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We're back and we have our very first special guest, Professor Carolyn Whitzman.   

Two weeks ago the ABC kicked off a national debate on Australia's population which after a 4 Corners and Q &amp; A back-to-back, the debate was side-tracked &amp; got bogged-down in the country's immigration intake.  

Lot's of arm-flapping as Professor Whitzman describes it.

One of the biggest gaps in those two hours was the complete lack of planning, urban design or even architectural voices.  We're here to close that gap.

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Alastair Taylor

Weekly Podcast: Episode 7 - Special guest Carolyn Whitzman

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An amendment to the design and development overlay governing the Melbourne Metro project has been triggered and is now being advertised after the contractor for the tunnel and station build has refined the route the tunnels will take.

During the Environmental Effects Statement process, a DDO was applied to all land that could be directly impacted by the boring of tunnels and construction of stations as part of the rail project.

The Cross Yarra Partnership includes Lendlease, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital as consortium members.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
More information on draft PSA, including the DDO maps, is available for feedback on our website from today until Tuesday 17 April 2018 <a href="https://t.co/GtBbR4Ut6W">https://t.co/GtBbR4Ut6W</a>
— Metro Tunnel (@metrotunnelvic) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/metrotunnelvic/status/975554816712716288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

The new amendment seeks to add and remove various properties to the project land in the DDO which would be impacted by the slight realignment of the tunnel around Grattan and Swanston Street. 

Various other pieces of land, including streets, are also proposed to be added to the DDO - click the link in the Metro Tunnel's tweet above to see the full suite of documents.

<h2>Darebin Street tunnel civil works complete</h2>

The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) has announced the civil works on the duplication of the Darebin Street tunnel - a former single-track pinch point on the Hurstbridge Line between Heidelberg and Rosanna station - have been completed.

Work to start laying the track and installing the new catenary is set to commence.

<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/hurstbridge_tunnel.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New and old Darebin Street tunnels - 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/hurstbridge_tunnel.jpg?itok=bpM1ZKdq" title="New and old Darebin Street tunnels - image: LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New and old Darebin Street tunnels - image: LXRA</figcaption></figure>The Darebin Street tunnel works have been progressing at the same time as the new Rosanna Station &amp; elevated track over Lower Plenty Road are entering the final stages of construction (see lead image).  

The major Easter blitz, in the Hurstbridge line's case, will extend until the end of April when both the rail trench at Grange Road in Alphington and the elevated track at Rosanna are expected to be returned to service.

Thompsons Road in Cranbourne is hotting up as well with the new road bridge over the Cranbourne railway line well on its way to completion.  

VicRoads is delivering this level crossing removal as there is a broader road duplication project that extends beyond the scope of the level crossing removal.  Thompsons Road will be duplicated across the entire length between Dandenong-Frankston Road to Berwick-Cranbourne Road.  

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Metro Tunnel changes spark new planning amendment while level crossing removals power on

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The ministerial advisory committee set up as part Victorian Government's two-year Smart Planning reform program to look into and recommend improvements to the land use terms and definitions in the Victorian Planning Provisions is calling for submissions which relate to the discussion paper the committee published in late February 2018.

The Smart Planning program began life in July 2016 and has produced reforms such as streamlining regional planning policy (cutting 3000 pages from the planning schemes across the state), an interactive mapping tool for zone, overlay and other planning layer information across Victoria and began work on a new planning portal for the state which is due to be released by June 2018, according to the program's <a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/planning-reform/smart-planning-program">website</a>.

The ministerial advisory committee that is now seeking submissions was borne out of a past consultation round which recommended land use terms and their respective definitions be updated.

<blockquote>
In October 2017 the discussion paper, Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions: A discussion paper was released which sought comment on a range of proposals to improve the system.

Proposal 5.2 of the Smart Planning discussion paper was to review and update the land use terms section of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP). The Advisory Committee was appointed following feedback from the Smart Planning consultation to address the submissions received.
<cite>Land Use Terms Advisory Committee - <a href="https://engage.vic.gov.au/application/files/1415/1970/8883/Land_Use_Terms_Advisory_Committee_Discussion_Paper_27_February_2018.pdf">Discussion Paper</a></cite>
</blockquote>

Richmond-based Ratio Consultants perhaps introduced it best in their most recent <a href="http://www.ratio.com.au/have-your-say-land-use-terms-discussion-paper-out-now">newsletter</a>. 

