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<h2>Comment</h2>

Apparently, 9 minutes will be shaved off the time to travel from Pakenham and the City when the Monash Freeway expands, yet again.

“The [Monash] freeway will be widened between Warrigal Road and Eastlink and between Clyde Road and Cardinia Road, cutting an estimated nine minutes off a peak-hour trip between Pakenham and the city,” according to a joint federal and state government media release.

The language might resonate with some voters but there comes a point where you have to call out rubbish.

Pakenham has a population of just under 50,000.  It's no small fringe suburb by any stretch of the imagination, but it also has an even better way of travelling "to the city", it's called a train.

The Monash Freeway might give Pakenham-dwellers a traffic-light-free journey to the city (at very least, to Montague Street or Kings Way) but not everyone in Pakenham is travelling to the city, nor is everyone who lives in any suburb between Pakenham and inner Melbourne travelling to the city. 

Huge amounts of traffic enter and exit the freeway between the aforementioned endpoints every day so why the focus on the extreme fringe to the centre of the city?

Central Melbourne does not need more cars funnelled into it.  I repeat, central Melbourne does not need more cars.  It is the one place which is incredibly accessible via the public transport network from any point in the metropolitan area and the one place where space is at such a premium that there are far more worthy land-uses than car parking.

The language that governments use when describing mega-road projects is understandable and calibrated to address specific interests - if its a new road, there will be time travel benefits and an upgrade will most likely 'appear' to fix things. 

Time savings are easily digestible and resonate but in the case of making trips from the outer suburbs to the city faster, the problem that permeates elsewhere - people believe its best to drive to the city when there are good alternatives - and those alternatives, the train network at the very least, is seeing improvements at the same time.

The Pakenham and Cranbourne lines are seeing major upgrades - tomorrow, Monday the 18th, there will be no level crossing between Dandenong and the City which removes the train and car conflicts, station facilities have been rebuilt and over the medium term a new signalling system and new route will allow even more trains to run on the corridor.

There might be some travel time benefits - a few minutes here, a few minutes there - when the new fleet of trains takes over total operations on the Pakenham/Cranbourne line, ditto when the route is altered to only stop at the new ANZAC station before getting to Town Hall/Flinders Street, but there could be more.

If the Monash is getting an extra lane in each direction every 5-10 years, and now we're finally seeing a one or two generational leap in rail technology and operations on the Dandenong corridor, is it not time to deliver big travel time benefits for train users by adding more track and running permanent express services?

We've discussed many of the constraints of track expansion in Melbourne on Apartments.com.au before and at the city end it'll get expensive, but the East-West Link is expensive, the West Gate Tunnel is expensive, the North-East Link is expensive. 

Melbourne's South East is the only section of the metropolitan area that is set to continue greenfields development out to the growth boundary and will include two of the five National Employment and Innovation Clusters (Dandenong South and Monash) as well as continue to enjoy direct rail access to the major job cluster at the end of the Pakenham/Cranbourne line in the city.

Road projects seem to be at least partially justified because freight users require them - with employment set to concentrate in Monash in particular, don't the governments owe it to the future employees of central Melbourne, Monash and Dandenong to connect these areas with fast express train services?

Lead image credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monash_Fwy_W_from_Tooronga_peak.jpg">Wikipedia</a>.
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Alastair Taylor

Monash Freeway upgrades: 9 minutes of short-term congestion relief

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Adelaide Airport will begin immediate construction on a $165 million expansion which will expand floor space, shopping and dining areas as well as expand international departure and arrival space.

Work is set to begin in earnest with the key focus of the expansion being on improving the passenger departure and arrival experience, <a href="https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/corporate/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nr-terminal-expansion-14.6-final.pdf">a statement</a> from the airport says.

When the new terminal opened in 2005, Adelaide Airport gained a single terminal for both international and domestic flights.  Unique among the major capital airports in Australia (however Canberra has since joined Adelaide in this respect), some gates could be ringfenced and secured for international departures and arrivals or switched back for domestic use.

