demand, especially on the Gold Coast and in the city's CBD precinct."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=372761]

Krishnan said Southport's ongoing transformation, supported by infrastructure investment and long-term planning, was underpinning renewed buyer confidence.

"We're seeing a clear shift back towards well-located urban centres where infrastructure, connectivity and amenity are already established," said Mr Krishnan. "Southport is evolving into a more mature CBD environment, and that is being reflected in buyer behaviour."

Construction at Maris is anticipated to be completed in 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134403]

Construction commences on MRCB’s $200m Maris Residences in Southport

Moonee Valley Park’s latest residential release <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveline-at-moonee-valley-park-moonee-ponds-100-thomas-street-moonee-ponds-vic-3039">The Eveline</a>, has achieved a new benchmark for off-the-plan apartment sales in the suburb, with the sale of The Alexandra penthouse selling for $5,435,000.

Positioned on the top floor of a 16-level residential building, the three-bedroom, three and-a-half-bathroom penthouse features uninterrupted city skyline views across the future Valley racetrack.&nbsp;

The landmark sale comes as momentum at the precinct continues to build, with the Moonee Valley Racing Club progressing works on its new racetrack ahead of the 2027 Cox Plate. The transformative development will see MVRC reimagine the beloved Valley as a vibrant year-round entertainment and lifestyle destination.

Alongside a world-class racing experience, the historic precinct will be activated with events, hospitality and public green spaces designed to attract broader audiences, while breathing new life into one of Melbourne’s most iconic destinations.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=142519 project_image_fid=372786]

Development partners <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hamton">Hamton Property Group</a> and Hostplus have delivered five residential stages over the past four years, the most recent in November 2025 with Trackside House and Stonepine House. The flourishing community is now home to almost 500 families.&nbsp;

The latest residential release, The Eveline, has recorded strong demand since launching publicly last July, securing more than $200 million in sales to date, satisfying its pre sales hurdle for construction to commence.&nbsp;

Hamton Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM said, the sales&nbsp;team have been overwhelmed by demand for these unique homes in this unique project.

"Buyers continue to be predominantly hyperlocal and attracted by the 40 hectare botanic masterplan in Melbourne’s inner north west," Hameister said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=142519 project_image_fid=372788]

Hamton’s Sales and Marketing Director Fergus Humphries said the team has achieved more than 70 sales over the past eight weeks, including the penthouse purchase by a local buyer.

"These results reinforce that, even in a challenging market, purchasers continue to be drawn to quality projects that offer more than just a home, they offer a lifestyle.”

Designed by Cera Stribley, the penthouse has been created with entertaining in mind, spanning close to 400 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space, including multiple terraces designed to capture sweeping views across Melbourne’s skyline, the new Valley racecourse and sunset views over Moonee Ponds.

Moonee Valley Park is one of Melbourne’s largest urban renewal projects, transforming the iconic racecourse site into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood integrating homes, parklands, retail, racing and community amenities.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=142519]

Moonee Valley Park penthouse sets suburb record as sales surge clears construction benchmark

A company linked to one of Australia's largest privately owned cattle businesses has lodged plans for a new residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newstead-qld-4006">Newstead</a>, continuing the rapid transformation of one of Brisbane's most sought-after, inner-city precincts.

Bottletree Holdings, an entity associated with Stanbroke Managing Director Brendan Menegazzo, has submitted a development application for a 28-storey mixed-use tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-longland-street-newstead-qld-4006">9 Longland Street</a>, a site that made headlines last year when it changed hands in an off-market transaction that reportedly set a benchmark land rate for the suburb.

The proposal would replace an existing two-storey commercial building on the 1,510 sqm corner site with a Bureau Proberts-designed tower comprising 76 apartments, ground-floor retail, office space and a suite of resident wellness amenities.

<img alt="9 Longland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c710a836-568e-4382-bc91-3c34b8e80a8b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Vy.mQWBc7GA_a.vIBdxKqRC9XGjWalo2" />

According to planning documents lodged with Brisbane City Council, the development would comprise a mix of 36 two-bedroom apartments, 24 three-bedroom apartments and 16 four-bedroom residences, positioning the project firmly at the premium end of the market. The apartments would sit above a podium containing retail and commercial space, with three levels of communal recreation facilities spread throughout the tower. The proposal also includes 198 car spaces and 95 bicycle spaces.

Bureau Proberts has drawn heavily on Newstead's industrial heritage in developing the architectural response.

"Occupying a prominent corner in the heart of Newstead, the proposal draws from the area's industrial lineage of robust brick warehouses to deliver a distinctly contemporary response," the architects said in the design statement.

"It is conceived as a subtropical sanctuary and elevated private retreat embedded within one of Brisbane's most vibrant lifestyle precincts."

The design seeks to reinterpret the traditional Queensland vernacular through wraparound verandahs, deep shading elements and permeable facades that respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate.

<img alt="9 Longland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25524f59-395c-4825-8fad-9b639822fa8a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.42.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=dlWlbpCc_g3Y6yTLGqRVKvGJvO2ubMJ3" />

Planning documents describe the building as embodying the principles of "buildings that breathe", a design approach increasingly favoured in Brisbane's apartment market as developers focus on natural ventilation and outdoor living spaces.

The tower itself would rise above a heavily landscaped podium designed to reference the woolstore architecture that helped define Newstead and neighbouring Teneriffe for generations. At ground level, fine-grain retail tenancies would activate Longland Street, Wyandra Street and the existing Wyatt Street laneway, further extending the pedestrian network that has become a hallmark of the Gasworks precinct.

The application notes that more than 54 per cent of the site would be dedicated to landscaping and deep planting, while approximately 1,750 sqm of communal recreation space would be delivered across multiple levels.

<img alt="Planning" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fed3b189-1054-4b68-af5f-b0befc4a66e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.42.19%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=gqeE3cjsbnLAfeTUKA1HtPZfqDs6S4Xa" />

Bottletree paid $22 million for the 1,510 sqm development site, equating to more than $14,500 per sqm, a reflection of the strong demand for development opportunities in Newstead. The suburb continues to attract both developers and buyers, underpinned by the ongoing evolution of the Gasworks and Teneriffe precincts into some of Brisbane's most sought-after lifestyle destinations.

Brisbane City Council's Sustainable Growth Strategy and Inner City Strategy both identify Newstead as a priority growth precinct capable of accommodating additional housing density due to its proximity to employment hubs, public transport and lifestyle infrastructure.

The proposed tower joins a growing pipeline of high-end apartment developments in the suburb. Fortis recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a>, a 65-apartment owner-occupier-focused development on Kyabra Street, while Consolidated Properties Group is preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a 227-apartment waterfront project on Skyring Terrace.

Meanwhile, builder-developer BPG is planning its own Newstead project on Maud Street, comprising just over 100 apartments and more than 1,380 sqm of dedicated wellness and resident amenity spaces, further highlighting the shift towards lifestyle-driven apartment developments in Brisbane's inner-city market.

Staff reporter

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