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Victoria's Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, has provided an overview of new train services that will operate across Melbourne's network once the Mernda extension opens toward the end of the year and on the same day, the Minister announced a new Skybus contract had been signed.

190 new metropolitan train services will be spread across lines to the north, west and south-east.

On the South Morang line, an additional 115 new and extended services will run up and down the line and when the terminus shifts to Mernda upon that station and the extension's opening, the new stations beyond South Morang will have access to 982 services every week.

The Werribee line will see 35 new services over weekdays that will provide passengers using South Kensington, Seddon, Yarraville and Spotswood stations with a turn-up and go services until just after 8pm on weekdays.

Passengers living between Eltham and the City will see 35 new and extended services each week and the Dandenong corridor will see 80 new and extended services each week which will see that corridor's frequency increase so as turn up and go services (a train every 10 minutes) until 10pm on weeknights.

The numbers announced by the Minister across the different rail line corridors represent 40 extensions of service on top of the 190 new services.

No exact date has been provided for when the new timetable is expected to come into effect however it is anticipated it will be in force later in the year.   

<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/skybus_wiki_cc_by_sa.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Skybus in Docklands - image: wikipedia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="338" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/skybus_wiki_cc_by_sa.jpg?itok=Hs2jjQ5v" title="Skybus in Docklands - image: wikipedia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Skybus in Docklands - image: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skybus_number_65_(5177AO)_Scania_in_Wurundjeri_Way,_2013.JPG">Wikipedia</a></figcaption></figure>Melbourne Airport's Skybus service has had a shakeup as well with a new 10-year performance-based contract signed with the state government coinciding with the launch of a new route from Melbourne's western suburbs to the airport.

The new Skybus route will go from Werribee via Tarneit to Tullamarine Airport and will run on 60-minute frequencies between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

Skybus services to the Mornington Peninsula will see lower fares and more services will run from Rosebud and Mornington as well as new stops will be added in Mordialloc and Mentone.

A Ministerial media release says 'the newly consolidated contract also allows the government the ability to introduce an airport rail line between the Melbourne CBD and Tullamarine Airport.'

The new contract commences on July 1st and will run for 10 years if the operator meets strict performance targets.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/camperdown/27711567484/in/photolist-8Lf58H-8SdGCT-PxJucC-PZ2yw8-K17R3L-JdPZqU-K7gSMC-8Li83j-KqNxud-yR6XHw-8Lf3QR-8bxmYh-8Li8AS-96jMNE-eLAJBW-UnkSt1-9AyPm3-8KnPuz-EAxMVg-yTR6L9-PqtLVD-P3Avdd-P3AxdA-PsFAFL-K7dQNU-2bh3g-PFFnRT-K3jUjt-PoAFMm-K41PqS-K2Fvgi-JHHkd5-NLnaqy-Pssevz-PxzoJA-JdM2yh-Kach2W-K14SQ9-Kacg5q-zMKJvg-K3i7o2-Pvc8CK-qT9s93-PBzAM7-QHuwxD-QHuuuR-Pre3UW-NPaDHv-KA5vwS-wfwkf8">flickr</a>
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Alastair Taylor

Swathe of Melbourne train lines, skybus to see new and extended services

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Infrastructure Australia has released a new report titled Making Reform Happen and it argues the Federal Government, who holds most of the purse strings across Australia's three tiers of Government, should make additional investments - over and above existing commitments - in return for delivery of reforms.

One of the highest priority recommendations from IA is that Canberra should establish mechanisms that link and provide additional infrastructure funding to the delivery of reform outcomes - for instance, the asset recycling program set up during the Abbott Government incentivised state governments to privatise assets in return for bonus payments on top of the sale prices.

The report claims after reforms through the urban water, public transport, land tax, electricity market and road user charging sectors, Australia's GDP would increase by $66 billion and the country would enjoy a $19 billion ongoing increase in national tax revenue.

Land tax reform and road user pricing reform are the two main revenue sources which make up the vast majority of the projected $19 billion of national tax revenue by 2047.

IA notes 'the revenue gathered through [fuel excise and vehicle registration] is not directly linked to the cost of road use' and that 'Australia needs to adopt a new approach to the way we fund, deliver and operate our roads, otherwise we can expect significant deterioration and congestion across the nation's networks over coming decades'.

