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Deague Group has settled 500 apartment sales over just two days for its Box Hill development, The Whitehorse Towers, which is the tallest residential tower outside the Melbourne CBD.
The twin-tower project – one 36 storeys high, the other 24 storeys – had around 25 per cent of buyers from offshore.
Some 70 per cent of buyers were investors.
Around 20 per cent of buyers paid in cash.
It was developed by the Deagues and investment platform Ironfish, which had a minority stake in the project where valuations for the apartments came in around $1000 per square metre above the original price points.
Fairfax Media suggested apartments were pre-sold on an average of around $8600 per sq m.
The project includes a 100-room Art Series hotel, The Chen. The project topped at at 115 metres.
Of the 511 apartments in the project, 400 were settled last Friday at the offices of law firm HWL Ebsworth with a further 100 settled yesterday,
The remaining 11 are due to be finalised with the next few days.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

20 percent pay cash in Deague-Ironfish project, Whitehorse Towers

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One of Manly’s last remaining beachfront freehold properties has just sold through Savills.
Offered for the first time in 50 years, the property at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-manly-502506802" target="_blank">15-16 South Steyne</a> changed hands for an undisclosed sum.
Zoned Flexible B2 Local Centre zoning, the property was marketed as a development opportunity through an expressions of interest campaign that closed on September 14.
It is close to Manly Wharf with two street frontages.
The selling agents were Neil Cooke, Stuart Cox and Tim Grosmann of Savills.
It was previously home to the Royal Far West school, which provides support and services to local country kids for more than 80 years. It was put on the market with expectations of $10 million, Fairfax Media added.
Three budget accommodation sites in Manly, including the suburb’s biggest backpackers, are for sale.
<div class="story-content">
The accommodation represents almost 200 guest beds, are all close to the beach.
The Manly Guesthouse in Steinton Street is being offered as a going concern but the Manly Backpackers in Raglan Street and a colourful boarding house on the corner of Whistler and Steinton Streets are advertised as potential development sites.
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Manly's last beachfront property changes hands through Savills

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A warehouse in Sydney’s inner suburb of Glebe has changed hands for $4.1 million.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/24-lyndhurst-st-glebe-nsw-2037" target="_blank">24 Lyndhurst Street</a> is currently used as an office space  but is suited to residential conversion as well, according to its description.
It went to the market with expectations of $4 million and last sold for $1.93 million, CoreLogic RP Data shows. 
It offers nearly 475 sqm of internal floor space across three levels. 
The corner property has polished timber floors, high ceilings and air conditioning.
It is close to light rail and harbourside parklands.
The selling agent was Michael Glynn of The Agency. 
<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/2017/11/21/GlebeWarehouse2.jpg" alt="">
 
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Warehouse in Glebe suited for residential conversion sold for $4.1 million

