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This week's focus on Melbourne's hotspots of development leads us to Carnegie which is currently seeing significant public investment through the level crossing removal programme on the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines. Laila Residences is an example of one the <a href="/buildings/laila-residences-7-11-belsize-avenue-carnegie">modern developments</a> in Carnegie. 

Carnegie sees no less than <a href="/new-apartments/carnegie-vic-3163">28 projects</a> on the Apartments.com.au project database ranging from 'Goldilocks' (RGZ) zone-scale development to the much larger scale - the latter especially on sites lying to the north of the railway line.

The 9 level crossing removals that are currently underway between Caulfield and Dandenong see three distinct zones of work:  Noble Park (now complete), Clayton (the section most likely to open next) and Carnegie, Murrumbeena and Hughesdale.

The railway line is being elevated between Caulfield and Oakleigh and with that three new stations are being built to replace existing stations.  The end-game is that there will be no level crossing between the City and Dandenong eventually, paving the way for higher frequency services that will eventually link directly to the Melbourne metro tunnel.

And it's in the context of the Melbourne Metro project and the omnipresent Caulfield campus of Monash University that often draws owner-occupiers and investors into Carnegie. 

Thanks to a permanent express stopping pattern from Caulfield to South Yarra - and one that is likely to be maintained but just diverted to the new ANZAC (née Domain) station and then onto Town Hall (née Flinders Street) through the Melbourne Metro tunnel - trains from Carnegie are timetabled to arrive at Flinders Street 15-16 minutes later when they run direct.

Contrast this with <a href="/news/moonee-ponds-apartment-scene-in-focus">Moonee Ponds</a> which, as the crow flies, is 6-7km from the city versus Carnegie at 12km: the direct train journey to Flinders Street from Moonee Ponds is timetabled for 16-17 minutes.

<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/murrumbeena.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Station canopy modules have begun to appear one stop down the line at Murrumbeena - image: LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="459" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/murrumbeena.jpg?itok=Aabph4VD" title="Station canopy modules have begun to appear one stop down the line at Murrumbeena - image: LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Station canopy modules have begun to appear one stop down the line at Murrumbeena - image: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/levelcrossings/photos/?ref=page_internal">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure>Dissecting the project pipeline in Carnegie, there are 10 projects under construction, 8 at sales and the remaining 10 projects either approved or currently with Glen Eira council for planning assessment.

With a very strong pipeline where over a third of the projects in the suburb being under construction, points to a great deal of new rental supply likely to come online as projects transition to completion.

For buyers there's plenty of choices - not just with the current number of projects that are actively being marketed but also with the pipeline of projects still to come.

Carnegie is one of the three main enclaves of 'Goldilocks' zone in the City of Glen Eira.  The others are Bentleigh and Elsternwick.

The 'Goldilocks' zone is how we colloquially refer to the Residential Growth Zone.  It's not too cold ('suburban'/under development), not too hot (30 level towers next to suburban backyards), but just right: new buildings that can introduce a mix of uses on the ground floor with up to 3 more residential dwelling levels above.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!4v1519262743508!6m8!1m7!1sztSxeSIGtheRD9eXt-BrjQ!2m2!1d-37.88896834209392!2d145.056283217642!3f336.0481383140882!4f8.806939711911198!5f0.7820865974627469" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe>Check out the full list of Carnegie projects on the database below.
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Alastair Taylor

Carnegie's apartment scene in focus

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Construction is set to commence on the Genton-designed refreshed Frankston station this month which is set to include new public plazas and walkways. McGregor Coxall have worked with Genton during the design phase, accounting for the station's new landscape architecture features.

<a href="/architects/genton">Genton Architecture</a> was announced as the winner of the design competition in March 2017 and Spring Street has announced it has awarded the build contract to an alliance led by John Holland and KBR.

The design competition was chaired by the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, the registrar for the competition was Stephen Varady and the jury empanelled for the design competition unanimously chose Genton's design from a total of 39 entries.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority will have oversight of the project and will coordinate work with the nearby Skye/Overton Road level crossing removal work site.

The Frankston railway line, on the authority's website, will see 13 level crossing removals in total and purportedly create 2000 jobs during the construction phase and combined with the new Frankston station will near $2 billion in rail investment in the corridor.

<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDanielAndrewsMP%2Fvideos%2F1682850271779502%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="100%"></iframe>

Frankston also has a small, yet tidy, non-transport development pipeline with a total of 7 projects - 2 commercial projects and 5 residential projects located in the Frankston Activities District or on its periphery.

