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West Hobart has notched up the highest median housing price increase in Hobart, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment report says that in the past year West Hobart’s median unit price rose by 25 percent.
This is followed by Howrah with 20 percent and Sandy Bay with 18 percent.
<table style="width: 461px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="99">
Current median price
</td>
<td valign="top" width="83">
Median price 1 year ago
</td>
<td valign="top" width="71">
Growth in 1 year
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
West Hobart
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
7000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="99">
$690,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="83">
$549,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="71">
25%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Howrah
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
7018
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="99">
$360,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="83">
$299,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="71">
20%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Sandy Bay
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
7005
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="99">
$575,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="83">
$485,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="71">
18%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Warrane
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
7018
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="99">
$260,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="83">
$225,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="71">
15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Blackmans Bay
</td>
<td valign="top" width="54">
7052
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="99">
$339,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="83">
$295,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="71">
14%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-west+hobart-124599374" target="_blank">53 Liverpool Crescent</a>, West Hobart (above) has been listed for over $595,000.
Similarly a four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-tas-west+hobart-124864534" target="_blank">48 Lower Jordan Hill Road</a>, West Hobart (below) was sold in March this year for $650,000.
<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/2017/04/27/48%20Lower%20Jordan%20Hill%20Road.jpg" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

West Hobart scores 25 percent housing median price growth: Investar

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The Westpac Melbourne Institute Consumer House Price Expectations Index fell 1.1 percent in April but at 151.4 remains well above the long run average of 126, according to Westpac’s latest Red Book report.
Adjusting for seasonality, expectations look to have eased slightly since January Westpac says.
“While recent moves by regulators and in interest rates may have contributed to the April move, the cooling in price expectations is modest at best.
That is not surprising – while the intent may be clear, regulatory changes are less ‘visible’ for consumers than RBA rate moves and their ultimate impact more difficult to assess,” the report stated.
Price expectations may only respond once markets have shifted Westpac says.
Click to enlarge
“It is worth noting what happened during the previous round of regulatory tightening, announced in December 2014 and deployed in 2015.
The main impact on auctions and finance activity came in 2015 H2 with price growth stalling flat late in the year and in early 2016.
Consumers’ price expectations started to fall from mid-2015, the index sliding 29% by December,” the report commented.
Also notable is the quick revival following the RBA’s rate cuts in May and August 2016 Westpac says.
Click to enlarge
“The main takeaways from the sub-group detail are: 1) no correlation with wider sentiment shifts; and 2) most holding in NSW and Victoria but rising in Queensland and Western Australia (now clearly positive),” the report stated.
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House price growth expectations falling, but remains above the average: Westpac