Victorians might find this familiar, as Infrastructure Victoria has put road user pricing reform in its top three infrastructure priorities for the state.

<blockquote>
A reformed charging framework for roads would see all existing taxes and fees removed and replaced with direct charging that reflects each user’s own consumption of the network, including the location, time and distance of travel, and the individual characteristics of their vehicle such as weight and emissions.

This would also include the implementation of supporting technologies, and fundamental change to legislative and funding arrangements.
<cite>Infrastructure Australia - <a href="http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/files/IFA_224631_Making%20Reform%20Happen%20Reform%20Paper_WEB_FA3.pdf">Making Reform Happen</a></cite>
</blockquote>

<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/making_reform_happen1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Projected impacts of road user pricing reform - Infrastructure Australia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="173" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/making_reform_happen1.png?itok=dCXGKqse" title="Projected impacts of road user pricing reform - Infrastructure Australia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Projected impacts of road user pricing reform - Infrastructure Australia</figcaption></figure>To read the Making Reform Happen report, see <a href="http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/making-reform-happen.aspx">infrastructureaustralia.gov.au</a>

<h2>Comment</h2>

Marking Reform Happen has an indicative reform agenda which includes Federal Government responses.

The first recommendation on introducing road user charging states that 'Federal, state and territory governments should commit to the full implementation of a heavy vehicle road charging structure in the next five years'.  

Likewise, 'federal, state and territory governments should commit to the full implementation of a light vehicle road charging structure in the next ten years'.

The heavy vehicle road charging structure is supported by Canberra and it notes the recommendation for light vehicles.  When the Federal Government 'notes' the recommendation, in the road user pricing reform area, it is referring to the fact the matters are primarily state/territory issues.

Notice that as soon as reform agenda gets closer to the individual - the voter - the enthusiasm recoils?  That's what happened when Infrastructure Victoria recommended, for the most part, the same thing - the Andrews Government ruled it out almost immediately.  
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Infrastructure Australia argues for greater federal investments in state and territory infrastructure

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A development application seeking concept approval has been lodged with the New South Wales Planning &amp; Environment department and is currently on exhibition via the department's Major Projects website.

The application seeks approval for a building envelope, maximum gross floor area, land uses, future subdivision and general development strategies to inform the future detailed design of the over station development on a site bounded by Miller Street, Berry Street, Denison Street and the heritage listed MLC Building in North Sydney.

The L-shaped site of the Victoria Cross station and over station development (OSD) concept slopes from a high point of 66.5 metres near the corner of Miller and Berry Streets downwards, in an easterly direction, toward the Denison Street frontage.  

The bulk of the of the envelope is massed within a 42 level tower setback from Miller Street, however, the Denison St frontage has a continuation of the envelope which reaches 15 levels.

Documents lodged with Major Projects shows an envelope that stands at 230m RL, producing a building envelope height between 163.5 metres and 171 metres above ground, depending on which street frontage you use as the ground level.  The application refers to the concept's nominal height at 168m.

Application proponent Transport for New South Wales says as a result of building the Sydney Metro and the Victoria Cross station, North Sydney will be "only six minutes to the heart of the city at Martin Place and four minutes to Barangaroo, North Sydney will be more connected than ever before."

<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/victoria_cross_concept2.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Building envelope for the over station development concept at Victoria Cross - image: Transport for NSW"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="559" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/victoria_cross_concept2.png?itok=QOY6tcDi" title="Building envelope for the over station development concept at Victoria Cross - image: Transport for NSW" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Building envelope for the over station development concept at Victoria Cross - image: Transport for NSW</figcaption></figure>The concept has a total of 67,000 square metres of gross floor area - 60,000 relates to the over station development, 2,500 square metres for the station operations and 4,500 squares for retail components attached to the station.

The 168-metre envelope seeks approval for 40 commercial levels and 2 for rooftop plant equipment.  The low-rise portion of the building envelope fronting Denison Street measures approximately 55 metres in height and can fit approximately 15 levels.

Sydney Metro City &amp; Southwest is the second phase of the Sydney Metro project that will join the first phase at Chatswood and see trains run through North Sydney, Barangaroo, the CBD, Waterloo, Sydenham and then out to Bankstown. 