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<h1>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hal-pawson-147969" target="_blank" style="font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px;">Hal Pawson</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>
</h1>
As everyone supposedly knows, fixing housing unaffordability is simply a matter of <a href="https://thekouk.com/item/413-house-prices-are-surging-because-of-low-supply-it-s-economics-101" target="_blank">boosting housing supply</a>. But wait! With their <a href="http://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/regional-housing-supply-and-demand-australia" target="_blank">just-published report</a> on house-building and population growth, ANU academics Ben Phillips and Cukkoo Joseph have blown yet another hole in <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/evidence-in-action/news/transcript-of-treasurers-address-on-housing-affordability-now-available" target="_blank">that sacred claim</a>.
By comparing housing demand and supply at a sub-regional level, their analysis highlights evidence that <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/housing-supply-alone-wont-fix-the-affordability-crisis-modelling-shows-20171119-gzobxa" target="_blank">in many parts of Australia</a> – not least inner Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – house-building has been running well ahead of local household growth for the past few years. Yet these are hardly areas where prices have dived.
In the City of Sydney, for example, <a href="http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/about-us/reports-plans-and-papers/rent-and-sales-reports/issue-120" target="_blank">overall median apartment prices rose by 52%</a> in the five years to March 2017. On the ANU analysis, this area has recently been oversupplied relative to population. Yet apartment prices here still rose at the same rate as across Greater Sydney, a region with some areas of undersupply.
<hr>
Further reading: <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-almost-a-world-leader-in-home-building-so-that-isnt-a-fix-for-affordability-73514" target="_blank">Australia’s almost a world leader in home building, so that isn’t a fix for affordability</a>
<hr>
<h2>Politicians’ worn-out excuse</h2>
Previous commentaries have highlighted <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-government-says-it-has-a-plan-to-fix-the-housing-affordability-crisis-this-chart-suggests-it-doesnt-20160902-gr7sbz" target="_blank">the recently strong positive correlation</a> between rapidly expanding housing supply and property inflation. But these correctives to the popular wisdom have failed to gain traction.
This is partly because of the continuing seductive appeal of the common sense claim that rising prices reflect gross shortage. So, it’s reasoned, expanding house building will moderate the market.
As my Sydney University colleague Peter Phibbs <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/peter-phibbs/our-politicians-need-to-read-chapter-1-of-an-economics-textbook_a_21876676/" target="_blank">recently observed</a>, this “supply mantra” works for politicians seeking to connect with voters because “everyone is an economist now and more supply will bring down prices”.
Heaven forbid that anyone might draw attention to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tackling-housing-unaffordability-a-10-point-national-plan-43628" target="_blank">special features of housing</a> as a commodity. As noted by Ben Phillips, these mean such supply “rules” do not apply; at least not in the simple form applicable to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Aspectacularbackflipwithnotaredfacetobeseen/2005/05/24/1116700714172" target="_blank">bananas</a>.
<hr>
Further reading: <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-housing-supply-shouldnt-be-the-only-policy-tool-politicians-cling-to-72586" target="_blank">Why housing supply shouldn’t be the only policy tool politicians cling to</a>
<hr>
More importantly, though, governments use their unqualified faith in equitable housing market solutions to get off the hook. It absolves them of the responsibility for playing an active role in managing and shaping these markets to deliver housing that meets everyone’s need for shelter. Instead, they facilitate development for speculation.
<h2>Calls for a policy rethink</h2>
This critique is not exclusive to academics and affordable housing campaigners. It is increasingly coming from other stakeholders, including in the finance industry.
In a <a href="http://www.industrysuperaustralia.com/publications/reports/assisting-housing-affordability-discussion-paper/" target="_blank">recent report</a>, Industry Super Australia (ISA) lamented the “haphazard approach [to housing policy] … across all levels of Australian government … What was a serious problem a decade ago is becoming a crisis after a further ten years of policy gridlock”.
We <a href="https://theconversation.com/mounting-housing-stress-underscores-need-for-expert-council-to-guide-wayward-policymaking-84196" target="_blank">recently advocated</a> for a re-established National Housing Supply Council (NHSC). Echoing this, ISA calls for government to set up “a co-ordinating body to identify the extent of regional shortfalls in [affordable] housing”. This would require “reinstatement of a rigorous housing supply forecasting capacity to underpin effective city and municipal level planning”.
<hr>
Further reading: <a href="https://theconversation.com/mounting-housing-stress-underscores-need-for-expert-council-to-guide-wayward-policymaking-84196" target="_blank">Mounting housing stress underscores need for expert council to guide wayward policymaking</a>
<hr>
As advocated by ISA, the body’s membership and functions would closely mirror those of the NHSC. However, again consistent with our proposals, there would be greater emphasis on the position of renters on low to moderate incomes.
No-one disputes that, with continued population growth nationally and especially in our capital cities, maximising new house-building must be part of the policy mix. But the idea that this can be any kind of silver bullet for unaffordable housing – especially for the lower-income renters who are really doing it tough – is fundamentally flawed. <a href="http://www.industrysuperaustralia.com/publications/reports/assisting-housing-affordability-discussion-paper/" target="_blank">As ISA puts it</a>:
<blockquote>
Simply increasing overall housing stock will not ensure that more assisted [affordable] housing becomes available. Instead, increasing the supply of assisted [affordable] housing specifically is required.
</blockquote>
What is needed above all is “a comprehensive, long-term commitment to addressing the supply of affordable rentals for low to moderate earners”.
Australia sailed directly away from this essential goal with the Abbott government’s 2014 <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/news-event/news/defining-action-to-secure-institutionally-financed-affordable-housing/" target="_blank">scrapping of the National Rental Affordability Scheme</a>.
<h2>Moves to repair the damage</h2>
Recent policy moves in Canberra just may have set a course towards repairing the damage.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has backed a <a href="http://www.budget.gov.au/2017-18/content/glossies/factsheets/html/HA_18.htm" target="_blank">new mechanism</a> to channel low-cost construction finance to community housing providers. The Commonwealth is also starting to pressure the states and territories to develop “<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017B00238/Download" target="_blank">credible housing strategies</a>”. This would be in return for ongoing national funding for public housing and homelessness services.
Crucially, such strategies should include state and territory commitments to the robust use of land-use planning systems to hard-wire affordable rental housing supply into the normal private house-building process. This would emulate and build on <a href="http://blogs.unsw.edu.au/cityfutures/blog/2016/11/sydney-needs-higher-affordable-housing-targets/" target="_blank">recent proposals by the Greater Sydney Commission</a>, which the New South Wales government is considering.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87757/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">For the states and territories, this model could be a major element of “their side of the bargain” in a serious push to secure an enduring affordable housing supply. Only with some form of matching federal “development subsidy”, however, do such strategies stand a chance of making a real difference.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hal-pawson-147969" target="_blank">Hal Pawson</a>, Associate Director - City Futures - Urban Policy and Strategy, City Futures Research Centre, Housing Policy and Practice, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/facts-sink-glib-housing-supply-mantra-the-focus-must-be-on-affordable-rental-87757" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Facts sink glib housing supply mantra – the focus must be on affordable rental