The new expansion will see this 'swing configuration' continue however a single gate - number 18 - will become a permanent international gate where the focus of improving international passenger facilities will be.

A second international baggage claim belt will be added in the international arrivals hall and a new common user premium lounge will be constructed.

Other improvements include relocation of the Virgin Australia lounge and an expansion of office space for airlines and regulatory authorities based at the airport.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SseeZna6lvU" width="100%"></iframe>

<blockquote>
Since we opened the existing terminal in 2005, our overall passenger numbers have increased by close to 50 per cent.

Our international passenger numbers alone have almost tripled over the same period. This extraordinary growth means we need to keep growing our existing facilities.

While we still have sufficient gate capacity to meet future forecast growth in the number of flights, we’re reaching capacity within the terminal.

This expansion will allow us to be fit-for-purpose based on our future growth forecasts.
<cite>Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Mark Young</cite>
</blockquote>

Virgin Australia's Group Executive, Rob Sharp, said: "the relocation of the Virgin Australia Lounge presents an exciting opportunity and we look forward to sharing more detail on our plans in due course."

The expansion is going to see a 'complete refurbishment of retail areas, resulting in a more than 80 per cent increase in the overall size of the terminal’s retail and dining precinct across domestic and international areas,' according to an airport statement.

Federal Government statistics show Adelaide's busiest domestic route is to Melbourne with 2 475,200 people flying between the city pair over the year ending March 31st, 2018.

This compares with Australia's busiest city pair, Melbourne-Sydney, which sees 9 191,700 passengers fly between the two cities.

For the year ending March 31st, 2018, Adelaide saw 985,748 people use the airport on international flights and if it continues to grow at the rate it did over the past 12 months, it could join the top 5 international airports in Australia within a few years.  Gold Coast is currently in 5th spot with 1,079,568 flying in and out internationally.

Watpac has been appointed builder for the expansion and work is set to be completed in 2021.

Lead image credit: Adelaide Airport.
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Adelaide Airport starts $165 million expansion

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Manufacturing on the new fleet of Melbourne trains, dubbed the High-Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) fleet, that will run on the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines and eventually through the metro tunnel to the Sunbury line, has kicked off in earnest at an assembly facility in Newport.

The bodies of the new trains are being manufactured offshore however key components are being locally built including bogies, traction motors and pantographs.  All the components are being assembled at the Newport facility where the trains will then roll on to the network.

The rolling construction blitzes the state government has been announcing at regular intervals of late point to the scale of the changes to infrastructure required for the new trains.

The last two vehicle types to enter into the Melbourne train fleet, the Siemens and the X'trapolis, were, for the most part, assembled offshore and then delivered to the network and their introduction did not yield the infrastructure changes that are happening on the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines for the latest entrant to the fleet.

The current shutdown relates to commissioning the latest piece of the level crossing removal project in the Dandenong corridor - where the new trains will run.  The next construction blitz, outlined last week, will include upgrading the catenary (overhead wires and stanchions) between Pakenham and Dandenong.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X3Mn9y2mXMs" width="100%"></iframe>

Bogies for the new HCMTs are being manufactured in Bendigo, the traction motors in Morwell and the pantographs in Hallam.  Final assembly is carried out in Newport where Downer, as part of the Evolution Rail consortium who won the $2.4 billion contract in 2016, has spent $16 million upgrading facilities in the historic rail yard.

The first delivery of a train for testing is expected later in 2018 and they will undergo a testing regime before the first set is placed in active service, tentatively scheduled for mid-2019.

Pakenham East is the site of the new maintenance (as well as some storage) facility for the HCMT fleet and its construction has attracted the attention of enthusiasts who are providing their own drone footage and commentary on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWfJaiBNLIY">Youtube</a>.

If everything runs to schedule, the 65th and final train will be delivered by 2023, two years before the Melbourne Metro tunnel is set to open.

Likewise, the trial of the high capacity signalling is set to take place on the South Morang-soon-to-be-Mernda line before being installed and actively used between Sunshine and Dandenong when the Metro Tunnel opens. 