Phase 1 of Sydney metro will open in 2019 and see driverless trains run from Tallawong at Rouse Hill to Chatswood.  Services will operate every 4 minutes in the peak and the same operational frequencies are anticipated to extend through to phase 2 when it opens in 2024.

To view the concept's planning application, see <a href="http://www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&amp;job_id=8874">majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au</a> 

Lead image credit: TfNSW.
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Victoria Cross over station development concept application on exhibition

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Back in the earliy 2000s, the Bracks/Brumby Government announced a masterplan for the Southbank arts precinct would be drawn up with one of the key components pedestrianising Sturt Street and building a ramp from St Kilda Road down to Sturt Street to Southbank Boulevard.

Today, the Premier and Arts Minister announced the concept is not dead, committing $208 million to planning and kicking off phase 1 of a project that would see a new contemporary art gallery added to the building asset list for the National Gallery of Victoria.

Opposite Aunty's Melbourne broadcast centre, on the triangular block bounded by Sturt Street, Southbank Boulevard and Kavanagh Street, the former Carlton &amp; United Breweries headquarters will make way for the new NGVC - National Gallery of Victoria Contemporary.

Likewise, 1 City Road, which sits as a vacant site on the intersection of City Road and Sturt Street, will also become the home of a new hub for the precinct. 

The hub will house the Australia Performing Arts Gallery, an expanded Australian Music Vault, administrative, education and research facilities, and a new centre for small-to-medium and independent arts organisations.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DKEFOIyhxaM" width="100%"></iframe>

The Victorian Government says 18,000 square metres of new and expanded open space will adorn the precinct with an elevated park at the Southbank Boulevard end allowing precinct visitors to meander all the way from Princes Bridge down through the precinct to a new linear park on Southbank Boulevard.

The City of Melbourne is just about to ramp up <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbankboulevard#/features">phased construction</a> of the new linear park along Southbank Boulevard from Sturt Street to City Road which will see one carriageway closed and converted to new green space.

According to reports across <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/game-changer-melbourne-to-build-nation-s-largest-contemporary-art-gallery-20180603-p4zj5f">other outlets</a>, the $208 million announced today will be used to buy the former CUB headquarters and to begin design and planning work.

Tony Ellwood, speaking to the <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/billiondollar-arts-centre-bonanza-to-become-our-next-worldclass-attraction/news-story/4bc3271584a6b778cdb5cbfabc912a39">Herald Sun</a>, hinted at an international design competition for the new NGV Contemporary.

“It needs to be one of the symbols of the city, it needs to be internationally respected, it needs to be projecting the future of architecture. What we need to do is go with an international search and see what the best designers in the world come back with,” Ellwood told the HUN.

The Victorian Government expects 10,000 jobs to be generated during the construction period with 260 ongoing jobs once construction is complete.

The NGV currently receives approximately three million visitors a year and with the expansion outlined today, the Victorian Government expects that number to double.  Creative industries support 240,000 jobs and contribute $22 billion to the state's economy.

<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/ngvc_precinct2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Render of the pedestrian precinct and ramp down Sturt Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="245" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ngvc_precinct2.jpg?itok=Q35YOxnZ" title="Render of the pedestrian precinct and ramp down Sturt Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Render of the pedestrian precinct and ramp down Sturt Street</figcaption></figure>Images: <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngv-contemporary-announcement/">NGV</a>
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Back to the noughties: Melbourne's arts precinct set to get a major makeover

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I freely admit I was sceptical at first.  An enormous tower on a tiny little site on the northern side of La Trobe Street.  "Hold on, isn't that zoned capital city zone? How on earth would that get past plot ratio rules?"

"And surely, you'd only be able to get an apartment or two per floor - it's a bit much.  Property economic - how will it work with this?"

Well, scratch all that because my colleague Laurence Dragomir sat down with Dylan Brady from deciBel Architecture recently to talk about the concept, including its purpose.

The project is still very much motivated by profit, however, it's about what the profit from the development will be used for.  And no, it's not for a list of shareholders but for an endowment fund run by the Royal Society of Victoria.

The RSV has a decorated history, Brady explains, being the oldest such society in the country and which during the gold rush era was the headquarters of all the engineers and innovators in a very young Melbourne.