"Just as Shakespeare mused on the meaning of a name in Romeo and Juliet, planners and the public are being asked to turn their thoughts to the less romantic but important issue of land use terms following the release of a new discussion paper by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DEWLP)", the opening paragraph reads.

"Recognising that not every proposal will fit a land use term like Cinderella’s slipper, the process’ guiding principles include focussing on what needs control due to particular amenity concerns and defining uses only when there is a need to aid interpretation."

Land use terms and definitions are referenced through the planning scheme and depending on the zone, certain land uses are prohibited, permitted without a permit or permitted with a permit.  Here's the current Land Use and Terms <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/vpps/74.pdf">document</a> in the Victorian Planning Provisions.

Individuals and organisations are free to structure their submissions how they see fit, however, the discussion paper asks 67 questions which "would assist the committee if you addressed the [following] questions".

Some examples from the discussion paper:

<blockquote>
2. Are there good reasons to change the practice that a land use listed in Clause 74 does not need to be defined, provided it has a well-defined common usage? What are these reasons?

25. Is there merit in defining Brewery, Distillery or Chocolate factory? If there is, how should they be treated in zones?

38. Is there a need to amend the definition of Medical centre, and what precise change is required?

45. Should Live music venue be listed in Clause 74, and if so how would it be defined?

57. What is the appropriate definition for Road?

65. Is there merit in defining Display village, and what should it include?
</blockquote>

To read the discussion paper, click <a href="https://engage.vic.gov.au/application/files/1415/1970/8883/Land_Use_Terms_Advisory_Committee_Discussion_Paper_27_February_2018.pdf">here</a>.  Submissions can be made on the <a href="https://engage.vic.gov.au/land-use-terms-advisory-committee">engage.vic.gov.au</a> website and must be received by the government by close of business on the 3rd of April 2018.
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What is a road? A solar farm? A Cafe? A Live music venue? Victoria seeks input on planning scheme land use terms and definitions

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Move over Woden, here comes Belconnen - Canberra developer Geocon Group has received approval from the ACT Government for its Republic project that is set to be the national capital's largest mix-use development which will also include the new tallest buildings in Canberra.

Construction is set to commence straight away on the $1 billion development which will be delivered over three stages.  According to the project's community consultation site, the three stages will include:

<ul>
<li>Stage 1: 387 apartments and serviced apartments with 118 public car spaces and a level 14 rooftop garden.</li>
	<li>Stage 2: 188 room hotel with 546 apartments and serviced apartments with 200 public car parks and a public observation level on the rooftop.</li>
	<li>Stage 3: 283 apartments and serviced apartments with 50 car parks.</li>
</ul>
Fender Katsalidis and Oculus Urban Planning lead the design &amp; planning team for the project and Abode Hotels will manage the hotel space.

<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/republic_belconnen.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Republic in Belconnen. Planning image"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/republic_belconnen.jpg?itok=ObvpYEbg" title="Republic in Belconnen. Planning image" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Republic in Belconnen. Planning image</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
We’re delighted that the ACT Government shares our vision on this project, and of the scope for exciting, well-planned development in town centres.

No-one can accuse Canberra of being boring or stuck in the past with this type of project going ahead. And it’s very, very timely with the rental crisis and our rapidly-growing population.

The 113-metre tower will look completely different to anything else in Canberra, with a 100 percent glazed façade. The amenities are spectacular and the views will be breathtaking
<cite>Geocon Managing Director Nick Georgalis</cite>
</blockquote>

Stage one has already sold 70 percent of its available units and stage two will start an expression of interest campaign in April.

Geocon says the entire development will include terrace houses, an amphitheatre, 'Melbourne-style' laneway shops, boutique office space, climate-controlled wine cellars, a wellness centre, spa, sauna, snow fountain, yoga and meditation spaces, concierge services, a kids wonderland and a landscape sky park with BBQ facilities.

Retail facilities will include a supermarket and the project will have good access to bus services from the nearby in Cohen Street.

The tower which will become the new tallest building for Canberra will rise in stage 2

<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/republic_belconnen3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New lanes will be implemented in Republic. Planning Image"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/republic_belconnen3.jpg?itok=MZQy3M7v" title="New lanes will be implemented in Republic. Planning Image" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New lanes will be implemented in Republic. Planning Image</figcaption></figure>
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The tallest building in the nation's capital gets the nod, starts construction

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The Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz and the local member for Williamstown Wade Noonan opened a new development designed specifically for women and children escaping family violence.