Further up the line there is a scattering of projects on the section of the railway line which runs parallel to Port Phillip south of Moordialloc with <a href="/new-apartments/chelsea-vic-3196">Chelsea</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/edithvale-vic-3196">Edithvale</a>, and <a href="/new-apartments/seaford-vic-3198">Seaford</a> all registering a few projects each.

The section of the line between <a href="/new-apartments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> and Caulfield is where the bulk of new development is occurring in this section of Melbourne when we isolate rail corridors.

Between <a href="/new-apartments/cheltenham-vic-3192">Cheltenham</a> station and Southland Shopping Centre, there are 13 projects with the bulk of them being assessed by Kingston City Council.

Between Southland Shopping Centre and <a href="/new-apartments/highett-vic-3190">Highett</a>, there are 14 projects with 4 under construction and 6 actively being marketed.

In the immediate vicinity of <a href="/new-apartments/moorabbin-vic-3189">Moorabbin</a> station there are 6 projects and reflecting their position closer to the city, <a href="/new-apartments/bentleigh-vic-3204">Bentleigh</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/mckinnon-vic-3204">McKinnon</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/ormond-vic-3204">Ormond</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/glen-huntly-vic-3163">Glenhuntly</a> stations have a combined 31 projects in the pipeline.

See below for the list of projects in Frankston on the Apartments.com.au Project Database.
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Construction kicks off on new Frankston Station

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Long gone are the days when Eddie McGuire was helping out with the marketing of Mondo Tower on the Footy Show - back then it was the tallest residential tower proposed outside of central Melbourne. These days Moonee Ponds joins the likes of Box Hill in not needing specialist marketing to get projects off the ground.

Moonee Ponds - one of the Melbourne suburbs that the publishers of Melway street directories decided was important enough to warrant its own close-up red-border maps in later versions of the local map bible - is blessed with a distinct street-grid area that has for much of its life see a range of commercial/retail uses.

The ATO was drawn to Moonee Ponds during the 80s (note also that the ATO has tenanted a new office tower in Box Hill), Mirvac built a sub-regional shopping centre there in the early 2000s and the guardians of the Moonee Valley Racecourse - distinct from other racecourses in that it doesn't sit on crown land - have ambitious aspirations to re-work the course into a diversified precinct.

<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/masonsq.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Mason Square - 40 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="406" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/masonsq.jpg?itok=_gLfb0S3" title="Mason Square - 40 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Mason Square - 40 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds</figcaption></figure>As I mentioned in the <a href="/guides/weekly-podcast-episode-3-central-melbourne-design-guide-box-hill-and-skyrail">most recent episode of the weekly podcast</a>, we have an endless fascination with Box Hill and the eye-popping amount of development proposals it has racked up - the same can be said for Moonee Ponds.

On the numbers, Box Hill has 31 projects on the Apartments.com.au Project Database compared to 25 in Moonee Ponds.  

Moonee Ponds like Box Hill also has a good range in terms of scale of development either proposed or under construction. On the old market site, Caydon is building at the upper end of the scale, well and truly dwarfing Mondo in height and number of apartments. 

Yet there are also a lot of smaller developments happening on the periphery of Moonee Ponds' activities district.

<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/350_ascot.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="350 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="380" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/350_ascot.jpg?itok=T3_9XFFr" title="350 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>350 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds</figcaption></figure>Projects such as <a href="/buildings/350-ascot-vale-road-moonee-ponds">350 Ascot Vale Road</a> are common on the periphery of central Moonee Ponds, so too are projects such as <a href="/buildings/nue-21-norwood-crescent-moonee-ponds">Nue</a> on the other side of the Craigieburn railway line and <a href="/new-apartments/moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Queens Quarter</a> located on Pascoe Vale Road just outside central Moonee Ponds.

Apartments.com.au editors have noticed some new site works occurring recently on the 33 Hall Street site - a long time after the original retail + rooftop car parking building that once inhabited the site had been demolished. Expected is a 14 level apartment tower.

Looking forward, we are waiting to see more detail on the Moonee Valley Racecourse redevelopment.

The new vision for the racetrack <a href="https://www.thevalley.com.au/news/2017-11-22/the-valley-of-tomorrow">was unveiled during November 2017</a> however it only focused on the equestrian facilities - in previous iterations, the racecourse would have seen a large number of residential buildings added to the area.