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/73849/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Our cities and regions depend on the critical nodes and arteries that together comprise urban infrastructure systems. This includes energy, food, water, sewerage and communications.
The positioning of critical infrastructure is crucial to our understanding of the world we live in and how we see ourselves. It’s our means of survival as Homo urbanis.
This means key questions around critical infrastructure need to be better considered. How is it critical, when and for whom?
Beyond espionage, sabotage and coercion
Critical infrastructure has received much attention in recent years. The reasons include concerns about exposure to terrorist attack, disruption by disasters, rising awareness of the interdependent nature of urban infrastructure, and changes in ownership and responsibility for infrastructure assets. 
The Australian government defines critical infrastructure as:
… those physical facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks which, if destroyed, degraded or rendered unavailable for an extended period, would significantly impact on the social or economic wellbeing of the nation or affect Australia’s ability to conduct national defence and ensure national security.
This definition expands traditional thinking to include network and information infrastructure. However, the emphasis is on national security and defence issues such as espionage, sabotage and coercion. Infrastructure is defined as critical on the basis of what is at threat should it be destroyed or disabled, and how much that matters.
Yet what is critical about critical infrastructure is not just a matter of national security threats. It is also the key linkages between this infrastructure and human and environmental system vulnerability, integrity and equity. 
Experiences of critical infrastructure are not equal, but highly contingent on political and economic priorities, influence and opportunity.
Critical how and for whom?
When securing urban infrastructure, the focus is on whom or what is being secured – and from what. 
Any issue is capable of securitisation which involves casting the security issue as a threat that calls for emergency measures. But security for whom? From what threats? By what means? And at what cost? 
Critical infrastructure can be government-owned (such as dams), privately owned (like airports), community-owned (like irrigation systems), or involve public-private partnerships (like electricity distribution networks). 
The ownership patterns of infrastructure of all kinds have changed rapidly in recent years. This has left questions of responsibility unresolved. An example is the ownership versus service provision arrangements for the supply and distribution of catchment water resources. 
Alongside the need for improved service quality, cost efficiencies, variety and choice, a growing trend towards highly uneven and inequitable community and environmental outcomes demands our attention. 
How critical infrastructure is defined influences which stakeholders are deemed to have a role or responsibility in protecting it. 
In South Australia, a severe thunderstorm blacked out the state in 2016. The resulting political finger-pointing distracted attention from the real issues of risk and responsibility in delivering electricity to the community. 
Critical when and at what scale?
The scale question leads us to consider assets not normally included as critical infrastructure. An example is the vital role of natural ecosystems in our long-term economic and social welfare. Natural or semi-natural water catchments are in many places the sole source of water for towns and cities. 
However, maintaining the integrity of these water supplies has largely ignored the importance of the catchment itself in providing much-needed filtering and treatment of that water. The contamination of Canberra’s water supply, following the 2003 bushfires in the Cotter River catchment, was unprecedented in redefining what is critical infrastructure.
An alternative to a national security approach to critical infrastructure involves a complementary focus on the local scale. Local access to food, for instance, can be seen as critical. The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance argues for community-scale urban food policies and practices. 
In 2001, foot and mouth disease broke out in the UK. The crisis exposed individuals’ vulnerability to increasingly integrated, global food supply chains. That underscores the merits of social and environmental policy at local government level. 
Big assets and sudden events are at one level defensible as a prime focus. But this approach is limited by a traditional framing of critical infrastructure and a bias towards certain timeframes.
Decisions on resources, priorities and effort inevitably involve scale-dependent judgements. These judgements should be defined by the nature of the impacts: one-off or cumulative; human or nature-oriented; fast or slow onset. 
For example, local infrastructure – minor roads, flood buffers, bridge culverts and so on – is critical for society to function. Yet it is not well catered for in policy. Local government capacity to provide and manage infrastructure is limited. And varying interpretations of scale and criticality shape the funding debate. 
Our urban arteries
Critical infrastructure networks shape and sustain our cities and regions. But they also expose communities to a range of threats. These include natural disasters, terrorism, peak oil and climate change. 
So how do we decide what is critical and what is not? To arrive at an answer we must consider not only physical or informational assets, but the inclusion/exclusion of communities, places and values. 
How can we better recognise and integrate natural ecosystems as critical to human survival and flourishing? How do we do this amid infrastructure privatisation and securitisation? And where are the points of resistance and pathways for alternative action?
We need to be more imaginative about critical urban infrastructure. A better, more sustainable approach needs to: expand our understanding of what critical infrastructure is to include environmental and local systems; learn from previous security decisions and their outcomes; and include local levels of activity to broaden the narrow national security approach in order to meet contemporary infrastructure challenges.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wendy-steele-4698" target="_blank">Wendy Steele</a> is associate professor of Urban Policy and Planning, RMIT University.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karen-hussey-48688" target="_blank">Karen Hussey</a> is deputy director, Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-dovers-342834" target="_blank">Stephen Dovers</a> is Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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What's critical about critical infrastructure?

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Balwyn has emerged as the most expensive Victorian locality for purchasing houses, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment firm says that the median house price at Balwyn is $3.1 million.
This is followed by Kew with $2.975 million and Camberwell with $2.5 million.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
Current median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Balwyn
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
3103
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$3,100,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Kew
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
3101
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$2,975,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Camberwell
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
3124
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$2,500,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Glen Iris
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
3146
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$2,275,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="79">
Brighton
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
3186
</td>
<td valign="top" width="70">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="122">
$2,200,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A five bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balwyn-125074082" target="_blank">76 Belmore Road</a>, Balwyn (above) has been listed for sale with $3 million to $3.3 million price guidance.
Similarly a five bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-balwyn-121981782" target="_blank">1 Raynes Street</a>, Balwyn (below) was sold on March this year for $3.115 million.
<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/2017/04/18/1%20Raynes%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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Balwyn median house price at $3.1 million: Investar