The development saw an existing set of seven units replaced with 9 x 1 bedroom units and 11 x 2 bedroom units; the building will be managed by <a href="http://womenshousing.com.au">Women's Housing Limited</a>, a specialist community provider which focuses on housing for women over 55 and victims of family violence.

Finance for the development was provided as a grant through the Victorian Property Fund which in turn is funded through licensing fees and fines paid by estate agents and conveyancers.

Rents in the units capped at 30 percent of a household's income and according to WHL's website other eligibility criteria include tenants must not own or part-own property elsewhere, must have less than $30,000 in assets and have Australian citizenship or permanent residency status.

The Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz said "Women and children escaping family violence often face the immediate challenge of finding a new home.  That's why we have stepped in to fund these units that are safe, secure and that will help rebuild lives."

<blockquote>
The Labor Government provided a $5.6 million grant from the Victorian Property Fund (VPF) to Women’s Housing Limited to build the units.

Tenants for the new development will come from the public housing waiting list. To make them affordable, rent will be set at a maximum of 75 per cent of market price, or 30 per cent of a household’s income.

The units are located close to health and community services, public transport, shops and schools, and have been designed to meet at least a 6-star energy efficiency rating. This includes features to reduce energy and water consumption, helping to keep utility bills low.
</blockquote>

Other projects that have received grants from the <a href="https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/clubs-and-fundraising/funded-services-and-grants/victorian-property-fund-grants">Victorian Property Fund</a> include the City Gate conversion project which will see 32 studio, 5 x 1 bedroom, 11 x 2 bedroom and 2 x 3 bedroom units added to the community housing stock in St Kilda.

Likewise, Housing Choices Australia received a $4.9million grant from the VPF to finance conversions and new developments in Dandenong and Williamstown.
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Newport housing for victims of family violence opens

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The progressive diversification in the nature of employment that happens in Abbotsford might get a boost with a new planning application before Yarra City council.

Across Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford, many existing semi-industrial streets are seeing a progressive diversification of employment space and the latest proposal before the council would see that trend continue, albeit on a slightly larger scale compared to more recent small-street commercial developments.

The planning application currently displayed on Yarra City Councils website seeks permission for the proponent to build an 8 level plus 1 basement office building which will include a total of 2878sqm of commercial office space.

Architects CHT have designed a building to have a ground level break-out space and the basement level would see double the amount of bike spaces than car spaces.

The ground floor will also include 60sqm of retail space and the building will include standard end-of-trip facilities including showers, lockers, a bicycle repair station and disabled toilet facilities.

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
The proposed development comprises an eight (8) storey building with a maximum parapet height of 30.2m, with lift overrun protruding an additional 1.7m.

The development proposes a contextual architectural response resulting in an elegantly crafted building that will set the benchmark for future development within the area. The building is apportioned into two primary components.

The podium form presents to Marine Parade as a 3-storey form, consistent with the existing 2-3 storey datum present along the southern side of Marine Parade. At 3 storeys the building can be read as a logical transition from the 1-2 storey residential properties along the northern side of Marine Parade.

The proposal seeks to enhance what is otherwise an uninspiring area through the incorporation of a highly glazed café tenancy and double-height commercial lobby. The glazed vertical street frontage juxtaposed against framed horizontal glazing reinforces the existing commercial character of the southern side of the street.

The character of the area is further reinforced at ground level through a series of punctuated glazed recesses set behind the street frontage. Above podium the building is appropriately set back to provide for a clear distinction between the lower and upper proportions of the building.

The elegantly crafted angular glazed fagade treatment sets a catalyst for the benchmark for future architectural quality within the area. To the rear of the development the corresponding angular design reinforces the architectural language of the building while capturing distant views of the Yarra River Corridor environs.
<cite>proUrban Town Planning report</cite>
</blockquote>

According to project documents lodged with the City of Yarra, the development has an estimated cost of construction value of $10,000,000.