Having to straddle, for the most part, the 'old way of doing things' under conventional signalling and to operate with an even newer signalling system points to the scalability that is being built into the new train fleet.

A mock-up was on display in Birrarung Marr over the 2017/2018 summer and other consultation rounds have seen many tweaks that have informed the final design that is now set to ramp up in production.

To read more about the new HCMT fleet, see <a href="https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-projects/high-capacity-metro-trains/">transport.vic.gov.au</a>.

 
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Manufacturing kicks off on Melbourne's High Capacity Metro Trains

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Frasers Property has gained approval from Whitehorse City Council for its mixed-use community on the former Burwood Brickworks site that will create 700 new homes and contain what's being dubbed the world's most sustainable shopping centre.

First profiled on Apartments.com.au in <a href="/news/frasers-property-invites-eoi-to-design-construct-operate-its-rooftop-farm-at-burwood-brickworks">February 2018</a>, the development will feature a mix of apartments, townhouses and detached houses on the expansive site.

Woorlworths Group brands including a Woolworths Supermarket and Dan Murphy's will anchor the 12,700sqm Burwood Brickworks shopping centre and over 50 expressions of interest were received in the call out for operators of the roof-top farm.

Frasers Property says they have whittled down the 50 EOIs to a shortlist and are targeting a mid-year turnaround for selecting the operator.

The developer expects the first apartments, medium-density and detached housing lots to be completed by late 2020 with 3000 jobs to be created during construction and then 700 ongoing jobs in the shopping centre once complete.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/ospace_wetland_final.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Open space areas at Burwood Brickworks - image: supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ospace_wetland_final.jpg?itok=tlugjF-w" title="Open space areas at Burwood Brickworks - image: supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Open space areas at Burwood Brickworks - image: supplied</figcaption></figure>Burwood Brickworks shopping centre is aiming to make the centre the first retail development in the world to achieve Living Building Challenge certification through multiple initiatives including generating 105% of the energy required to power the building.

According to Frasers Property, there will be strict procols in place to re-purpose up to 99% of construction waste away from landfil and that the use of local, salvaged and sustainable materials will reduce the centre's carbon footprint.

“We will demonstrate that developing a net positive sustainable shopping centre – one that gives more than it takes from its environment – is not only commercially viable, but preferable" says Peri Macdonald, executive GM, retail at Frasers Property.

The entire redevelopment zone will include 2.5 hectares of open space that will include community facilities which two large public spaces that adjoin the shopping centre.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/brickworks_view03_april_2018.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Burwood Brickworks shopping centre - image: supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/brickworks_view03_april_2018.jpg?itok=ECdugjE6" title="Burwood Brickworks shopping centre - image: supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Burwood Brickworks shopping centre - image: supplied</figcaption></figure>Hacer Group has been appointed to building the new Burwood Brickworks shopping centre with the first sod of soil turned on the 12th of June.
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Burwood Brickworks approved

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Brisbane's Cross River Rail project has had $733 million allocated to it in the 2018 Queensland state budget that was handed down by Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad this afternoon.

In the budget speech to state parliament, the Treasurer put Brisbane's Cross River Rail at the centre of the Palaszczuk Government's infrastructure spend.

<blockquote>
In a fast-growing state, investing in key infrastructure supports job creation, it boosts business confidence and it delivers the services Queenslanders need to maintain our way of life.

Our delivery of the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project recognises this.

Sadly, the Federal Government and those opposite don’t.

During the five-year construction period, Cross River Rail will support an average of 1,500 jobs each year, and up to 3,000 jobs in the most intensive year of construction
<cite>Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Jackie Trad</cite>
</blockquote>

The Cross River Rail project aims to provide another north-south path for South East Queensland's metropolitan rail network, alleviating congestion on the Merivale Bridge and opening up new station catchments in the heart of Brisbane's CBD and Woolloongabba.