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Business owners could be faced with the possibility of declaring purchases through customer loyalty schemes as part of their assessable income, as the tax office has been reviewing its treatment of loyalty points received via business spending since April 2016.
At present, business owners only risk an audit from the ATO if they accumulate more than 250,000 reward points a year on a corporate credit card. That many point translate to 104 return flights between Sydney and Melbourne, or 24 return flights Sydney to Singapore, in flexible economy class, according to Qantas’ frequent flyer scheme, according to an article in the Australian Financial Review.
HLB Mann Judd Sydney tax partner Mariana von Lucken said the ATO informed an industry partnership meeting on fringe benefits tax sometime back.
She said all business owners may soon have to declare the value of their redeemed points, for fringe benefits assessment if they are also an employee, or for "non-cash business benefits" assessment if they are an owner only.
"There's no confirmation the ATO will do it and on behalf of my clients I wouldn't welcome it, but you would have to think it's an easy thing for them to look at in an environment where they are constantly being asked to find more revenue," she was quoted by the AFR.
Points redeemed for business expenses would probably never be assessable, Lucken said, or in any case could be instantly written off up to $20,000 in businesses with turnover under $10 million.
But redemption for personal expenses could be targeted.
The ATO also looks at social media posts for information on whether that "business trip" was in fact a family holiday, Lucken said.
It could also use social media snooping to help determine how many points were earned from genuine non-business expenses in the first place, to assist in a tax assessment, she said.
The ATO did not respond directly to a query from the newspaper on whether it would take a more aggressive stance on loyalty points arising from a business arrangement, but simply restated its existing audit selection criteria for employee reward programmes, where staff are provided with points or something similar as a reward or as an incentive, rather than money or a non-cash benefit.
Such programmes would come under scrutiny if they are "so contrived and artificial that they have no commercial purpose other than to allow the recipient to receive the rewards, or the rewards are a substitute for income which would otherwise be earned, or the points accumulated exceed 250,000 points per annum,” an ATO spokesperson said.
However, von Lucken said the law was less clear when it came to business owners, and it was possible that at some point, the ATO may require business owners to declare the redemption of such rewards as part of their assessable income.
"While there have been no instances of this to date, business owners should make sure their accountant is on top of such concerns, and can advise them appropriately if things change in the future," she said.
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Business owners' reward points could soon come under ATO scrutiny

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The aggregate household debt-to-income ratio has increased further in recent years, rising from already high levels according to RBA’s Financial Stability Review 2017.
This has raised concerns about the household sector’s resilience to unexpected declines in income or asset prices.
Debt-to-income ratios vary substantially across households; roughly 30 per cent of households owe no debt, while some other households have debt-to-income ratios that are well above the average.
One important issue for financial stability is the number and characteristics of highly indebted households.
These households are most likely to have difficulty repaying debt and sustaining consumption if their circumstances change.
If the number of highly indebted households is large, their response to adverse income shocks could amplify and propagate an economic downturn, declines in housing prices and losses at financial institutions.
This article outlines some of the characteristics of highly indebted households.
Household-level information on the distribution of debt, income and wealth is available in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, which collects data on owner-occupier mortgage debt every year and provides a detailed breakdown of total household debt every four years (most recently in 2014).
These data indicate that the share of households with very high debt-to-income ratios was little changed between 2006 and 2014 (Graph C1).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/Graph%20C1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/04/19/Graph%20C1.jpg" alt="">
In contrast, the proportion of households with more moderate debt-to- income ratios increased steadily, while the share of less indebted households declined.
However, because the latest HILDA data on total debt are for 2014, it is not possible to discern whether these trends have continued more recently.
The aggregate ratio of debt to income was overall little changed between 2006 and 2014, but has since risen.
There are several ways to classify household indebtedness.
The approach used here is to classify ‘highly indebted’ households as those with debt-to-income ratios in the top 10 per cent of indebted households in a given survey year.
Over the 10 years to 2014, most households in this group had a debt-to-income ratio above 550 per cent and as a group these households accounted for around 35–40 per cent of total household debt.
While the median debt-to-income ratio of the top 10 per cent of indebted households increased sharply from around 600 per cent to over 750 per cent between 2002 and 2006, it was little changed between 2006 and 2014.
Highly indebted households steadily became more leveraged between 2002 and 2014, with the median debt-to-asset ratio of these households rising from around 50 per cent to just under 60 per cent.
The type of debt owed by highly indebted households was different to that for less indebted households.
Less indebted households mostly had owner-occupier housing debt, while highly indebted households owed a rising share of ‘other’ property debt, most of which was investor housing debt (Graph C2).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/Graph%20C2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/04/19/Graph%20C2.jpg" alt="">
Between 2002 and 2014, the average share of highly indebted households’ total debt comprised of ‘other’ property debt increased from around 20 per cent to nearly 30 per cent.
The HILDA Survey also includes information on the repayment behaviour of households.
As might be expected, highly indebted households were less likely to be ahead of schedule on both owner-occupier debt and ‘other’ housing debt than less indebted households (Graph C3).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/Graph%20C3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/04/19/Graph%20C3.jpg" alt="">
Part of the reason is that they tended to have newer mortgage debt that had less time to amortise.
Nonetheless, the share of highly indebted households ahead of schedule on their owner-occupier debt rose between 2006 and 2014, which suggests that, like other borrowers, these households took advantage of low interest rates to pay down debt at a faster rate.
The share of highly indebted households ahead of schedule on ‘other’ property debt was lower, and increased only a little between 2006 and 2010.
This is unsurprising given the greater tax incentives to retain debt on rental properties than on owner-occupier properties.
Around one-quarter of highly indebted households were in the bottom two quintiles for income and wealth, which is a higher share than for less indebted households (Graph C4).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/Graph%20C4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/04/19/Graph%20C4.jpg" alt="">
Lower-income households tend to devote a higher share of their income to essential living expenses (leaving less income for debt servicing), while households with lower wealth may be less able to sell assets to resolve any difficulties in servicing their debt.
Nonetheless, a relatively small share of the total stock of debt owed by highly indebted households was owed by lower income or lower wealth households.
In 2014, for instance, households in the bottom two income quintiles accounted for only 12 per cent of total debt owed by highly indebted households.
Using HILDA, it is possible to track highly indebted households over time. Households that were highly indebted in a particular year tended to reduce their debt-to-income ratios substantially in subsequent years.
For instance, in 2002 households that were highly indebted had a median debt-to-income ratio of 600 per cent, yet by 2006 the median debt-to-income ratio of these particular households had fallen to below 350 per cent and their debt-to-income ratio had fallen further by 2010 (Graph C5, left panel).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/04/19/Graph%20C5.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/04/19/Graph%20C5.jpg" alt="">
The HILDA Survey also includes questions on financial stress experienced by households over the previous year.
There was a broad-based decline in the share of households experiencing episodes of financial stress between 2001 and 2015 (the time span available in the HILDA Survey).
Nonetheless, households that were highly indebted in a particular year had a greater propensity to experience financial stress.
For instance, households that were highly indebted in 2002 were more likely to experience at least one incidence of financial stress in all other years compared with households that were less indebted in 2002 (Graph C5, right panel).
The result also holds true for other cohorts.
This suggests that a greater share of highly indebted households face financial difficulties and are more likely to be vulnerable to events that affect their ability to repay their debt, such as income declines or increases in interest rates.
Overall, these data highlight that highly indebted households can be more vulnerable to negative economic shocks and pose risks to financial stability.
In particular, highly indebted households are less likely to be ahead of schedule on their mortgage repayments and they are more likely to experience financial stress, hence could be more vulnerable to adverse macroeconomic shocks.
The consequent effects of this stress on the broader economy may be exacerbated by the disproportionately large share of investor housing debt owed by highly indebted households.
Heightened investor demand can contribute to the amplification of the cycles in borrowing and housing prices, particularly when this investment is highly leveraged.
Nonetheless, HILDA data also show that much of the debt held by highly indebted households is owed by households with high income and wealth, who are typically better placed to service larger amounts of debt.
Find the RBA's latest Financial Stability Review 2017 <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Household debt-to-income ratio continues to increase: RBA