Melbourne's water and sewerage system, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne's railways - the Royal Society of Victoria had a hand in many of the city's early utility, transport and cultural infrastructure.

Fast forward to today and the society has been on a long and slow decline with a diminishing funding base and the tall building that's garnered so many headlines, even though a planning application has not been lodged, will be done in the spirit of the Royal Society of Victoria - to recapitalise and generate a permanent endowment fund.

The permanent endowment fund is designed to allow the society to be the interface between the commercially-driven university precincts as well as fund an outreach program for the communities of Victoria.  RSV, in an equitable way, wants to facilitate, distribute and deliver increased science, engineering, mathematics and arts education throughout every school in the state.

<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/magic_hero.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Magic Melbourne concept at 1 Victoria Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/magic_hero.jpg?itok=IcNcc-cj" title="Magic Melbourne concept at 1 Victoria Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Magic Melbourne concept at 1 Victoria Street</figcaption></figure>Dylan Brady explained deciBel was working with wind engineer <a href="http://www.melconsultants.com/personnel">Bill Melbourne</a> on the slim concept for the tiny wedge site that has an address of 1 Victoria Street.

The Victoria-Melbourne nods and references don't stop there, Grocon, synonymous with Melbourne's tallest buildings, is onboard, aiding the project team and Brady mentioned the original concept's constructability was based around jump-form, pioneered by the Grollo family.

Brady sees this kind of development as a new model - specifically, profit motivated, not for shareholders but philanthropic purposes.

To fully appreciate the background of the concept we're adding last week's podcast below.  Don't forget, you can subscribe to our podcast through your favourite podcast app so that you will hear them as soon as we publish.

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/451599093&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=true&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Magic Melbourne, a skyscraper concept with a philanthropic purpose

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The Victorian Government has unveiled updated &amp; finalised designs for the stations on the Melbourne Metro project with each station entrance, concourse &amp; ticketing area and platform level having its own distinct identity.

With a nod to each station location's context and heritage, the station entrances are anything but uniform.  Hassell in conjunction with Weston Williamson and Rogers Stirk &amp; Harbour and Partners are the architects responsible for the finalised designs.

Starting at the westernmost station, North Melbourne, working eastward to the last of the new stations, Anzac, the designs have been described by the government as follows.

<h2>North Melbourne</h2>

"North Melbourne Station has an impressive large-scale brick arched entrance to reflect the area’s industrial heritage and skylights to enable natural light to filter down on the platforms and concourse." 

For the external render of the entrance, refer to the lead image above. 

<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/northmelbourne_concourse_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="North Melbourne concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/northmelbourne_concourse_1024x576.jpg?itok=Tz2gPTiY" title="North Melbourne concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>North Melbourne concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><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/northmelbourne_platform_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="North Melbourne platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/northmelbourne_platform_1024x576.jpg?itok=1ZkkfgE3" title="North Melbourne platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>North Melbourne platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><h2>Parkville</h2>

"A glass feature roof at the Grattan Street entrance provides passengers visiting this world class health and education precinct with a tree-lined view as well as natural light into the station concourse."

<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/parkville_grattanst_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Parkville's Grattan St entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/parkville_grattanst_1024x576.jpg?itok=4pem76a-" title="Parkville's Grattan St entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Parkville's Grattan St entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure>​​​​​​

<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/parkville_concourse_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Parkville concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/parkville_concourse_1024x576.jpg?itok=fbkJuHKb" title="Parkville concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Parkville concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><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/parkville_platform_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Parkville platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/parkville_platform_1024x576.jpg?itok=lfmG7rnq" title="Parkville platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Parkville platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><h2>State Library</h2>

"Grand entrances at State Library and Town Hall Stations in the heart of the CBD will create new meeting places, with redesigned laneways including cafes and retail shops. Below Swanston Street, passengers will enjoy wide and spacious platforms framed by sweeping arches."