The 10.2km of new twin-track will connect the Beenleigh/Gold Coast trunk at Park Road with the Nambour/Redcliffe/Shorncliffe trunk just beyond Bowen Hills.  5.9km of the new track will be in tunnels.

Exhibition station, currently only open and serviced during special events, will become a full time station serving Brisbane's inner north and a new interchange station, Boggo Road, will be built in the vicinity of Park Road station offering transfer opportunities to train passengers.

Roma Street will also be connected to the Cross River Rail tunnel offering further connection opportunities to rail services throughout all of Queensland.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/crr_alignment_qld_gov.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The route of the Cross River Rail project (blue) and Brisbane Metro - image: crossriverrail.qld.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="944" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/crr_alignment_qld_gov.jpg?itok=gJw3R6pG" title="The route of the Cross River Rail project (blue) and Brisbane Metro - image: crossriverrail.qld.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The route of the Cross River Rail project (blue) and Brisbane Metro - image: <a href="https://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/info/#rail-route-top">crossriverrail.qld.gov.au</a></figcaption></figure>Along with the Cross River Rail project, the Treasurer confirmed the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project has also been funded.

Approximately 40km in length, the single track section between Beerburrum and Nambour to the north of Brisbane will be duplicated and paid for by the Federal and State Governments.  

Canberra will be funding the project to the tune of $390 million and the Treasurer announced the Queensland portion of the funding will total $161 million.

Central Station will also yield $7 million to pay for general upgrades that will see modernisation of platforms, stairs, escalators, a new roof and additional escalators from the station's concourse to ANZAC Square.

To view the Treasurer's speech and Queensland Budget 2018 documents, see <a href="https://budget.qld.gov.au/">budget.qld.gov.au</a>.
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Brisbane's Cross River Rail, Nambour duplication works funded in Queensland budget

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The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday the 10th of June foreshadowed another 2018 NSW budget initiative that would see an upgraded signalling system rolled out to existing Sydney Trains railway lines.

Starting with the T4 Illawarra and T8 Airport line, a new signalling system will be rolled out that will allow trains to safely travel closer together which in turn allows trains to run more frequently.

It will be a progressive change and the new system isn't expected to be in use until the 2020s and the amount to be allocated over the forward estimates in 2018's state budget is $880 million.

Sydney Trains chief Howard Collins said that the new signalling system could theoretically allow trains to run every 90 seconds, however trains won't be running on that kind of frequency any time soon.

The Premier said that after the initial upgrades have been installed, it is expected the T4 Illawarra line will see an extra 5 services in the peak and the T8 Airport line will see an extra 8 services in the peak.

"Digital signal and control" system is how the new system has been described; similarly the Victorian Government refers to the signalling upgrades for the Melbourne Metro tunnel and the new cross-town line as "high capacity signalling" - in essence, these two terms used by different state governments refer to signalling that will employ a moving block system, most likely using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications-based_train_control">Communications-based train control</a> (CBTC).

Sydney Metro, as it will be operationally independent of the rest of the Sydney Trains network, will use a CBTC system - Alstom and its <a href="http://www.alstom.com/Global/Transport/Resources/Documents/brochure2014/Sydney%20Metro%20Northwest%20-%20Case%20study%20-%20English.pdf?epslanguage=en-GB">Urbalis 400</a> system were selected as part of the Operations, Trains and Systems contract.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/fb_vs_mb_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Safety distance (safe-braking distance) between trains in fixed block and moving block signalling systems - wikipedia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="223" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fb_vs_mb_0.jpg?itok=YgJTpmda" title="Safety distance (safe-braking distance) between trains in fixed block and moving block signalling systems - wikipedia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Safety distance (safe-braking distance) between trains in fixed block and moving block signalling systems - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications-based_train_control">wikipedia</a></figcaption></figure>Moreover, the New South Wales Government has announced it will extend its Public Transport Access upgrades program in the 2018 state budget.

The Premier announced a further $133 million will be allocated in the budget and then used for accessibility upgrades at a further 11 stations around the Sydney and regional networks.