<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/marine_ode_abbotsford_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="1E Marine Parade, Abbotsford - image: CHT Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="278" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/marine_ode_abbotsford_1.png?itok=mlPb3FNG" title="1E Marine Parade, Abbotsford - image: CHT Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1E Marine Parade, Abbotsford - image: CHT Architects</figcaption></figure>Project team:

<ul>
<li>Proponent: NewBart Investments Pty Ltd </li>
	<li>Architect: CHT Architects</li>
	<li>Urban Planner: Pro Urban</li>
	<li>Traffic Consultant: Ratio</li>
	<li>ESD Consultant: GIW Environmental Solutions</li>
	<li>Waste Management Consultant: Ratio</li>
</ul>
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Abbotsford's small-street commercial market set to expand

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In November 2017 City of Stonnington received amended plans for 671 Chapel Street wherein the architect for the project, Architecton, has reduced the overall height of the building which in turn has reduced the overall amount of dwellings planned for the project.

Originally lodged with Council during 2015 with 30 levels and 352 apartments, the amended plans would see 671 Chapel Street weigh in at 21 levels with a total dwelling count of 158. The 2015 proposal had an average of 12 apartments per floor, although the amended plans will see this figure average out at  9 apartments per floor.

The amended proposal maintains a rooftop garden, plus 2,940 square metres of commercial space.

<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/671_chapel_redesign2.png" rel="gallery-all" title="671 Chapel Street, South Yarra redesign - image: Architecton"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="378" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/671_chapel_redesign2.png?itok=sYggrfC9" title="671 Chapel Street, South Yarra redesign - image: Architecton" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>671 Chapel Street, South Yarra redesign - image: Architecton</figcaption></figure>The Stonnington Leader reported that the scale of the proposal had changed after consultation with council staff, and that the latest amendment received 30 objections. The amendment was approved by Stonnington council early in February with a 5-2 vote, however that did not stop one councillor airing his disapproval through the local newspaper.

Councillor Matthew Koce, one of the two no votes, in reference to the project located adjacent to Melbourne High School and its overall prominence in the area, told the Stonnington Leader "Melbourne High is meant to be a castle on a hill, it’s turning more and more into a sand castle."

Nonetheless proponent Lantern River Pty Ltd has gained the right to deliver the tower.

<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/capitol_grand_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Capitol Grand's lift cores now well and truly above street level - image: UM 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/capitol_grand_1.jpg?itok=LJNPIJXL" title="Capitol Grand's lift cores now well and truly above street level - image: UM user redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Capitol Grand's lift cores now well and truly above street level - image: UM user redden</figcaption></figure>South Yarra's Forrest Hill precinct has seen intensive development over more than a decade with one of its largest buildings, Capitol Grand located just down the street from 671 Chapel Street, attracting intense interest on the <a href="/news">Apartments.com.au Forum</a>.

Capitol Grand will be the first 'skyscraper' (a building with a roof height over 152.4 metres (that's 500 feet in the old money) outside Melbourne's CBD, Southbank, St Kilda Road or Docklands precincts.

Seen above is the latest construction image of Capitol Grand, posted by UM user redden, dated early March.
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671 Chapel Street gets a redesign, approved by Stonnington council

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<h2>Comment</h2>

The Premier has announced stage 2 of the latest round of Monash Freeway widening will include thickening the road in the midsection of the road as well as widening the road as far as Cardinia Road.

Curiously, widening works will mean outbound lanes from Warrigal Road to Eastlink will go from 4 to 5 lanes but the inbound widening from 4 to 5 lanes will only occur from Eastlink to Springvale Road. 

The second half of the old Berwick bypass section will be widened from Clyde Road to Cardinia Road on the Pakenham bypass section of the road from 2 to 3 lanes in each direction as part of stage 2 which has now been submitted to Infrastructure Australia for approval. 

O'Shea Road, a collector in Berwick South will be duplicated and extended to the Beaconsfield interchange as well.

It is well documented that Victoria (and Australia for that matter) does not have an effective demand management system or pricing regime on roads - every vehicle class pays the same level of registration and effectively the road network is a free-for-all when it comes to motorised travel - and therefore pressure is relentlessly piled on to expand major roads every 5-10 years thanks to induced demand and a growing outer south-east population.

Road planners clearly only see a need for road widening in the central part of the road, between Warrigal Road and the South Gippsland FWY interchange - the city end of the road is left untouched in this round of expansion.

With that in mind, if the perceived need is confined to such a focused area, why are we reaching for the road expansion political playbook and not looking at alternatives?

The central part of the Monash Freeway runs right through, you guessed it, the Monash employment and innovation cluster, the same area which the Victorian Planning Authority is working on a specialised structure land-use plan.