And there are still a large number of open-air car parks in the activities district - <a href="/news/are-standalone-supermarkets-and-small-retail-centres-in-our-suburbs-ripe-for-increasing-housing-supply">could Woolworths do an Aldi and redevelopment them</a>?

Lead image: <a href="/buildings/9-shuter-street-moonee-ponds">9 Shuter Street</a>.
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Moonee Ponds' apartment scene in focus

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Last week Public Transport Victoria unleashed a torrent of data concerning punctuality and cancellation figures for Melbourne's train network with the Frankston line bestowed with the unfortunate title of train line with the most cancellations.

I understand the public interest value of this data - it's a way of holding operators (and the government) to account - however I wonder about the efficacy of this going forward, given the stated aim of Metro 1 to operate on a turn up and go basis.

'Turn up and go' (TUAG) is a concise way to convey: trains will run that frequently so you don't need to structure your journey around a timetable, you need only rock up to a station and a train will arrive relatively quickly. 

It is the rolled-gold standard of train operations in cities and in some cases Melburnians can do it already with how our network bunches lines at certain points which in turn creates high frequency of service. 

Between South Yarra and the City, between Burnley and the City, between Footscray and the city, between Clifton Hill and the city - these are the areas where it's very much possible to simply turn up and go outside of peaks and on weekends under existing operational timetables.

However, as stated on many occasions by the state government, the entire Pakenham/Cranbourne-Sunbury line - as they claim - will become a TUAG line - meaning frequencies are set to increase and given the lack of any other clarifying statements to the contrary, we are lead to believe frequencies will be better than they are now in off-peak and weekend periods.

<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/schematic_stage_2_after_melb_metro.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Line frequencies in peak after Metro 1 is complete - PTV Network Development Plan 2013"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="437" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/schematic_stage_2_after_melb_metro.png?itok=l5F5LgO-" title="Line frequencies in peak after Metro 1 is complete - PTV Network Development Plan 2013" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Line frequencies in peak after Metro 1 is complete - PTV Network Development Plan 2013</figcaption></figure>We know that as part of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel (Metro 1) project that there are several 'wider network enhancements' budgeted for which will see stations like Westall, West Footscray, Essendon and Cheltenham have new train turn-back facilities either built as new or upgraded to allow for shorter runs on their respective lines, thus increasing frequencies in the parts of the network which have or are expected to shoulder a heavier load.

But will measuring punctuality or cancellations mean much when the government wants us to effectively ditch living our lives by a train timetable?  Should it?

The new cross-town line created by the Metro 1 tunnel will have a dedicated train fleet which, from the outset, will be able to carry more passengers when you compare one trainset to any other type running on the network.

Likewise, when the Metro 1 opens for passengers, these former 'City Loop' lines will only have to interact with 1-2 Vline trains in any given hour (Bendigo Vline on the Sunbury side, Gippsland Vline on the Pakenham side) as well as the odd freight train, presumably only outside peak hours.

This contrasts with their respective &amp; current interaction with the Frankston (and Sandringham on weekends) on the Pakenham/Cranbourne side and the Craigieburn &amp; Upfield lines on the Sunbury side on top of the Vline and freight services.

Under the operational regime once Metro 1 opens and the fleet which operates Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury lines is transferred to other lines, the Frankston, Craigieburn, Upfield, Werribee, Williamstown and Sandringham lines will all be in the same boat: either less interaction with other train lines or outright operational changes. 

In short, the infrastructure will support having a higher frequency of timetable updates and will allow trains on those other lines to run more frequently - the Metro 1 project doesn't just selectively benefit two narrow corridors of Melbourne's Metropolitan area, it actually benefits the majority of Melbourne's rail lines.

<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/mm-web-20171204-benefits.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Stated line benefits from the Metro Tunnel website - www.metrotunnel.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mm-web-20171204-benefits.jpg?itok=7bZi1lIQ" title="Stated line benefits from the Metro Tunnel website - www.metrotunnel.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Stated line benefits from the Metro Tunnel website - www.metrotunnel.vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>For instance, the Werribee/Williamstown line, according to the <a href="/news">PTV's network development plan from 2013</a>, will join in gunzel matrimony, the Frankston line will get sole use of the existing loop tunnel that it currently shares with Pakenham/Cranbourne and the Craigieburn and Upfield lines and likewise, Craigieburn and Upfield services will - naturally - not have to fight for space in the current loop tunnel that it shares with Sunbury.