North Strathfield, Kingswood, Hazelbrook, Wyee, Blayney, Mittagong, Clarendon, Hawkesbury River, Wahroonga, Taree, Roseville and further upgrades to Glenbrook, Beecroft, Millthorpe and Como stations will be the beneficiaries of the money to be allocated in the budget.

Since 2011, including the $133 million announced by the Premier, $2 billion has been spent on accessibility upgrades across stations, wharves and interchanges in New South Wales.
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NSW Government unveils plans to upgrade Sydney Trains with next generation signalling

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The New South Wales Government in its budget, to be released this week, will allocate $15.6 million to deliver increased bus services in metropolitan Sydney as part of a wider $1.5 billion program that will deliver bus fleet renewal and expansion.

1000 new services will be run through the Northern Beaches and 500 new services will be added to the network in Western Sydney.

400 buses are set to be replaced over time as part of the $1.5 billion statewide bus program and the fleet will expand by 30 buses to deliver the increased services throughout the Northern Beaches, Wentworth Point, Penrith, Blacktown and Lane Cove.

“Around 20 of these new buses will cater for the increased demand in school services across the state,” the NSW Transport Minister, Andrew Constance, said.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/plr_stage1_map_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Parramatta Light Rail stage one route map - image: Transport for NSW"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="510" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/plr_stage1_map_0.jpg?itok=f9sIRAKr" title="Parramatta Light Rail stage one route map - image: Transport for NSW" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Parramatta Light Rail stage one route map - image: Transport for NSW</figcaption></figure>Parramatta's Light Rail is one step closer with approval granted at the beginning of June for stage one which will see Westmead and Carlingford connected via Camellia and Parramatta's CBD.

The NSW Government will allocate $1 billion toward the project from this year's budget and the government expects a tendering process to be complete with contracts signed by the third quarter of 2018.

The final cost of the light rail line will be known following the tender and contract process.

The eastern end of the light rail route will see existing heavy rail services that run on the single-track Carlingford line cease and the corridor will transition to include two tracks for light rail vehicles.

Early works have begun with the announcement in May that Ventia had been awarded the contract to begin remediation works on the site of the new stabling and maintenance facility in Camellia.

Telopea, one of the existing heavy rail stops on the Carlingford line that will be converted to light rail, saw a master plan and rezoning proposal released in 2017 that would include between 4000 and 4700 new social, affordable and private homes to be built over 20 years.

In late March, the Minister for Social Housing, Pru Goward, commenced engagement with the development community through an expression of interest campaign to deliver key aspects of the redevelopment at Telopea.  That EOI period has now closed and proposals are now being evaluated by the NSW Government.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hgdj802zzkI" width="100%"></iframe>

In October 2017 the NSW Government announced the preferred route for stage two of the Parramatta Light Rail which would see a 9km extension from stage one begin at Rydalmere and then run along the north side of the Parramatta River then crossing southwards through Wentworth Point and terminate at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Stage two is currently in a consultation round and a finalised business case is expected in 2018.
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Sydney to see increased bus services; Parramatta Light Rail stage one gains approval

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The days are now at their shortest for the year and the overnight lows dip perilously close to 0 degrees, however, construction is still powering along and our photo-taking Apartments.com.au forum members remain undeterred.

Here's a snapshot of the construction activity that has been captured by forum members and Apartments.com.au staff alike and as always, click the links that accompany each image to see more in the project forum threads.

<a href="/news">311 Spencer Street</a> - image originally posted by Apartments.com.au member redden

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/p5141768.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="311 Spencer Street - image by urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p5141768.jpg?itok=2jtJ9nnt" title="311 Spencer Street - image by urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>311 Spencer Street - image by Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure><a href="/news">Rima with a dash of 8 Lygon</a> in Brunswick East - image: Mark Baljak

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/img_1598.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Rima in Brunswick East - image: Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_1598.jpg?itok=pVBLw-9C" title="Rima in Brunswick East - image: Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Rima in Brunswick East - image: Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure><a href="/news4">Ibis Styles</a> on Southbank - image originally posted by Apartments.com.au user redden