<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/statelibrary_swanstonst_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="State Library Swanston Street entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/statelibrary_swanstonst_1024x576.jpg?itok=5qeAyNZi" title="State Library Swanston Street entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>State Library Swanston Street entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><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/statelibrary_platform2_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="State Library platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/statelibrary_platform2_1024x576.jpg?itok=fnyOz6wz" title="State Library platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>State Library platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure> 

<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/statelibrary_platform3_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Another perspective on State Library's platform ceiling - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/statelibrary_platform3_1024x576.jpg?itok=SPFHqRZe" title="Another perspective on State Library's platform ceiling - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Another perspective on State Library's platform ceiling - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><h2>Town Hall</h2>

<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/townhall_citysquare_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Town Hall City Square / Collins Street entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/townhall_citysquare_1024x576.jpg?itok=H7cGW4sq" title="Town Hall City Square / Collins Street entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Town Hall City Square / Collins Street entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure> 

<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/townhall_fedsquare_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Town Hall Federation Square entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/townhall_fedsquare_1024x576.jpg?itok=yDzcT7h_" title="Town Hall Federation Square entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Town Hall Federation Square entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure> 

<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/townhall_concourse_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Town Hall concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/townhall_concourse_1024x576.jpg?itok=I-rtPPjj" title="Town Hall concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Town Hall concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure><h2>Anzac</h2>

"A key element at Anzac Station in Domain will be an architecturally designed canopy reaching up from below ground, providing both natural light and weather protection for the thousands of passengers each day who will move between trains and trams."

<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/anzac_stkilda_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Anzac entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/anzac_stkilda_1024x576.jpg?itok=qGSRQr3F" title="Anzac entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Anzac entrance - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure> 

<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/anzac_concourse_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Anzac concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/anzac_concourse_1024x576.jpg?itok=onDQhc_n" title="Anzac concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Anzac concourse - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure> 

<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/anzac_platform_1024x576.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Anzac platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/anzac_platform_1024x576.jpg?itok=VUXtEipn" title="Anzac platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Anzac platform - image: Rail Projects Victoria</figcaption></figure>The Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, and newly elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, also announced a wide-scale upgrade to the Elizabeth Street and Degraves Street pedestrian subways this morning.

Upgrades will include restoration and cleaning of heritage tiles in the subways and the metal partition in the Elizabeth Street subway will be replaced with glass.  

The pedestrian subway works are part of the previously announced $100 million upgrade for Flinders Street station.

Spring Street has also stated Flinders Street station will be the first of the metropolitan stations to see signage and passenger information displays where each railway line will have its own colour.

North Melbourne station, née Arden, will be the centre of a new redevelopment zone in which the state government is a <a href="/news/the-current-state-of-play-within-arden-macaulay">major landholder</a> and has previously announced it intends to use that position to effect a greater supply of residential development within the zone.  

The Premier is currently on a trade mission to China where he's set to inspect the progress on the construction of the tunnel boring machines that will build the Melbourne Metro Tunnel.

Trains are set to commence running through the new stations in 2025.
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Melbourne Metro's finalised station designs unveiled

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Infrastructure Victoria (IV), the agency set up by the Victorian Government to produce the state's 30-year infrastructure plan, in its capacity as advisor, has produced a series of documents which are the first step in attempting to the look at the future of trucks and cars in our cities.

While Infrastructure Victoria's focus is, naturally, on Victoria, the advice the agency has now published just as easily apply to the rest of the country.

IV has chosen to structure their advice into seven different futures which have different variables applied to them.  For instance, the variables include whether the vehicle is autonomous, what the vehicle's energy source will be and what ownership structure vehicles in the future might have.

The seven futures are as follows.

<ol>
<li>Electric avenue, a world where all cars are electric</li>
	<li>Private drive, a world where your car drives you</li>
	<li>Fleet street, a world where no one owns their own car</li>
	<li>Hydrogen highway, a world where trucks lead a hydrogen revolution</li>
	<li>Slow lane, a world where man and machine meet on the road</li>
	<li>High speed, a world where driverless and electric cars arrive much sooner than we expect</li>
	<li>Dead end, a world where the hype never happened</li>
</ol>
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QQ5ZjmiHqoY" width="100%"></iframe>

Each future attempts to outline the broad benefits and risks associated with each and the advice broadly addresses infrastructure-related issues.

In the 'Hydrogen Highway' future, for example, the note that a high level of thought would need to be applied to how hydrogen would be produced and distributed.

Electrolysis for hydrogen production involves the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen and the advice notes that using electricity from renewable sources - wind or solar - from a climate &amp; emission abatement angle, is the best way to do it.