All of them are going to see significant peak increases therefore according to the 2013 network development plan, in peak times at least, and the TUAG-factor on these lines will be enhanced just like the Metro 1 line.

So taking into account all of the above, should the train operator of the day be judged based on the average frequency it provides on specific lines? 
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When Metro 1 opens, will punctuality figures become redundant?

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In this week's wrap:

<ul>
<li>City of Melbourne's Central Melbourne Design Guide</li>
	<li>Noble Park and "skyrail"</li>
	<li>Box Hill &amp; it's intense development</li>
	<li>HomesVic.</li>
</ul>
With apologies around the 2 minute mark, it's not always nice living in Brunswick where you can live under the flight path of choppers!

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/400338993&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Weekly Podcast: Episode 3 - Central Melbourne Design Guide, Box Hill and Skyrail

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Agenda item 6.1 at the upcoming Future Melbourne committee meeting at City of Melbourne includes <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/MeetingAgendaItemAttachments/805/14437/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.1.pdf">a meaty document</a> that seeks to reshape the way new CBD and Southbank developments are composed, and similarly how they're presented to all of us on the footpath.

One of the main outputs in the amendment process is to include a Central Melbourne Design Guide which outlines through imagery what, in the council's view, are acceptable and avoidable built-form outcomes.

The report's opening statements characterise the amendment thus:

<blockquote>
Amendment C270 specifies minimum setbacks from streets and laneways, building separation requirements and overshadowing and wind requirements in two types of precincts, defined as Special Character Areas and the General Development Area.

It also introduced density controls, comprising a floor area ratio threshold with public benefits.

It did not consider the interface of buildings with the street, public realm and architectural quality, which is the focus of Amendment C308
</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/fut_melb_comm_308.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Land affected by amendment 308 - image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="558" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fut_melb_comm_308.png?itok=JiPqkWrr" title="Land affected by amendment 308 - image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Land affected by amendment 308 - image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Amendment 308 proposes to replace the existing Design and Development Schedule 1 (DDO1) with a new schedule that would include mandatory requirements including:

<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>car parking in buildings within the Hoddle Grid to be underground (in line with current practice)</li>
	<li>car parking in buildings within Southbank must be sleeved with active uses and configured to be adaptable to future uses (including floor to ceiling heights)</li>
	<li>less than 40 per cent of the ground floor of a building to be occupied by building services to reduce blank facades along streets</li>
	<li>the existing Retail Core requirement for 80 per cent active frontages to main streets and streets is to be expanded to encompass the Specia</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

The new schedule to the DDO will also list outcomes that should be avoided by describing building examples which are not desirable 'as they cumulatively detract from a high-quality public realm'.

A key recommendation in the supporting synthesis report listed in the amendment documents is to create a Central Melbourne Design Guide to provide clarity for Planners, Applicants and the Community to understand the elements of the policy.  

The design guide, attached to the amendment documents, would be integrated as a reference document within the City of Melbourne's planning scheme which would repeat the wording of the proposed new Schedule 1 to the Design and Development overlay with clear graphic explanation and would use sketch and precedent images to 'clearly articulate preferred outcomes as a guide for design negotiation'.

<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/com_design_guide.png" rel="gallery-all" title="A snapshot from the Central Melbourne Design Guide - image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="668" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/com_design_guide.png?itok=diJdF9fh" title="A snapshot from the Central Melbourne Design Guide - image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A snapshot from the Central Melbourne Design Guide - image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>At the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on the 20th of February, City of Melbourne management are seeking endorsement to then request the authorisation of the Planning Minister to prepare and exhibit Amendment 308 to the Melbourne Planning Scheme.

Click <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/committees-meetings/meeting-archive/MeetingAgendaItemAttachments/805/14437/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.1.pdf">here</a> to read the full document suite.  The Central Melbourne Design Guide starts on page 176 of 259.
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City of Melbourne's amendment 308 seeks to implement a new central city design guide

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The first of the new elevated stations on the Caulfield-Dandenong corridor has opened to passengers with the Premier, Public Transport Minister and local members on hand to officially re-open Noble Park station.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
A new era dawned at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoblePark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoblePark</a> this morning! Thanks for your patience during these <a href="https://twitter.com/levelcrossings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@levelcrossings</a> works. 
There will be some access changes in and around the forecourt and station precinct at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoblePark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoblePark</a> as works continue. Details: <a href="https://t.co/78RkXTctmt">https://t.co/78RkXTctmt</a>. <a href="https://t.co/l706NXtalk">pic.twitter.com/l706NXtalk</a>
— Metro Trains (@metrotrains) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/metrotrains/status/963950068968579073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

The opening of the new section of elevated track and station is the start of multiple level crossing removal completions slated to come to a close by the end of the year in the Pakenham/Cranbourne line rail corridor.  It's likely (albeit unconfirmed) that Clayton will be the next section to open given the large amount of work still to be completed in the Caulfield-Oakleigh section.