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GUEST OBSERVER
How truthful are we when it comes to negotiating loans in Australia?
With increasing pressure on the housing market, some of us might be tempted to stretch the truth to secure a mortgage on our dream property - but research shows that this practice can have serious repercussions.
Recent news reports have alerted borrowers to the dangers of “liar loans”, based on the findings of a new UBS research study. A liar loan is a no-documentation loan that is approved on the basis of unverified and possibly false information about income, assets or capacity to repay.
In the United States, where many loan applications have been approved without any information on the borrower’s income and assets - these liar loans have been implicated as one of the reasons for the global financial crisis.
Should we be worried in Australia?
The UBS study found that a third of Australian mortgage borrowers reported being “not factual or accurate” in their mortgage applications. Being “not accurate” is not the same thing as being a “liar”. However, we need to be aware and pro-active to avoid poor standards and practices.
They further estimate that there is roughly US$500 billion (A$657.95 billion) worth of factually inaccurate mortgages on banks’ books in Australia. This is worrying, because it could mean that borrowers are taking on bigger debts than they can actually afford, falling into financial stress or even losing their homes.
The Australian situation
In Australia, when borrowers apply for a mortgage they need to provide documentation that verifies their employment history, creditworthiness, and overall financial situation. Borrowers are required to provide a payslip or most recent tax returns, and show that they have been employed in the same job for at least 12 months.
Other documentation may include: credit card and bank statements; sales contract; confirmation of rental income if purchasing an investment property; and more. The mortgage originator may perform credit checks and bankruptcy or default searches.
Some mortgage borrowers may not be required to provide much documentation if they are existing clients of the bank and already have a strong credit history.
In my research I found that 88.8% of mortgage applicants were existing customers of the bank where they apply for a mortgage, and had been so for 9.3 years on average. But low documentation loans exist for self-employed borrowers.
Where accuracy of mortgage applications becomes difficult to determine is when estimating the expenses of the household. Mortgage applicants are asked about their monthly expenses to assess whether they can service the debt without major stress. Here, applicants may be “mostly factual and accurate” or even “partially accurate” when trying to calculate their monthly expenses. After all, how many people actually keep accurate and up-to-date spreadsheets of all their expenses?
Debts outstanding with other financial institutions or family and friends may also be misreported. In addition, mortgage lenders who receive commissions linked to loan size have incentives to overestimate borrower’s incomes and underestimate expenses.
Australian version of liar loans?
These arguments do not suggest that there is no “lying” or “truth hiding” in mortgage applications in Australia, but that it may not be comparable to the trend of “liar loans” seen in the US.
More importantly, banks do not rely only on their clients’ word. Banks estimate monthly expenses and uncommitted income for their clients based on borrower characteristics and solid financial records.
Data from previous research reveals that banks estimate on average A$1,637 more on monthly expenses than applicants report. Based on the bank’s calculations, housing investors underestimate their monthly expenses by A$1,932 on average, while owner-occupiers underestimate by A$1,560 on average.
Similarly, mortgage applicants report their monthly uncommitted income to be on average A$702.5 more than what the bank estimates it to be. Housing investors only overestimate their monthly uncommitted income by A$174 on average, while owner-occupiers overestimate by A$840 on average.
Due diligence required from both banks and borrowers
Research finds that mortgage features (for example fixed or adjustable rates, maturity, loan-to-value ratio, and so on) help borrowers select mortgage products that are affordable and safer for them, with the guidance of mortgage lenders and brokers.
The research further finds that lenders should make sure that borrowers have the financial capacity to repay their loans out of income or by selling assets under plausible conditions, and not by relying on the value of the collateral.
Mortgage delinquency and default may rise due to excessive risk taking in mortgage lending combined with deteriorating economic conditions; or due to falling income and rising unemployment during a housing downturn. This later case is more likely the potential threat in the Australian current environment.
The Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) perform stress tests to check the financial system’s resilience. Along with APRA’s macro- and micro-prudential regulations, some lenders are introducing higher requirements and credit restrictions on potential borrowers.
These include obtaining more information on the clients, which helps assess credit and default risks and helps design and target financial products to specific type of borrowers. There is however risk of mortgage discrimination.
More careful monitoring needed
Mortgage risks often relate to mismatches between the products used by households and their financial capabilities and ability to bear risks. For that reason, mortgage product characteristics should be monitored carefully both by banks and borrowers.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests that financial authorities should make sure lending standards are sound, both in the banking and non-banking sectors. It is important that banks do not face incentives encouraging excessive risk taking.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87073/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Requiring more transparency, reinforcing consumer protection and financial education encourages sound lending and borrowing practices.
Maria Yanotti, Lecturer of Economics and Finance Tasmanian School of Business &amp; Economics, University of Tasmania.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-liar-loans-undermine-sound-lending-practices-87073" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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How 'liar loans' undermine sound lending practices: Maria Yanotti