Even the most ardent public and active transport campaigners recognise roads can have productive non-commuting uses that just cannot be shifted to an alternative mode but in the context of no demand management policy, a significant amount of our road network at different times of the day is filled with single-occupant cars.

<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/space_emissions_institute_sensible_transport_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Emissions and space required for different forms of transport - image: Institute for Sensible Transport"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="407" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/space_emissions_institute_sensible_transport_0.jpg?itok=pvWlNzcr" title="Emissions and space required for different forms of transport - image: Institute for Sensible Transport" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Emissions and space required for different forms of transport - image: <a href="https://urban.melbourne/sustainability-environment/2018/03/17/transport-emissions-and-space-we-have-transition-targets-one-not-other">Institute for Sensible Transport</a></figcaption></figure>We're yet to see the detail of the VPA's work on the Monash cluster and what it might look like over time, however, all signs are pointing to a greater concentration of employment uses in the area.  If you start with the mindset that most people are going to continue to drive to this area, the thickening of the Monash Freeway through the central portion of the road makes sense.

The other major arterial slicing through the region is, of course, the Pakenham/Cranbourne rail lines which are seeing enormous amounts of investment, as Spring Street would hasten to point out, however we're yet to see if the new Turn-Up-And-Go (TUAG) service the state government has been spruiking for the rail line after all the projects are complete will be useful for people who don't live or work in the centre of the city.

Sure, the Melbourne Metro Tunnel will connect the western suburbs and the south eastern suburbs with a one-seat journey and will facilitate growth in the west, however the eastern side of the metropolitan area is where the majority of Melbourne's population currently lives and therefore a lot of the heavy passenger lifting will be done on the eastern section of the new metro line.

The metro tunnel + level crossing removals + new High-Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) + new signalling &amp; power infrastructure programme will unlock capacity in stages right up until the final one when the metro tunnel opens - with even more capacity on the horizon after the metro tunnel opens with a subsequent set of projects to lengthen platforms in order for 10 car trains to eventually run on the line.

But surely we can trial alternatives to never-ending freeway widening by rethinking rail feeder services?

There's scant talk of turning bus routes - whether existing or those that could be altered - into operations that compliment the TUAG nature of the new metro line. 

If passengers are forced to make two service changes in a single journey, such as bus-train-bus, the rule of thumb appears to be to shut down that kind of talk in Melbourne. 

Yet look at the new paradigm and the rail network - frequencies and passenger carrying capacity is going up - are we not about to enter into the best possible situation to at least trial a proper, high frequency rail and bus network in the middle and outer suburbs which we know are going to see more residential and employment growth?

Look at the success of bus routes when they are made more frequent (and focused) between Huntingdale station and Monash University - surely within the context of the Monash employment cluster framework, many more of these high-frequency &amp; short bus routes will need to be deployed?  
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The Monash Freeway widening juggernaut rolls on, has anyone in government thought of alternatives?

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They say a picture speaks a thousand words and in this case, it really does.  The following infographic was produced by the <a href="https://sensibletransport.org.au/">Institute of Sensible Transport</a> and shared through the Public Transport Users Association's facebook page.

It breaks down the emissions produced per person-kilometre travelled as well as the amount of space required for an occupant on a scale from dirtiest to cleanest from an emission's perspective.  And while a picture may speak a thousand words, it's worth writing a few hundred words about it.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
This terrific diagram from <a href="https://twitter.com/ElliotFishman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ElliotFishman</a> compares emissions and space consumption for different transport modes.  <a href="https://t.co/EQPWwaJJQY">pic.twitter.com/EQPWwaJJQY</a>
— PTUA (@ptua) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/ptua/status/974109029348724737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Anything that operates on electricity from the grid at present will have varying degrees of 'dirtiness' lurking over any respective green image due to much of our electricity produced through fossil fuels despite a transition to more renewable generation being added to the grid.

By the end of 2018, Victoria will likely have another gigawatt (1000MW) of grid-connected renewables either completed or under construction which will increase renewables in the mix as there are no fossil fuel generators under development.

Some of these projects include the 530MW <a href="https://www.stockyardhillwindfarm.com.au/">Stockyard Hill</a> wind farm located west of Ballarat, the 226MW <a href="http://www.murrawarra-windfarm.com/">Murra Warra</a> wind farm located north of Horsham and recently reached financial close, the 100MW <a href="https://numurkahsolarfarm.com.au/">Numurkah solar farm</a> and the 110MW <a href="http://www.bannertonsolarfarm.com.au/">Bannerton Park</a> solar farm located near Robinvale.  There's over 3 gigawatts worth of Wind Farms that have received <a href="https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/wind-energy/wind-projects">ministerial approval or are in the process of being assessed</a>.