The sixth future presents a scenario where electric, autonomous or both vehicles arrive much sooner leaving governments unprepared for the rapid change.

One of the risks IV has outlined in this scenario is that older combustion vehicles will need to be rapidly disposed of and they point out the potential for negative amenity and environmental impacts in a rapid disposal scenario.

The Victorian Special Minister of State, Gavin Jennings, requested the advice from IV stating in the terms of reference letter that "road vehicles stand on the verge of what could be the biggest changes since the mass market of the combustion engine."

"While Victoria already has the largest electric vehicle charging network and the highest number of electric vehicle registrations in Australia, any barriers to increasing the proportion of zero-emission vehicles in the Victorian fleet may delay or reduce the benefits that the community can achieve in terms of environment, and hamper the future deployment of automated vehicles."

The evidence-based used to inform the advice will be published in August 2018 and the findings and recommendations will in turn influence the next update to Victoria's 30-year infrastructure strategy in 2019.

To view the published advice, see <a href="http://infrastructurevictoria.com.au/AVadvice">infrastructure.vic.gov.au</a>
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Infrastructure Victoria gazes into the crystal ball, looks to the future of vehicles in cities

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The past six months have been an eye-opening exercise for the editors.  As we've broadened our scope to a national perspective, we've had to grasp the concepts of other state's planning systems.

Clear data trends have emerged.

Some of the trends are confirmations of chatter among industry, analysts and other media; some of them are, to our mind's, are certainly not quite what was originally expected.

Different states and territories, of course, in fact, do things differently, but overall there are many familiarities. New South Wales is a little more complex with its regional and state panels system working in tandem with the local councils and South East Queensland's mega-councils simply mean you need to go to fewer places to find the information you want.  

Except for you ACT and your wayward section/block/suburb planning-address scheme that runs parallel to what the rest of Australia would call a 'real' address!  "Block 2, Section 1, Capital Hill" or "Parliament Drive, Capital Hill" - those two addresses lead to the same place, Parliament House.

While the Urban National Project Database is still a work in progress (it never stops!), we have near-on 700 projects from metropolitan Sydney present and accounted for.

<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/sydney_project_map_2900518.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The geographic spread of Sydney's projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="362" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sydney_project_map_2900518.png?itok=50QIi9rA" title="The geographic spread of Sydney's projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The geographic spread of Sydney's projects</figcaption></figure>If you have a conversation with anyone in industry, media or through social media channels, the consensus that you're likely to find is that when comparing the two largest cities in the country Sydney has a wider geographic spread of medium and high-density projects.

You could split ends about which city's got more projects in their inner and middle rings but where there is a major difference is on the fringe - in Sydney you are far more likely to come across greenfield developments with slabs of apartments contained within them.

We wrote about <a href="/news/terminus-station-on-sydney-metro-northwest-renamed">Rouse Hill last week</a> which is on Sydney's fringe. It's receiving a new rail line and has an extraordinary amount of apartments contained within more typically low-density suburban development.

While we wouldn't want to claim with absolute certainty the follow statement is set in stone, the emerging trend we're finding in Sydney is that new residential developments are, on the whole, larger than those in Melbourne.

Larger in the sense that a single development will have more apartments contained within it. For instance, at the time of writing, there are 679 Metropolitan Sydney projects which have a touch over 70,000 apartments contained within them.  That's an average of 105.8 apartments per development.

For Metropolitan Melbourne - and the Victorian numbers are much more complete given our history - there are 1611 projects with 147,000 dwellings in them - an average of 91.29 apartments per development.

We fully excpect the numbers to fluctuate - certainly the number of projects in Sydney will rise (since writing the Rouse Hill article last week, the Metropolitan Sydney numbers have increased by 40) - however we expect the average number of apartments in a development to fluctuate as well.
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Melbourne and Sydney; Urban National Project Database observations

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The final construction blitz on the Dandenong corridor level crossing removals starts tonight with buses set to replace all train services from 8pm until the first train on Monday 18th of June.

The level crossings at Grange Road, Koornang Road, Murrumbeena Road and Poath Road will be erased at the completion of the works along with two new stations open from the 18th of June.