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Seamist, a luxury home set on Tasmania's desirable east coast, remains listed with $1.79 million hopes through Unique Estates agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden. 
The contemporary home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-bicheno-112351223" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">2 Jetty Road</a> in the seaside town Bicheno offers uninterrupted views of Maclean Bay from almost every room.
Within walking distance to the shops and cafes of Bicheno, Seamist is situated just 2 hours from Launceston. 
The 389 sqm home is set back just metres from Waubs Bay Beach on 847 sqm and comprises four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a home theatre room and a gym. 
There's a 26 sqm top floor terrace.
Boasting quality fixtures and fittings throughout its interior, it comes replete with a generous alfresco entertainment zone, double-glazed windows, under-floor heating and a gas log fire.
The median house price in Bicheno commands $350,000. 
A country style 5 bedroom residence at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-tas-bicheno-121440906" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">300 Harveys Farm Road</a> was sold for $575,000 in November 2016.
A modern 3 bedroom home located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-other-tas-bicheno-118626759" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">269 Harveys Farm Road</a> traded in September 2016 for $870,000.
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Tasmanian trophy Seamist still on the market

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A vacant development site in Melbourne’s inner western suburbs of Footscray has been listed.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-west+footscray-502352954" target="_blank">130-186 Buckley Street</a> property is zoned Mixed Use and comprises 4341 square metre on three titles, with 290 metres street frontage.
According to the marketing agent, Teska Carson director George Takis, the property should appeal to developers, investors and owner-occupiers.
"This is a very well located site right on Buckley Street and close to Middle Footscray station,” Takis said.
“Footscray is one of the most rapidly growing suburbs in Metropolitan Melbourne, with the location currently subject to unprecedented levels of residential and commercial development.
“This is a direct consequence of the policies of the Victorian state government and Maribyrnong City council in promoting this precinct as an ideal inner city fringe location.
"We expect strong interest for this property from buyers, especially developers, at a time when Footscray is emerging as one of Melbourne’s key residential and commercial destinations,’’
The property will be sold by public tender closing Wednesday, May 17 at 2pm and is expected to fetch more than $4.4 million.
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Vacant Footscray development site listed