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Australia has an oversupply of up to 164,000 dwellings, including parts of the major cities, countering industry and government suggestions that Australia is suffering a housing shortage, a new study by The Australian National University (ANU) has found.
The Regional Housing Supply and Demand in Australia Working Paper, by Associate Professor Ben Phillips and researcher Cukkoo Joseph of the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods analysed 15 years' worth of Census data and building approvals.
It also found Australia had an oversupply in some markets such as parts of inner city Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
"The surplus is not particularly substantial, but certainly suggest that housing supply in and of itself is probably not the primary driver of house-price growth in Australia. There are other factors that are going on," Phillips said.
"We've looked at factors like changes in household types and dwelling types and unoccupied dwellings which we don't think have been taken into account in other studies in any substantial way in the past, and certainly not at the regional level.
"The standard line of governments and industry seems to be that housing supply is a big problem in Australia. No doubt there are some areas where it is. But overall we don't see the housing shortage that's often talked about - in fact we see that there is a surplus."
In addition to analysing data from the 2001 and 2016 Census, the ANU researchers looked at Australian Bureau of Statistics building approvals and survey of income and housing.
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" nowrap>
TOP 5 SHORTAGE AND SURPLUS REGIONS BY MAJOR STATE
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" nowrap>
Housing Shortage Regions NSW
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap>
Region
</td>
<td nowrap>
Shortage Dwellings
</td>
<td nowrap>
% Stock
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
1
</td>
<td nowrap>
Wyong
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,574
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
2
</td>
<td nowrap>
Fairfield
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,808
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
3
</td>
<td nowrap>
Shoalhaven
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,700
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
4
</td>
<td nowrap>
Hurstville
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,612
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
5
</td>
<td nowrap>
Strathfield - Burwood - As
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,596
</td>
<td nowrap>
2.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" nowrap>
Housing Surplus Regions NSW
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
NSW
</td>
<td nowrap>
Region
</td>
<td nowrap>
Surplus Dwellings
</td>
<td nowrap>
% Stock
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
1
</td>
<td nowrap>
Sydney Inner City
</td>
<td nowrap>
5,878
</td>
<td nowrap>
5.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
2
</td>
<td nowrap>
Richmond Valley - Coastal
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,056
</td>
<td nowrap>
5.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
3
</td>
<td nowrap>
Newcastle
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,988
</td>
<td nowrap>
2.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
4*
</td>
<td nowrap>
Snowy Mountains
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,869
</td>
<td nowrap>
16.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
5
</td>
<td nowrap>
Tweed Valley
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,573
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" nowrap>
* Subject to non-private dwelling fluctuations eg hotels
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" nowrap>
Housing Shortage Regions VIC
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
VIC
</td>
<td nowrap>
Region
</td>
<td nowrap>
Shortage Dwellings
</td>
<td nowrap>
% Stock
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
1
</td>
<td nowrap>
Mornington Peninsula
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,193
</td>
<td nowrap>
1.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
2
</td>
<td nowrap>
Casey - South
</td>
<td nowrap>
1,180
</td>
<td nowrap>
2.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
3
</td>
<td nowrap>
Surf Coast - Bellarine Pen
</td>
<td nowrap>
679
</td>
<td nowrap>
1.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
4
</td>
<td nowrap>
Casey - North
</td>
<td nowrap>
664
</td>
<td nowrap>
1.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
5
</td>
<td nowrap>
Cardinia
</td>
<td nowrap>
380
</td>
<td nowrap>
1.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" nowrap>
Housing Surplus Regions VIC
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
VIC
</td>
<td nowrap>
Region
</td>
<td nowrap>
Surplus Dwellings
</td>
<td nowrap>
% Stock
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
1
</td>
<td nowrap>
Melbourne City
</td>
<td nowrap>
3,994
</td>
<td nowrap>
5.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
2
</td>
<td nowrap>
Whittlesea - Wallan
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,637
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
3
</td>
<td nowrap>
Banyule
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,297
</td>
<td nowrap>
4.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
4
</td>
<td nowrap>
Port Phillip
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,127
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
5
</td>
<td nowrap>
Monash
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,092
</td>
<td nowrap>
3.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" nowrap>
Housing Shortage Regions QLD
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
QLD
</td>
<td nowrap>
Region
</td>
<td nowrap>
Shortage Dwellings
</td>
<td nowrap>
% Stock
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
1
</td>
<td nowrap>
Sunnybank
</td>
<td nowrap>
702
</td>
<td nowrap>
4.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
2
</td>
<td nowrap>
Buderim
</td>
<td nowrap>
538
</td>
<td nowrap>
2.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
3
</td>
<td nowrap>
Ipswich Hinterland
</td>