When the elevated sections of track have been completed it will mean there will be no level crossings between the city and Dandenong and when the South Gippsland Highway, Hallam South Road and Clyde Road get underway, there will only be 8 level crossings remaining on the Pakenham branch and 2 remaining on the Cranbourne branch.

The 9 remaining Pakenham branch level crossings are Webster Street in Dandenong, Progress Street in Eumemmering, Webb Street in Narre Warren, Station Street in Beaconsfield, Brunt Road and Station Street in Officer, Cardinia Road in Lakeside as well as McGregor Road and Main Street in Pakenham.

The final 2 Cranbourne branch level crossings are Greens Road in Dandenong South and Camms Road in Cranbourne - Evans Road near Merinda Park is technically a level crossing but the road is blocked at the Cranbourne railway line.  

Abbots Road and Thompson Road level crossings on the Cranbourne branch are currently being removed.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
More sky rail <a href="https://t.co/VO3iFJQJVA">pic.twitter.com/VO3iFJQJVA</a>
— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/963878183392002048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

The re-opening of Noble Park comes on the same day that almost two decades worth of punctuality and service cancellation data was released by Public Transport Victoria.

Interestingly, the Frankston line has seen the most cancellations and if you've watched the tweeted video above, there's some enthusiastic support for 'skyrailing' Frankston from at least one passenger who was recorded in the background.

The data dump is an interesting development, as <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/when-it-comes-to-train-cancellations-frankston-line-fares-the-worst-20180214-p4z0bm">The Age reports</a>, it's Spring Street fulfilling a promise when the new operator contracts were signed.

Having the data is wonderful, but what hasn't happened, yet at least?  A release of a full-scale long-term Public Transport network development plan which is designed to improve the infrastructure which impacts cancellations and punctuality but also provides a clear vision on where new infrastructure will be built over the coming decades. 
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The new Noble Park station opens for passengers

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Unveiled in 2017, Frasers Property is now inviting expressions of interest to design, construction and operate the rooftop garden/farm in what seeks to be world's most sustainable shopping centre at Burwood Brickworks.

According to its <a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/retail/vic/burwood-brickworks/urban-farm">enquiry</a><a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/retail/vic/burwood-brickworks/urban-farm"> page</a>, the project is chasing accreditation under the <a href="https://living-future.org/lbc/">Living Building Challenge</a> which would result in the Burwood Brickworks the most sustainable shopping centre in the world.

<blockquote>
The aim is to create an internationally recognised agricultural project on an urban scale unprecedented in Australia, promoting sustainability through fresh produce, education and events. It will strive to strengthen the link with nature and reconnect people with the food they eat.

Design of the space is still at concept level and we are seeking a partner to collaborate with in delivering:

<ol>
<li>glasshouse of ~800 m²</li>
	<li>landscaped grounds of ~1,000 m².</li>
	<li>co-located restaurant/café/event space ~350 m²</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/retail/vic/burwood-brickworks/urban-farm"><cite>Frasers Property</cite></a>
</blockquote>

Following a community consultation session in October and November 2014, The City of Whitehorse adopted a master plan in January 2015.  The master plan was devised by Frasers Property - then known as Australand - that in turn resulted in the council drawing up <a href="http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Amendment-C170">amendment C170</a>. 

The amendment saw the 20.5 hectare site rezoned with Residential Growth Zone - schedule 3, Commercial Zone 1, Neighbourhood Residential Zone - schedule 5 and a development plan overlay applied to the land affected.

The master plan envisioned up to 950 dwellings on the site in typologies ranging from detached houses to apartments in 6 level buildings, plus the shopping centre.

In 2016 a development plan was drawn up and opened for community consultation in February of that year.  The development plan went before Whitehorse City Council in July 2016 and was approved subject to various conditions. 