Bannerton Park and Numurkah grabbed headlines last year when it was announced they were both the successful renewable energy projects that tendered for the Yarra Trams power contract.

As the national grid sees more and more renewables connected, the emissions per person-kilometre travelled will decrease - we're very much on that journey right now.

<h2>For cities, the emissions problem is on the way to being solved, but what about space?</h2>

In a few decades, we might reach the point where all electricity generation in Victoria and indeed across the country has transitioned to renewable generation and storage as well as all new cars, trucks and buses are either powered by electricity or a fuel produced by renewable energy such as <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-08/worlds-largest-solar-and-wind-hydrogen-plant-proposed-for-sa/9526706">hydrogen</a>. 

It's really not hard to envision that future with wind and solar now among the cheapest forms of new generation and likewise, storage technology price reductions are driving growth at the grid level and in detached dwellings and businesses.

We have targets at the Federal and State level that have focused investment in renewable energy generation - the South Australian Labor party even announced a storage target during its election pitch - however we don't have city, state or national transport mode share targets for cities.

At a precinct level we're starting to see targets - case in point, Fishermans Bend is aiming to have 80% of all trips to, from and within handled by sustainable modes of transport (walking, cycling, public transport), but nothing at a city or state-wide level.

In the context of a Melbourne &amp; Sydney that are predicted to have their populations increase to 8 million by the middle of the century through increased densities, should we not have targets for our cities to shift away from space-hogging private transport to more space-efficient public transport and active transport modes?

 
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Transport emissions and space - we have transition targets for one but not the other

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A new organisation to represent the interests of existing businesses in Fishermans Bend has launched. 

The registered association, Fishermans Bend Business Forum, sees itself as the body for local businesses already operating in Fishermans Bend, and it has eight priorities it wishes to engage with both local and state governments.

According to the forum's rules of association, their  purpose for bring includes:

<ul>
<li>Providing businesses located in the Fishermans development precinct with a unified voice </li>
	<li>To engage with political decision-makers at the federal, state and local level to deliver real results for our members and the broader business community </li>
	<li>To provide opportunities for members to network and collaborate in improving individual businesses and the local economy </li>
	<li>To tackle issues that impact on members’ business and ensure that they are on the public policy agenda</li>
	<li>To work with developers, transport authorities, planners and investors to ensure quality outcomes that are conducive to good business outcomes for the Fishermans Bend precinct</li>
</ul>
Speaking with Apartments.com.au, interim executive officer David Weston said the new forum was awarded a small grant to build a database of existing businesses - so far the forum has identified 338 businesses and they estimate there are another 100 in the wider Fishermans Bend Area.

Like many individuals and organisations who have made a submission to the Fishermans Bend planning review process, the Fishermans Bend Business Forum, is pushing for government to invest in the public transport initiatives sooner.

Of particular concern is the Employment Precinct - the forum believes there are many businesses already operating in the area that will require large amounts of car parking, regardless of a transitionary period and that without the heavy rail component of the integrated transport plan, the forum believes some of the mode share targets will not be achievable.

The cement terminal in Fishermans Bend is a highly strategic piece of state infrastructure as much of the state's cement passes through it and with each ship which docks there, that generates up 30 truck loads on Lorimer Street.

Lorimer Street is set to have a significant focus for cycling and the forum believes more work needs to be done in this area given the strategic importance of the cement terminal &amp; the truck trips it will generate and the potential conflict this will have with an on-road cycling network.

The forum also would like to see an economic impact assessment completed with regards to businesses transitioning out of the area. The cement terminal is one of many pieces of infrastructure in the area that might come under pressure for transitioning and the forum believes it would be in the public interest to assess the impacts on a wider range of businesses possibly transitioning out of Fishermans Bend.

The Fishermans Bend Business Forum will be launched at Pier 35 tonight (March 15th) where the chair of the Fishermans Bend Ministerial Advisory Committee Meredith Sussex will also speak on the Government's vision for the area.
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New Fishermans Bend Business Forum launches

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

Joel Robinson

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

Sherpa Group has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at Flourish Soleira in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with Flourish Amargo, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Alastair Taylor

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