<td nowrap>
515
</td>
<td nowrap>
2.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
4
</td>
<td nowrap>
Bribie - Beachmere
</td>
<td nowrap>
290
</td>
<td nowrap>
1.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
5
</td>
<td nowrap>
Sunshine Coast Hinterland
</td>
<td nowrap>
262
</td>
<td nowrap>
1.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" nowrap>
Housing Surplus Regions QLD
</td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
QLD
</td>
<td nowrap>
Region
</td>
<td nowrap>
Surplus Dwellings
</td>
<td nowrap>
% Stock
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
1
</td>
<td nowrap>
Brisbane Inner
</td>
<td nowrap>
4,537
</td>
<td nowrap>
12.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
2
</td>
<td nowrap>
Townsville
</td>
<td nowrap>
4,259
</td>
<td nowrap>
5.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
3
</td>
<td nowrap>
Cairns - South
</td>
<td nowrap>
3,516
</td>
<td nowrap>
8.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
4
</td>
<td nowrap>
Gladstone - Biloela
</td>
<td nowrap>
3,384
</td>
<td nowrap>
9.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
5
</td>
<td nowrap>
Surfers Paradise
</td>
<td nowrap>
2,878
</td>
<td nowrap>
12.3%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
"We appear to have built enough dwellings, and there's an oversupply in some markets such as some parts of inner city Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which could have interesting implications for the economy,"  Phillips said.
"If this research is right, it suggests we've built enough dwellings, and there's not likely to be any great gain in building more houses in addition to what's required."
In the regions, many homes were built in mining centres over the past 15 years before the mining boom ended.
"Particularly in outback Western Australia, regional WA and north Queensland, many of these areas have a housing surplus," Phillips said.
"We also find Canberra has a housing surplus, especially among higher-density dwellings in the town centres.
"We've found that we've built more than what population growth would require.
"It doesn't mean that it won't get soaked up in coming years, but it does suggest there won't be as much need for new home building in the near future, which could have knock-on to the broader economy."
The Regional Housing Supply and Demand in Australia Working Paper is <a href="http://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/regional-housing-supply-and-demand-australia" target="_blank">available online</a><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/Australia%20has%20an%20oversupply%20of%20up%20to%20164,000%20dwellings,%20including%20parts%20of%20the%20major%20cities,%20countering%20industry%20and%20government%20suggestions%20that%20Australia%20is%20suffering%20a%20housing%20shortage,%20a%20new%20study%20by%20The%20Australian%20National%20University%20(ANU)%20has%20found.%20%20The%20Regional%20Housing%20Supply%20and%20Demand%20in%20Australia%20Working%20Paper,%20by%20Associate%20Professor%20Ben%20Phillips%20and%20researcher%20Cukkoo%20Joseph%20of%20the%20ANU%20Centre%20for%20Social%20Research%20and%20Methods%20analysed%2015%20years'%20worth%20of%20Census%20data%20and%20building%20approvals.%20%20It%20found%20Australia%20had%20an%20oversupply%20in%20some%20markets%20such%20as%20parts%20of%20inner%20city%20Sydney,%20Melbourne%20and%20Brisbane.%20%20%22The%20surplus%20is%20not%20particularly%20substantial,%20but%20certainly%20suggest%20that%20housing%20supply%20in%20and%20of%20itself%20is%20probably%20not%20the%20primary%20driver%20of%20house-price%20growth%20in%20Australia.%20There%20are%20other%20factors%20that%20are%20going%20on,%22%20Dr%20Phillips%20said.%20%20%22We've%20looked%20at%20factors%20like%20changes%20in%20household%20types%20and%20dwelling%20types%20and%20unoccupied%20dwellings%20which%20we%20don't%20think%20have%20been%20taken%20into%20account%20in%20other%20studies%20in%20any%20substantial%20way%20in%20the%20past,%20and%20certainly%20not%20at%20the%20regional%20level.%20%20%22The%20standard%20line%20of%20governments%20and%20industry%20seems%20to%20be%20that%20housing%20supply%20is%20a%20big%20problem%20in%20Australia.%20No%20doubt%20there%20are%20some%20areas%20where%20it%20is.%20But%20overall%20we%20don't%20see%20the%20housing%20shortage%20that's%20often%20talked%20about%20-%20in%20fact%20we%20see%20that%20there%20is%20a%20surplus.%22%20%20In%20addition%20to%20analysing%20data%20from%20the%202001%20and%202016%20Census,%20the%20ANU%20researchers%20looked%20at%20Australian%20Bureau%20of%20Statistics%20building%20approvals%20and%20survey%20of%20income%20and%20housing.%20%20%22We%20appear%20to%20have%20built%20enough%20dwellings,%20and%20there's%20an%20oversupply%20in%20some%20markets%20such%20as%20some%20parts%20of%20inner%20city%20Sydney,%20Melbourne%20and%20Brisbane,%20which%20could%20have%20interesting%20implications%20for%20the%20economy,%22%20Dr%20Phillips%20said.%20%20%22If%20this%20research%20is%20right,%20it%20suggests%20we've%20built%20enough%20dwellings,%20and%20there's%20not%20likely%20to%20be%20any%20great%20gain%20in%20building%20more%20houses%20in%20addition%20to%20what's%20required.%22%20%20In%20the%20regions,%20many%20homes%20were%20built%20in%20mining%20centres%20over%20the%20past%2015%20years%20before%20the%20mining%20boom%20ended.%20%20%22Particularly%20in%20outback%20Western%20Australia,%20regional%20WA%20and%20north%20Queensland,%20many%20of%20these%20areas%20have%20a%20housing%20surplus,%22%20Dr%20Phillips%20said.%20%20%22We%20also%20find%20Canberra%20has%20a%20housing%20surplus,%20especially%20among%20higher-density%20dwellings%20in%20the%20town%20centres.%20%20%22We've%20found%20that%20we've%20built%20more%20than%20what%20population%20growth%20would%20require.%20%20%22It%20doesn't%20mean%20that%20it%20won't%20get%20soaked%20up%20in%20coming%20years,%20but%20it%20does%20suggest%20there%20won't%20be%20as%20much%20need%20for%20new%20home%20building%20in%20the%20near%20future,%20which%20could%20have%20knock-on%20to%20the%20broader%20economy.%22%20%20The%20Regional%20Housing%20Supply%20and%20Demand%20in%20Australia%20Working%20Paper%20is%20available%20at%20http:/csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/regional-housing-supply-and-demand-australia." target="_blank">.</a>
</body></html>