Workers will be installing new power and signalling systems on the elevated track at the same as the connecting ramps are built in order to connect existing tracks west of Caulfield and east of Oakleigh to the new superstructure.

Rail service interruptions include:

<ul>
<li>Pakenham/Cranbourne line trains will be replaced with buses shuttling between Caulfield and Westall between 8pm tonight (Tuesday 29th of May) until the last service on Sunday 17th of June.</li>
	<li>On the Queens' Birthday weekend (9-11 June) and on Saturday 2nd of June, upgrade works at Caulfield junction will see buses run between Westall and Flinders Street.</li>
	<li>Frankston line trains will also be interrupted by the Caulfield junction works on the Queens' Birthday weekend and Saturday 2nd of June and buses will replace trains between Flinders Street and Moorabbin stations.</li>
	<li>Gippsland V/Line passengers will see coaches replace the entire rail route between 9pm tonight and the 17th of June.</li>
</ul>
According to the state government, the targeted shutdown periods both past and present have avoided the scenario that would have required the total shutdown of the Dandenong corridor for 9 months.

When the railway infrastructure reopens, for the first time, trains will operate between the city and Dandenong without interacting with a level crossing.

The Pakenham branch beyond Dandenong has three level crossing removals on the government's list of 50 - South Gippsland Highway, Hallam South Road and Clyde Road.  Designs for these level crossing removals have not been released as yet.

The Cranbourne branch beyond Dandenong has two level crossing removals on the government's list of 50 - Thompsons Road and Abbots Road.  Both of which are currently under construction.

There are two other level crossings on the Cranbourne branch, including Greens Road serving the heavy-duty Dandenong South industrial area and Camms Road located just in front of the Cranbourne terminus station.  

On the Pakenham branch, beyond the three that are already on the list, there are a further 8 existing level crossings ranging from the small Progress Street which links an industrial area south of Eumemmering and Doveton with the Princes Hwy to the recently duplicated (although puzzlingly not separated) Cardinia Road in Pakenham. 

Like at Cranbourne, there is a level crossing immediately adjacent to the terminating station on the Pakenham branch at Main Street.
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Final Dandenong corridor level crossings to be removed by June 17th

<html><body>
The Altona loop is next in line to get the construction blitz treatment with the level crossing removal programme for the area set to shut the line down for approximately six weeks.

Between the 16th of June and the 29th of July buses will replace trains on the Altona Loop as work continues to remove the Kororoit Creek Road level crossing.

Contracts were signed in May 2017 for the Altona Loop line level crossing removal at the same time as contracts were awarded for Abbotts Road in Dandenong South, Aviation Road in Laverton and Furguson Street in Williamstown.

The Altona loop railway track will be elevated above Kororoit Creek Road and the new rail bridge will also include duplicated track.  The existing level crossing consists of a single bi-directional track which splits in two at the junction with the main Werribee line to the north of Kororoit Creek Road.

The level crossing removal will extend the duplicated track south of Kororoit Creek Road, however, the entire Altona loop will not be duplicated as part of the level crossing removal programme.

A Spring Street media release says there will "also be some overnight closures of Kororoit Creek Road at the level crossing with traffic detours in place, and some off-peak closures of the Werribee Line, where buses will replace trains between Newport and Werribee".

Continuing an Australian-first construction technique that has already been used in rail bridges on the Skye/Overton Road level crossing removal and Mernda railway line extension project, the Kororoit Creek Road level crossing removal will be made up of forty L-shape beams that will be transported overnight from Kilmore and then craned into place during the day.

<h2>Mobile Myki trial announced</h2>

The Minister for Public Transport has announced a trial to allow public transport commuters to use their Android smartphones to pay for fares.

The trial will utilise a custom-built Android app and near-field communication technology to integrate with the existing Myki ticket barriers and card readers across the Victorian public transport network.

Initially, the trial will be limited to a small industry-based test user group on Android devices with a wider public test group to be included in the trial later in the year.

A Spring Street media release states "discussions will continue during the trial to explore other smartphone users access Mobile Myki".

The trial period is expected to run until early 2019 when a decision will be made about a system-wide rollout.

For more information, see <a href="https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/mobilemyki">ptv.vic.gov.au/mobilemyki</a>
</body></html>

Level crossing removal construction blitz for Altona as mobile Myki trial announced

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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