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Stockland’s makeover of the first section of its Green Hills mall in East Maitland, NSW is over, with the developer officially opening it.
The $412 million redevelopment and expansion of Stockland Green Hills is expected to be complete in 2018.
Upon completion in mid-2018, the centre will more than double in size to around 74,000 square metres and will feature the first new look David Jones department store in the Hunter, a new 900 seat Hoyts cinema and around 225 tenancies with a vibrant new dining and entertainment precinct that will be the biggest and best in the region.
The first section’s open brought 14 retailers to Stockland Green Hills, including Cruise Travel, L’Amore Nails and Toto Sushi, all new to the centre, and Blooms The Chemist, according to Stockland’s website.
Ten retailers made their return to the centre’s brand new premises, including Best&amp;Less, The Reject Shop and MyHouse.
“Today we are one step closer to transforming Stockland Green Hills into a vibrant, thriving shopping, leisure and entertainment destination that is set to be the pride of the Hunter,” Tim Beattie, Stockland general manager, Design and Development, said.
The redevelopment is on track to generate more than 2,600 jobs, including 1,350 construction jobs, 1,250 direct full time jobs in retail, customer service and hospitality, and some 1,200 flow-on jobs for local suppliers.
The opening was attended by Meryl Swanson MP, Federal Member for Paterson; Jenny Aitchison MP, State Member for Maitland; and Mayor of Maitland Councillor Peter Blackmore OAM.
<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/2017/04/28/HOYTS%20Stockland%20Green%20Hills.jpg" alt="">
Meryl Swanson MP, Federal Member for Paterson, the project would boost the local economy through new jobs and "a fantastic place for us to shop and relax”.
“It is fantastic to see the Stockland Green Hills redevelopment making such great progress especially with the thousands of new construction and permanent retail jobs it will create for the Maitland community,” added Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Maitland.
The redevelopment of Stockland Green Hills continues to steam along for the next stage, with around 17 additional, new retail stores expected to open in August 2017.
 
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Stockland opens first section of refurbished Green Hills mall

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The $8 million Orange Regional Museum has been unveiled by Australian architecture firm CRONE, following its completion in November. Covering 1,300 sqm, the museum also houses an exhibition space, visitor information centre, café and council office space.
The firm won a competitive tender process in 2013, based upon a preliminary sketch of the team’s vision of the project, which tied together the new museum, an existing library and art gallery to create a civic square and public space.
Today, the museum hosts temporary and permanent exhibitions on a variety of themes including settlement of the region, mining, the built environment, agriculture, migration, significant events and individuals from the local area.
 
<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/2016/11/22/Crone_Orange%20Regional%20Museum_0A8A0043_credit%20Tom%20Ferguson.jpg" alt="">
Intended as a flexible space it can be used for a variety of functions including outdoor exhibitions or simply an area for visitors to relax.
“We are extremely proud to deliver this contemporary designed building for Orange, which forms an integral part of the community’s civic fabric,” remarked CRONE associate, Ashley Dennis. 
“When designing the museum, we were confident the contemporary design of the building would be embraced by the local community and be reflective of the culture that Orange represents today,” she said.
A key feature of the design is the grassed roof, which rises from the existing lawn, to provide a public green space and new vantage point across the city of Orange. Intended as a flexible space, it can be used for a variety of functions including outdoor exhibitions.
<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/2016/11/22/Crone_Orange%20Regional%20Museum_0A8A0381_credit%20Tom%20Ferguson.jpg" alt="">
CRONE design director Niall Durney added that the business was drawn to the project for its opportunity to create a forward thinking design that would contribute to the community and create a new destination for the area. 
“As our first regional design project, it also ties into the new direction for the company to diversify beyond commercial buildings,” he said.
CRONE also strategically created a civic square between the new and existing buildings, and included amphitheatre seating and café as an adaptable area for events and activations.<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/2016/11/22/Crone_Orange%20Regional%20Museum_0A8A0605_credit%20Tom%20Ferguson.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">
Orange mayor John Davis OAM commented that the way the Orange community has already embraced the new museum building is a sign of the quality of its design.
<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/2016/11/22/Crone_Orange%20Regional%20Museum_0A8A0615_credit%20Tom%20Ferguson.jpg" alt="">
“The grass roof is already a drawcard both for visitors and locals. Every school holidays there are young families and children enjoying the space by rolling down the slope,” he said. 
“Along with the theatre, the gallery and the library, the new museum building helps create a fantastic new precinct and I’m looking forward to seeing how the way the community uses it will evolve.”
 