Fresh housing supply won't necessarily lead to affordability: ANU study

<html><body>
Richmond was the most active suburb for weekend auctions.
A <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-richmond-126763162" target="_blank">double-fronted Victorian cottage</a> on Queen Street, Richmond (pictured above) fetched $2.08 million, the dearest result.
It had $1.9 million to $2.09 million price hopes.
The cul de sac home featured polished floors.
There was a contemporary kitchen with Corian surfaces and NEFF appliances.
It came with hydronic heating, 1 kilowatt solar system, solar hot water and a 4800 litre rain water tank.
It last sold at $981,000 in 2006.
Richmond's next priciest result was the 1855 home, Dennington, at 139 Hoddle Street which fetched $1,975,000 at mid-week private auction.
</body></html>

Richmond cottage sells at $2.08 million

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Australia continues to grow jobs, but wages aren’t keeping up and policymakers are running out of options.
Let’s begin with an economy that is doing relatively well.
In the US, the data were both predictable and moderately positive.
Consumer prices (as measured by the CPI) were up only 0.1% in October, but this was in line with expectations. Recall that two major hurricanes drove up gasoline prices in September, and those increases rolled off (they were up 13.1% in September and fell 2.4% in October). The year-on-year CPI increase was 2.0% – again, in line with expectations.
The Producer Price Index (PPI) rose by a healthy 2.6% on a year-on-year basis – despite a drop in gasoline prices for producers of 4.6% (note the difference between wholesale and retail price changes). Perhaps most importantly, there were relatively strong increases in elements of the index that the US Federal Reserve cares most about (as they are less cyclical than, say, energy prices), like healthcare costs.
Less expected, but happy news, was the 0.2% rise in retail sales. That puts retail sales up 4.6% on an annual basis. This is further evidence of the solid rebound in the US economy.
And now to Australia.
On the plus side, a fair number of jobs are being created. As Treasurer Scott Morrison was eager to point out on Thursday, 296,400 jobs have been created this year; 236,000 of them full-time.
But the continued depressing news is about wages. The wage-price index was up 0.5% for the third quarter, below market expectations of 0.7%. That puts annual wages growth at 2.0%. With inflation running at 1.8%, that means real wages growth is effectively zero. And it has been like that for a long time.
This is causing enormous problems for Australian households and policymakers.
Recall that Australian households are among the most highly leveraged in the world – with debts at around 190% of GDP. So what is going to reduce that debt?
There are two possibilities: more inflation or more income. Inflation helps reduce the debt in real terms, and income helps for obvious reasons. Right now, both avenues look shaky.
On the former, the Melbourne Institute reported on Thursday that inflation expectations fell this month, providing further evidence that future inflation is likely to be low.
On the latter, there has been a continued run of low wages growth. This is an experience being felt in advanced economies around the world. That suggests it is something to do with technology, or global economic conditions, and therefore not all that amenable to policy.
That leaves us with heavily indebted households, with no obvious way out. This, of course, puts a strain on consumer spending, which in turn affects business investment and employment, and the whole (vicious) cycle loops back on itself.
What is the cut-through for policymakers?
The RBA could drop interest rates from their current 1.50% level – and increasingly some economists are suggesting that. The worry is that a rate cut might further fuel housing prices, making the problem worse, not better.
Federal income tax cuts would be another avenue, but with the budget in structural deficit, and with an economically illiterate crossbench, that looks unlikely.
The government could embark on a major infrastructure spending plan, which could rejuvenate regional employment in areas hit by the forces of globalisation. With interest rates at very low levels, for very long maturities, this seems like a good idea, as long as the projects are assessed on a rational basis.
The concern in this regard is politics. Both major parties have their predilections and bases to pander to. A bad outcome would be, for example, a big coal mine investment by the Coalition, and some uneconomic green-energy boondoggle by the opposition.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87517/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">As I have said before in this column, the US seems to be navigating the post-2008 economic world relatively well, although caution is certainly warranted. Australia is doing much less well. And the narrative that we have “successfully transitioned from the mining boom” seems a lot more like wishful thinking than hard evidence.
Richard Holden, Professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, UNSW.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-australias-mining-boom-transition-is-on-shaky-ground-87517" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Australia's mining boom transition is on shaky ground: Richard Holden

<html><body>
Mortgagees have secured the sale of another Mernda home.
It was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-mernda-126629046" target="_blank">a three bedroom sold for $485,000</a>.
It was marketed as a "fantastic first home or investment offering."
The three bedroom home has a modern kitchen with tiled family/meals area.
It sits on a 294 square metre block.
Last month mortgagees secured the $572,000 sale of a five bedroom Mernda home.
Situated in a sought after pocket of Mernda, the neat home came complete with a well-appointed kitchen and open plan living design, large family and meals area.
The home was set on a 565 square metre block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-mernda-126373358" target="_blank">24 Black Braes Boulevard</a>. The block had sold at $222,000 in 2015.
</body></html>