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/p5261885.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ibis Styles on Southbank - image by urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p5261885.jpg?itok=akxF4Z_K" title="Ibis Styles on Southbank - image by urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ibis Styles on Southbank - image by Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure><a href="/news8">Australia 108</a> bathed in sun in late May, taken by yours truly.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/img_0598.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Australia 108 - image: Alastair Taylor"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_0598.jpg?itok=URxBYXh5" title="Australia 108 - image: Alastair Taylor" width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="/buildings/australia-108-southbank-70-southbank-boulevard-southbank">Australia 108 image</a>: Alastair Taylor</figcaption></figure>Central Equity's latest addition to the neighbourhood it's famous for, <a href="/news">Southbank Place</a> - image originally posted by Apartments.com.au user redden

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/p5261875.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Place - image by urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p5261875.jpg?itok=72dh1KUK" title="Southbank Place - image by urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Place - image by Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure><a href="/news">Melbourne Square</a>'s site continues to be prepared - image originally posted by Apartments.com.au user redden

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/p6090108.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Square - image by urban.com.au user redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p6090108.jpg?itok=KBqvI-OE" title="Melbourne Square - image by urban.com.au user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Square - image by Apartments.com.au user redden</figcaption></figure><a href="/news1">Aurora Melbourne Central</a> - image by Mark Baljak

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/img_1693.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aurora Melbourne Central - image: Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_1693.jpg?itok=XnBkl33p" title="Aurora Melbourne Central - image: Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aurora Melbourne Central - image: Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure><a href="/news">Conservatory</a> nearing structural and facade completion - image by Mark Baljak

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/img_1909.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Conservatory - image: Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_1909.jpg?itok=O2eml66F" title="Conservatory - image: Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Conservatory - image: Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure>​​​​​<a href="/news0">Marque Maribyrnong</a> - image by Mark Baljak

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/img_1799.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Marque Maribyrnong - image: Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_1799.jpg?itok=nDaf1wmr" title="Marque Maribyrnong - image: Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Marque Maribyrnong - image: Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure>Check out other project's construction status by visiting our forum at <a href="/news">Apartments.com.au/forum</a>.
</body></html>

A snapshot of Melbourne's construction - June 2018

<html><body>
Major works to remove the Buckley Street level crossing in Essendon are about to kick off with the Victorian Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announcing a new blitz that will see disruptions to both road and rail networks throughout June.

Road Traffic will be diverted away from Buckley Street between Mount Alexander Road and Violet Street on June 8th until June 11th.

Rail passengers on the Craigieburn line will face bus replacements from June 8th to June 10th and from the 21st to the 27th of June.  Trains will be replaced by buses between Broadmeadows and North Melbourne - a good 70% of the entire Craigieburn railway line.

The major traffic diversions will return on June 21st, with Buckley Street closed between Mount Alexander Road and Violet Street, until July 6th.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M3vgPicYshE" width="100%"></iframe>

The Buckley Street level crossing will be removed by sinking the roadway underneath the existing rail grade.  This will be the first of the Andrews Government's 50 level crossing removals to see this design &amp; engineering solution implemented.

The Craigieburn railway line, being one of the first to be built in Melbourne - and it was the railway line which saw the first electric train services in the 1920s - is built along the crest of a hill.

Buckley Street will carve into the western side of the hill and then rise and surface just before the Mount Alexander Road intersection.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority reported over the weekend the final U-trough was installed on the Skye/Overton Road project with catenary stanchions also erected.

The U shape of the dual bridges is designed to minimise noise and the same bridge build technique will be employed at the Kororoit Creek Road level crossing removal in Altona.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/skyoverton1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New bridges over Skye/Overton Road in Frankston - image: LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/skyoverton1.jpg?itok=he_dyqpM" title="New bridges over Skye/Overton Road in Frankston - image: LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New bridges over Skye/Overton Road in Frankston - image: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/a.1631948743546471.1073741890.843601892381164/1965428390198503/?type=3&amp;theater">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure>There are currently 16 level crossing removals under construction with 19 having been completed and another 15 in early planning stages.