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Orange Regional Museum's winning design

A trio of Queensland property groups have unveiled plans for a $300 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Noosa Bowls Club site, a proposal that would deliver more than 200 new homes in one of the Sunshine Coast's most supply-constrained markets.

Kilter Property, Frank Developments and Calile Malouf Investments are behind the plans for the 1.8-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-noosa-drive-noosa-heads-qld-4567">99 Noosa Drive</a>, which would transform the long-vacant site into a new residential precinct featuring 208 apartments, retail, hospitality and public space.

The proposal comes as Noosa continues to grapple with housing affordability and a shortage of permanent accommodation, particularly for key workers. The site's location in Noosa Junction, close to shops, public transport and employment, aligns with the direction of Noosa Council's Housing Strategy, which encourages higher-density housing within established activity centres rather than continued urban expansion.

The draft plans include 48 affordable-by-design apartments and 48 rooming accommodation units aimed at key workers. Around 2,000 sqm of ground-floor retail and food and beverage space would activate the street frontage, alongside a new public town square and landscaped open space.

<img alt="Noosa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2dd02f53-1360-4e51-801e-bfd61a6c980e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-26%20at%208.44.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=x1iNs3BSMN6Jy7YUwaBZMHRrrKX2hMpy" />

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Frank Developments Founder and Director Frank Licastro said the development would continue the company's focus on architecturally-led residential projects while addressing one of the region's biggest challenges.

"Not only will this project exude a sense of luxury, it will also enhance not only the built environment but also the surrounding community," Licastro said.

"Noosa's success relies on the people who live and work here. Providing well-designed accommodation for key workers is critical to supporting the local economy and ensuring the Shire can continue to thrive."

Kilter Property Co-Founder Huw Williams said the focus was on delivering additional permanent housing while creating a mixed-use destination that benefits both residents and the wider community.

"Our focus is on delivering a well-considered mixed-use project that provides more permanent housing options, supports local workers and businesses, and delivers an exceptional product for the local market," Williams said.

"The redevelopment vision aligns with the long-term evolution of Noosa Junction as a vibrant activity centre, creating a destination that enhances the area's character while delivering significant economic and community benefits."

Calile Malouf Investments, best known for its role in Brisbane's James Street precinct and The Calile Hotel, will bring its place-making experience to the project. The company recently commenced construction on The Calile Noosa hotel and says the residential development will complement its growing investment in the region.

CMI Director Cal Malouf said the aim was to create a walkable precinct combining housing, retail and hospitality while remaining true to Noosa's character.

"We see a similar opportunity in Noosa to deliver a vibrant, walkable destination that combines exceptional housing, hospitality and retail in one integrated project," Malouf said.

Brisbane-based Cavill Architects has been appointed to design the project.

Joel Robinson

Noosa Bowls Club to be redeveloped into mixed-use apartment precinct

One of Brisbane's last major riverfront redevelopment opportunities has taken a significant step forward, with Lendlease selected as the Queensland Government's preferred development partner for the former Visy site in South Brisbane.

The seven-hectare industrial site, positioned between South Bank and West End and 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, will be transformed into a mixed-use precinct expected to deliver more than 4,000 new homes alongside extensive public open space and riverfront parkland.

The project is one of the largest urban renewal opportunities currently planned in Brisbane and is expected to play a key role in accommodating the city's growing population ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Plans for the precinct include a network of riverfront promenades and boardwalks, new public plazas, parkland, amphitheatre-style gathering spaces and shared pedestrian and cycling links designed to reconnect the long-isolated site with the Brisbane River.

The Queensland Government is targeting delivery of the first homes and key public spaces before the 2032 Games, allowing the precinct to begin contributing new housing and public amenity well before the broader masterplan is complete.

The redevelopment is also expected to support more than 3,000 jobs across planning, construction and ongoing operations.

For Lendlease, the appointment adds another major urban regeneration project to its Queensland portfolio. The developer has operated in the state for more than 70 years and has delivered a number of large-scale mixed-use precincts in partnership with government.

Lendlease Development CEO Claire Johnston said the project represented one of Brisbane's most significant redevelopment opportunities.

"The transformation of the former Visy site represents a rare opportunity to reimagine one of Brisbane's most significant riverfront locations, deliver thousands of much-needed homes, and create long-term legacy," Johnston said.

"In partnership with the Queensland Government, we have the opportunity to create a new riverside destination that will help shape Brisbane's growth and how people experience the city for decades to come.

"This is exactly the type of large-scale, city-shaping development that will provide lasting benefits for Queensland, bringing together housing, jobs and world-class public spaces."