Mortgagees find more success in Mernda

<html><body>
Purchases by foreign buyers do not, on the whole, reduce the supply of dwellings available to local residents, according to the RBA.
"In fact they may actually contribute to expansion of the housing stock," according to Jonathan Kearns the bank's head of Financial Stability.
He said foreign buyers in Australia for work or study would have been renting if they did not purchase.
"Other foreign buyers rent the property as an investment and so contribute to the rental stock.
"Also, there are some new developments that only proceed because they get high pre-sales from foreign buyers," he said in a speech to the Aus-China Property Developers, Investors &amp; Financiers.
<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2017/sp-so-2017-11-20" target="_blank">The speech</a> noted purchases by foreign buyers have received considerable focus in recent years.
However he did acknowledge foreign buyers of residential property could amplify cycles or transmit foreign shocks. 
"Non-residents purchasing Australian real estate as an investment may choose between different countries based on expected returns, which can increase the correlation of the Australian market with other countries. 
"Changes in economic and regulatory conditions in foreign buyers' home countries can also be transmitted to their demand for Australian property. 
"But if purchases of residential property by foreign buyers mainly depend on conditions in their home country, their participation could actually have a moderating impact on the Australian housing cycle."
Kearns noted non-residents are able to purchase newly constructed dwellings in Australia, while temporary residents, such as those in Australia for work or study, are able to purchase an existing dwelling for their primary residence.
"It has been hard to get a firm estimate of how large these purchases are, but drawing on a range of sources, it seems that, nationally, purchases by foreign buyers are equivalent to around 10-15 per cent of new construction, or about 5 per cent of total housing sales," he noted.
"The share of new construction purchases is highest in Melbourne and Sydney.
"It is also higher for apartments, but it is still only perhaps around one-quarter of newly built apartments.
"Many foreign buyers come from China, seemingly around three-quarters."
He noted purchases of new properties by foreign buyers have eased over the past year, reportedly because of stricter enforcement of Chinese capital controls and tighter access to finance for foreign buyers.
Kearns concluded the strength of the Australian property market, and the participation by foreign buyers, had enticed some foreign developers to Australia for specific projects, "but overall they remain a small part of the market."
Foreign banks also have a very small role in residential property lending in Australia, he added.
 
</body></html>

Foreign buyers do not reduce residential dwelling supply: RBA's Jonathan Kearns

For the first time in a long time, Australia's inflation story is starting to look more like a landing than a fight.

The latest Consumer Price Index figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed annual inflation eased to four per cent in May, down from 4.2 per cent in April. On the surface, that might not seem like a major move. Inflation remains above the Reserve Bank's target range and some categories continue to record stubborn price growth.

But the significance of this result lies less in where inflation sits today and more in what it means for where interest rates are likely heading next.

The biggest takeaway is that inflation continues to move in the right direction.

Markets had been bracing for another sticky result after a period where progress appeared to stall. Instead, headline inflation came in softer than expected, helped by falling fuel prices and easing transport costs. Annual transport inflation halved from 6.6 per cent in April to 3.3 per cent in May, while automotive fuel prices fell 11.9 per cent during the month following lower oil prices and the impact of reduced fuel excise measures.

While petrol prices don't solve Australia's affordability challenges, they are one of the most visible and immediate costs for consumers. Falling fuel costs feed through the economy quickly, helping ease pressure on household budgets and business operating expenses.

The ABS data also showed headline inflation is now sitting at its lowest annual level in several months, reinforcing the broader trend that price growth is gradually moderating.

That trend is important because it aligns with what many economists and lenders have been saying for the last month.

Prior to this week's inflation data, ANZ, NAB and Commonwealth Bank had all shifted their forecasts, now believing the Reserve Bank had likely reached the peak of the interest rate cycle. Following the May inflation release, ANZ reaffirmed that view.

In its latest economic update, ANZ said it expects quarterly trimmed mean inflation to come in at 3.7 per cent for the June quarter, slightly below the Reserve Bank's forecast of 3.8 per cent. Importantly, the bank said that outcome, when combined with slowing economic activity, "supports our view that the cash rate has peaked".

The Reserve Bank has spent the better part of three years attempting to bring inflation under control through higher interest rates. If Australia's major banks are correct and rates have now peaked, the conversation shifts from how much higher rates could go to when they might begin coming down.

Westpac's caution comes from underlying inflation. The trimmed mean, the measure most closely watched by the Reserve Bank, increased from 3.4 per cent to 3.6 per cent annually. Housing inflation remains elevated at 6.5 per cent, reflecting ongoing increases in rents, electricity costs and new dwelling construction.

Electricity prices remain particularly problematic, rising 21.1 per cent over the past year following the removal of government rebates.

Housing construction costs are also showing signs of renewed pressure. ANZ noted new dwelling costs rose 0.9 per cent in May and are now running at an annualised pace of 8.6 per cent over the past three months. Builders continue to face higher labour, fuel and material costs, a reminder that inflationary pressures have not completely disappeared.

Housing affordability has deteriorated largely because of higher interest rates rather than higher property prices alone. Even modest reductions in mortgage rates would improve borrowing capacity, increase buyer confidence and reduce repayment pressure on existing homeowners.

While August is far from a certainty, the latest inflation result has strengthened the view that the next move in rates is more likely to be down than up. For borrowers, buyers and the development sector, that alone represents a significant shift from the conversation that dominated much of the past two years.

Joel Robinson

The inflation result the property market was waiting for

Commercial property group FiveX is doubling down on its move into the residential space.