Construction is slated to start in mid-2018.

<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/burwood_brickworks_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Burwood Brickwork's rooftop garden &amp; farm - image: Frasers Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="405" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/burwood_brickworks_2.jpg?itok=EKmeb-cT" title="Burwood Brickwork's rooftop garden &amp; farm - image: Frasers Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Burwood Brickwork's rooftop garden &amp; farm - image: Frasers Property</figcaption></figure>The Burwood Highway between Middleborough Road and Deakin University's campus is zoned Residential Growth Zone and there are multiple developments on the Apartments.com.au database that stand to benefit from the existing and to-be-built amenity on the brickworks site.

Collectively the 6 projects include potentially up to 266 new units in the short strip which fronts the #75 tram route on Burwood Highway.

See below for a list of other residential projects in the area.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/retail/vic/burwood-brickworks/register">Frasers Property</a>
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Frasers Property invites EOI to design, construct & operate its rooftop farm at Burwood Brickworks

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The State Government has today launched its HomesVic scheme which was foreshadowed back in March 2017 and is designed to make it easier for those eligible to buy their first home with a 5% deposit.

The pilot scheme will see the state government taking a proportional beneficial interest of up to 25 percent in eligible applicant's properties.  The pilot is being financed with a $50 million fund announced last year.

While the scheme has been launched today, applications for the scheme open at 9am on Monday 19th February.

<blockquote>
HomesVic will take a proportional beneficial interest of up to 25% in the property, and eligibility will target applicants with incomes of up to $75,000 for singles, or up to $95,000 for couples or families.

Buyers will need to contribute at least 5% of the acquisition price from genuine savings and be able to cover all acquisition costs in addition to that contribution to the acquisition price.
<a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing/buying-a-house-in-victoria/homesvic"><cite>HomesVic</cite></a>
</blockquote>

As the scheme is a pilot, there are only 400 places and first home buyers are encouraged to apply as quickly as they can once the applications option.

According to a state government media release, the areas where the pilot will be available include 85 Melbourne suburbs, 130 regional towns and suburbs and 7 peri-urban towns. 

The scheme will only apply in the priority areas and in certain dwelling typologies - for instance, in Box Hill, <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing/buying-a-house-in-victoria/homesvic/preferred-locations">the scheme will not apply to houses but will apply to townhouses and apartments</a>.

Eligible candidates for the pilot will need to submit to an annual review of their circumstances and the <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing/buying-a-house-in-victoria/homesvic/am-i-eligible">eligibility criteria</a> are somewhat robust, examples include:

<ul>
<li>Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent resident status and have been residing in Victoria for the past two years.</li>
	<li>Entities (companies, trusts or other bodies) are not eligible - you must be a 'natural person' and must not be related to or associated with the vendor of the property being purchased.</li>
	<li>Applicants must not be earning more than $75,000 per annum (for singles) or more than $95,000 where there are multiple incomes combined.</li>
	<li>You must not have owned property in whole or in part prior to applying for the pilot (legally or beneficially).</li>
	<li>The property can be existing or off the plan and must be a standard residential property (apartment, townhouse or house) and located in a designated area.</li>
	<li>Prospective buyers must seek loan approval from a panel financial institution (<a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing/buying-a-house-in-victoria/homesvic/panel-financial-institutions">Bank Australia and Bendigo Bank for the pilot</a>) before the government will begin to assess the pilot.</li>
	<li>Buyers must have a new (no refinance) principle and interest loan, maximum duration is set at 30 years and the home loan can be a variable or fixed-rate.</li>
	<li>The home loan must have either an offset account or a redraw facility and the amount of the principle and interest loan payments at the commencement of the home loan cannot exceed 37% of the total taxable income of the applicant(s).</li>
</ul>
For more information &amp; eligibility criteria, visit www.homesvic.vic.gov.au
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HomesVic launched, applications open Monday 19th of February

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In this week's podcast I'm joined by Laurence Dragomir and we talk about the Melbourne's development by tram series, RMIT's New Academic Street, <a href="/news/leonard-teplin-discusses-whats-next-for-melbournes-property-market-in-2018">Laury's interview with Leonard Teplin</a>.

Ps. I'll try to not talk as fast next time!

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/397190265&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>

 
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Weekly Podcast: Episode 2 - Development by Tram, RMIT NAS and Leonard Teplin

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

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]

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.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> 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 <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> 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 <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, 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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

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]

Alastair Taylor

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