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the riverfront transformation would deliver a thriving new community precinct.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering this golden opportunity to unlock a riverfront jewel for all Queenslanders,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment to reshape a significant slice of Brisbane and deliver lasting benefits – thousands of new homes, and public spaces for all Queenslanders to enjoy well beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – unlike Labor’s plan which would have delivered zero benefits and zero new homes.

“Queensland is well and truly open for business and through partnership with the private sector, we are accelerating delivery while ensuring strong housing, community and economic outcomes."

Early works on the precinct are expected to commence in April 2027.

Lendlease selected to deliver transformative South Brisbane riverfront precinct

Eddy Haddad's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/level-33">Level 33</a> is levelling up its approved Wollongong development, as the coastal city south of Sydney continues to prove popular in the high-density development space.

Level 33, a longtime developer in the Wollongong area, has gone through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority to upsize its approved two-tower development on the corner of Crown Street and Gladstone Avenue, just 100 metres from Wollongong Station.

The developer currently has approval for 252 apartments across two buildings rising to 19 storeys. It is now seeking approval for 33 and 38-storey towers that would deliver 467 apartments, including 67 affordable homes.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bka-architecture">BKA Architecture</a>, the development would comprise apartments above a three-level podium with around 1,100 sqm of retail space, along with basement parking for 448 vehicles.

According to the Urban Design Report by BKA, the proposal has the capacity to "reinforce the precinct's identity by strengthening links between health, education, and transport services, while also contributing to Wollongong's ongoing evolution as a key regional centre."

Wollongong is somewhat in vogue. Between Level 33 and Urban Property Group, the two developers have several thousand apartments planned across the city.

Level 33 is currently delivering Easterly Wollongong, one of its most boutique projects to date with just 21 high-end apartments, as well as Atchison &amp; Kenny, a 329-apartment development due for completion later this year.

The developer plans to redevelop the 13,088 sqm WIN Grand megasite into <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crown-square-216-238-keira-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Crown Square</a>, a new $500 million precinct with nearly 600 apartments. It also has more than 900 apartments planned for the former Bunnings Warehouse site at the intersection of Gipps and Flinders streets.

Urban Property Group is also playing a major role in the city's transformation. Its five-tower Keira Place precinct will deliver more than 800 homes, and it has recently lodged plans for a further 300 apartments near Wollongong Station.

First look: Level 33 upsizes Wollongong apartment towers

Just a week after filing plans for the final stage of its major Keira Place masterplan, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has unveiled another significant housing proposal in Wollongong, this time targeting a prominent site opposite North Wollongong Station.

The developer has lodged a State Significant Development Application for a 38-storey mixed-use tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-4a-flinders-street-north-wollongong-nsw-2500">4-4A Flinders Street</a>, around one kilometre north of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/keira-place-wollongong-120-122-smith-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Keira Place precinct</a> currently taking shape on the edge of the CBD.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 38-storey North Wollongong tower as Keira Place expansion gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b6428f1-6405-4038-8476-897de440e90d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/flinders%20podium.png?VersionId=QLqEvK0OuCEwRC47oHNftrw2B1YqaHF8" />

Designed by Studio.SC, the proposal comprises a 38-storey mixed-use development containing 303 apartments, including 45 affordable housing units, alongside 174 co-living residences. The scheme also includes ground-floor retail space, extensive landscaping and public domain improvements.

Studio.SC noted in the proposal it "outlines a vision for a landmark transit-oriented mixed-use development centred around North Wollongong Station, designed to support the city’s future growth while responding to the NSW Government’s housing and planning reforms."

The architecture firm said the proposal responds to the opportunities and constraints shaping future growth within the 400-metre catchment of the station and represents "a coordinated and future-focused approach to urban intensification, contributing to the long-term evolution of North Wollongong as a connected, walkable and high-density station precinct."

The site occupies a strategic corner bounded by Flinders Street, Station Street, Stafford Street and the Princes Highway, directly opposite North Wollongong Station.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 38-storey North Wollongong tower as Keira Place expansion gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7863adad-1f71-4022-b850-f44b252738fd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/flinders%20podium%20a.png?VersionId=WsU7av0g8_8R2tGHWxgHeFSlhu7yeY1V" />

The proposal follows Urban Property Group's recent submission for the second and final stage of Keira Place, which would deliver a further three buildings comprising 657 homes opposite Beaton Park. It builds on the first stage, which features 150 apartments across two towers and recently commenced construction.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said breaking ground on the first stage marked a significant milestone for Wollongong and reflected the developer's long-term commitment to regional cities.

"Today's groundbreaking is about turning approvals into homes and moving quickly to deliver much-needed housing in Wollongong's city centre," Elias said.