The group, founded by Joshua and Marko Berger more than five decades ago, has followed up its plans for a 39-storey tower on North Sydney's Alfred Street with a proposed 61-storey tower in Chatswood.

The new tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/815-pacific-highway-chatswood-nsw-2067">815 Pacific Highway</a>, which would be one of the tallest proposed in Chatswood in recent years, will comprise 490 apartments, 76 of which will be dedicated affordable housing and managed by Evolve Housing for a minimum of 15 years.

The project will replace the long-standing Panorama Building, originally known as the BMA Tower, a 14-storey office building completed in 1972 and designed by Hungarian-born architect Hugo Stossel. At the time of its completion, the building was the tallest structure in Chatswood and became a local landmark due to its distinctive curved form and external glass lift.

<img alt="FiveX" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="956bd299-3864-47a0-8ea6-162b5524c5d8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-24%20at%201.02.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=EWx7teUr7RcYrI9mgRytwppwt5AdUDtb" />

fjcstudio is behind the designs. Its Architectural Design Report argues the ageing commercial building no longer reflects Chatswood's role as one of Sydney's key strategic centres and that the site is ideally positioned to support significantly higher residential density.

"The site is located at the heart of Chatswood, within the TOD accelerated rezoning area that supports higher density development around the new Metro station," the report states.

"The site's role within a walkable 400-metre radius catchment is where housing, employment, retail and community uses are encouraged to cluster in support of transit-oriented living."

<img alt="fjc" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8d198f5e-cc71-4175-9357-be6ec7207473" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-24%20at%201.18.27%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=5WUFc3IYBPvhQMBUYLCsjJhzdcVeYodE" />

The proposal has undergone two rounds of review by the NSW State Design Review Panel, with the design evolving through an extensive assessment process focused on design excellence, public realm outcomes, residential amenity and the integration of affordable housing.

fjcstudio says the residential component provides a diverse mix of apartment typologies, supporting a broad demographic and contributing to housing supply in a highly accessible location close to major transport, employment and retail infrastructure.

The application follows FiveX's plans for a 39-storey tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">275 Alfred Street</a>, which it <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">submitted through the same NSW Government pathway</a> in December. That's for 184 apartments.

Recent activity in Chatswood includes Hyecorp launching its Archer Street project, Celine, and Develotek securing approval for a 34-storey tower.

First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans

Bridgewell Capital and SLD Development seem to be bullish on the Killara apartment market, filing plans for a second new development next to the Killara Golf Club.

The new plans are for 79 apartments across an amalgamated 4,989 sqm site on Buckingham Road.&nbsp;The project has been designed by BKA Architecture and is being assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing and Infill Affordable Housing reforms. It is just 300 metres from&nbsp;Killara train station.

The majority of the apartments are three-bedrooms (46), with 23 two-bedroom apartments, seven one-beds, and three four-bedroom apartments. 17 of the apartments&nbsp;are proposed as affordable housing, representing 15 per cent of the project's gross floor area, allowing the development to access additional floor space and height incentives available under the NSW Housing SEPP.

There will be 131 resident and visitor car spaces, and more than&nbsp;1,450 sqm of communal open space. Landscaped areas would account for approximately 45 per cent of the site.

<img alt="Killara" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="75ef5ef7-a53b-4932-a8f1-38f63169eec9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-24%20at%2011.04.00%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=d_lG1A1StDaMQilljy25Fr8SF1BnAmKE" />

The site currently contains three detached dwellings and occupies a prominent position on the eastern side of Buckingham Road, with frontage to an area that has already begun transitioning towards higher-density housing. Existing apartment buildings of up to six storeys surround the site, while the Killara Golf Club forms its southern boundary.

The application has been lodged as a State Significant Development due to the affordable housing component and the scale of the project.

According to the design report, the proposal has been shaped by the area's evolving planning framework, which is encouraging greater housing density around transport infrastructure.

"The site sits along a growth area anticipated to undergo transformation in line with broader trends across New South Wales, driven by the implementation of the Low and Mid-Rise and Transport-Oriented Development State Housing Policies," the report states.

"Being within 800 metres walking distance to Killara Train Station, the project seeks to provide high-quality apartments designed for various family sizes, located in a vibrant landscaped setting."

The Upper North Shore suburb has become one of the most closely watched testing grounds for the NSW Government's housing reforms. A number of developers have moved quickly to consolidate sites around railway stations across suburbs including Killara, Lindfield, Gordon and Roseville, where the new planning settings are creating opportunities for apartment developments that would previously have been difficult to achieve.

The likes of Aqualand, Hyecorp, Holdmark and Vermont Property Group have projects in the region.

Bridgewell has several developments in the pipeline. Last September they submitted plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/bridgewell-capital-seeks-55-apartment-project-in-killara">55 new apartments</a> at&nbsp;23-25 Lorne Avenue in Killara, just the other side of Regimental Park from their new project. In May they filed for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-bridgewell-plots-120-apartments-and-childcare-centre-in-maroubra-town-centre">120 apartments in Maroubra</a>.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

First look: Bridgewell, SLD Development double down on Killara Golf Club

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.

&nbsp;

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.

Staff reporter

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