 ​​​​​

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Essendon's turn for a construction blitz - major works to kick off on Buckley Street level crossing removal

<html><body>
On the 1st of June, the amendments to Victoria's Planning &amp; Environment Act 1987 came into force which, among other things, provide a definition of affordable housing in the state.

In essence, the new legislative amendments that are now in force provide a definition for what very low, low and moderate income households are and the act now states that affordable housing is housing for households who fit within the income brackets now outlined.

The definition of affordable housing, as described in law, for Victoria is:

<blockquote>
...affordable housing is housing, including social housing, that is appropriate for the housing needs of any of the following-- (a) very low income households; (b) low income households; (c) moderate income households.
<a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/bill/pablaaaomb2017755/"><cite>Housing Affordability and Other Matters Bill 2017</cite></a>
</blockquote>

Very low income, low income and moderate income households are defined by income ranges that apply to people living in Melbourne or outside of Melbourne.  On the advice of the Planning Minister, the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria sets &amp; amends the income ranges.

For Melbourne, the household income brackets for very low, low and moderate income households are:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col"> </th>
			<th scope="col">Very low income range (annual)</th>
			<th scope="col">Low income range (annual)</th>
			<th scope="col">Moderate income range (annual)</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Single adult</td>
			<td>Up to $25,220</td>
			<td>$22,221 - $40,340</td>
			<td>$40,341 - $60,510</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Couple, no dependents</td>
			<td>Up to $37,820</td>
			<td>$37,821 - $60,520</td>
			<td>$60,521 - $90,770</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Family (one or two parents and dependent children)</td>
			<td>Up to $52,940</td>
			<td>$52,941 - $84,720</td>
			<td>$84,721 - $127,080</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
For the rest of Victoria, the income brackets are as follows:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col"> </th>
			<th scope="col">Very low income range (annual)</th>
			<th scope="col">Low income range (annual)</th>
			<th scope="col">Moderate income range (annual)</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Single Adult</td>
			<td>Up to $18,380</td>
			<td>$18,381 - $29,400</td>
			<td>$29,401 - $44,100</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Couple, no dependents</td>
			<td>Up to $27,560</td>
			<td>$27,561 - $44,100</td>
			<td>$44,101 - $66,160</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Family (one or two parents and dependent children)</td>
			<td>Up to $38,590</td>
			<td>$38,591 - $61,750</td>
			<td>$61,751 - $92,610</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
With these definitions now described in law, it allows developers, councils and the state government to negotiate affordable housing outcomes with a specific set of unambiguous definitions. 

As <a href="http://www.ratio.com.au/affordable-housing-update">Ratio Consultants</a> note the amendments to the act do not specify what the cost of housing should be for the people who fit within the income bands, noting "it is generally accepted that, to avoid housing stress, housing costs should not exceed 30% of household income."

Likewise, the legislative changes included no targets for affordable housing throughout all or some of the new development pipeline for Victoria but as Ratio further note, the affordable housing can be a strong negotiation tool.

<blockquote>
Councils are increasingly seeking to strongly encourage or even require affordable housing in new developments (City of Melbourne’s West Melbourne Structure Plan and Fishermans Bend discretionary requirements, and Glen Eira’s Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh Structure Plans).  

The voluntary provision of affordable housing can be a strong negotiation tool with recent agreements including in the Queen Victoria Market Munro Precinct where PDG are providing 15% affordable housing (being 56 apartments out of the total 360).
<a href="http://www.ratio.com.au/affordable-housing-update"><cite>Ratio Consultants</cite></a>
</blockquote>

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has also published guidance for those seeking to negotiate affordable housing agreements within the context of the new definitions, see <a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/affordable-housing">planning.vic.gov.au</a> for more information.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing/">vic.gov.au</a>
</body></html>

Definitions around affordable housing in Victoria come into force

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

<main data-perf-region="main">
Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Alastair Taylor

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