"Keira Place will provide a diverse mix of homes close to jobs, transport and services, while setting a high benchmark for quality, durability and consumer protection."

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/urban-property-group-unveils-trio-of-towers-for-next-stage-of-new-wollongong-precinct-keira-place">Urban Property Group unveils trio of towers for next stage of new Wollongong precinct, Keira Place</a>

First look: Urban Property Group plans next major Wollongong tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/arada">Arada Australia</a> has wasted little time expanding its ambitions in Campsie, lodging plans for a second major project in the rapidly transforming town centre just months after unveiling its three-tower One Campsie proposal on Beamish Street.

The UAE-backed developer has now taken aim at one of the suburb’s most strategically positioned sites, filing a State Significant Development Application for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/10-north-parade-campsie-nsw-2194">33-storey mixed-use tower</a> at 10 London Street and 43 North Parade, directly opposite the future Campsie Metro Station. The proposal is currently on public exhibition and represents another significant vote of confidence in Campsie's emergence as one of Sydney’s key transit-oriented growth centres.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the development would deliver 156 apartments above a podium containing retail and commercial space, creating a new residential and commercial gateway to the town centre. The scheme also includes a four-level above-ground parking podium and a dedicated residential amenity floor featuring wellness and recreation facilities. At least 10 per cent of the apartments would be allocated as affordable housing for a period of 10 years.

The proposal occupies a 1,631 sqm site bounded by London Street, North Parade and Dispensary Lane, immediately adjoining the future Metro station precinct and just metres from Beamish Street’s retail and dining strip. According to the Urban Design Report, the project seeks to deliver "a great place that prioritises human-scaled experience and provides spatial improvements to the area."

<img alt="First look: Arada doubles down in Campsie with 33-storey Metro-front tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="175a8324-015b-4856-abe3-ce6f23199fa7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium%20campsie.png?VersionId=742UGwXFhFBX4GEl6wX4PYIWREAgn6il" />

Woods Bagot describes the tower as a key marker within Campsie's next phase of growth.

"Located directly opposite the new Campsie Metro Station on North Parade, 10 London Street is a thoughtfully composed 33-storey mixed-use tower that contributes to the ongoing transformation of the town centre," the Architectural Design Report states. The report says the project is intended to provide "high-quality homes within a vibrant, connected urban environment, while helping define Campsie's future skyline."

A strong emphasis has been placed on the public realm. The ground floor incorporates over 500 sqm of retail space and active frontages along both London Street and North Parade, while the podium is wrapped by extensive landscaped planting intended to soften the building's scale and strengthen the pedestrian experience. The development would also widen surrounding footpaths and improve connections between the Metro station and the broader town centre.

Above the podium, residents would have access to more than 1,400 sqm of communal amenities, including a pool, gym and landscaped recreation spaces. A distinctive green-wall treatment extending across four podium levels forms a major architectural feature, helping differentiate the project within the emerging high-density precinct.

The tower's design is closely tied to the broader Campsie Town Centre Master Plan and the arrival of Sydney Metro. The Urban Design Report notes the proposal "directly supports the Campsie Town Centre Master Plan by delivering new homes in a location explicitly identified for growth, improved accessibility, and high-quality urban renewal." It adds that the project contributes to the master plan's vision for a strengthened town centre supported by thousands of new homes around the future Metro station.

<img alt="First look: Arada doubles down in Campsie with 33-storey Metro-front tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bfd17654-253e-489a-bade-6278d63db412" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/base%20campsie.png?VersionId=3roJPMQGs36dazpkhvpvbDDP73Ld.Ica" />

The application follows Arada Australia's recently lodged One Campsie project at 124–142 Beamish Street and 16–18 Ninth Avenue, where the developer is seeking approval for 346 apartments across three towers rising 24, 32 and 39 storeys. Together, the two proposals would cement Arada Australia as one of the most influential developers shaping Campsie's future urban form.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-arada-files-for-trio-of-apartment-towers-in-campsie-town-centre">First Look: Arada Australia files for trio of apartment towers in Campsie town centre</a>

Arada Australia entered the Australian market in 2024 and has rapidly assembled a significant development pipeline across Sydney. Alongside its Campsie holdings, the developer is soon to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wattle-green-2-fishburn-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Wattle Green</a> in Castle Hill, and has expanded its local operations following its acquisition of construction firm Roberts &amp; Co.

Located around 14 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, the site sits at the centre of one of Sydney's fastest-changing middle-ring precincts. The Metro conversion of Campsie Station, combined with Canterbury-Bankstown Council's master planning framework, is driving significant residential intensification around Beamish Street and North Parade, with thousands of new homes expected over coming decades.

Staff reporter

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