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Planning Minister Richard Wynne has released the long-awaited <a href="http://haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/better-apartments">Better Apartments draft design standards</a> and with its release, the final round of public consultation has kicked off ahead of a scheduled December 2016 introduction timeframe.

The draft design standards set out "to address the specific apartment design and amenity issues raised through public consultation". They are broken down as follows:

<ul>
<li>Building setback</li>
	<li>Light wells</li>
	<li>Room depth</li>
	<li>Windows</li>
	<li>Storage</li>
	<li>Noise impacts</li>
	<li>Energy efficiency</li>
	<li>Solar access to communal open space</li>
	<li>Natural ventilation</li>
	<li>Private open space</li>
	<li>Communal open space</li>
	<li>Landscaping</li>
	<li>Accessibility</li>
	<li>Dwelling entry and internal circulation</li>
	<li>Waste</li>
	<li>Water management</li>
</ul>
At a media conference held in a 1 bedroom, 48 square metre apartment in Lendlease's 888 Collins Street, the Minister was keen to emphasise the draft design standards are intended to focus on enabling good design.

<blockquote>
The key areas that the community told us that need to be changed were to ensure that you actually get natural light into the building, that you get decent ventialiation into the building that you have sound attenuation in the building and that you have storage in the building as well.

And if you look at say, the apartment we're in now, a Lendlease apartment, you'll see that it doesn't have a minimum size like Sydney - which has 50 sqm for a 1 bedroom mandated - this is actually a 48 square metre apartment which I think achieves and in fact improves upon the standards that we are putting in place.
<cite>Planning Minister Richard Wynne</cite>
</blockquote>

For the record, here's a floorplan of the apartment the media conference was held in.

<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/888_floorplan1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="888 Collins Street, 1 bedroom: 48sqm internal, 6sqm external. Source: REA Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="295" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/888_floorplan1.jpg?itok=8nIElet3" title="888 Collins Street, 1 bedroom: 48sqm internal, 6sqm external. Source: REA Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>888 Collins Street, 1 bedroom: 48sqm internal, 6sqm external. Source: <a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-docklands-123290410">REA Group</a></figcaption></figure>When pressed about minimum apartment size standards, the Minister ruled them out.

<blockquote>
We will not be mandating minumum sizes because we want to ensure that good design is a part of the solution to ensure that we get quality developments. This is about offering flexibility, and the opportunity for developers to respond to the guidelines that we are putting in place.
<cite>Planning Minister Richard Wynne</cite>
</blockquote>

Another question from the media pack: "What's going to stop developers from going even smaller?"

<blockquote>
The opportunity for is obviously there, but the market will drive these outcomes. When we came to government and I came to this ministry, many of the applications that were coming before me were in fact for 1 bedroom apartments, but the market has entirely shifted.

We've now got 1, 2, 3 and indeed 4 bedroom apartments and this of course is reflected in the fact now that the government is going to have to look [to build] a school in Docklands, because families are now taking up the opportunity of apartment-style living.
<cite>Planning Minister Richard Wynne</cite>
</blockquote>

See the Better Apartments overview and Better Apartments Draft Design Standards on <a href="http://haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/better-apartments">DELWP's website</a>. The deadline for submissions is 5pm, September 19, 2016.

As always, Apartments.com.au is also interested in community and industry comment. Use the comment section below or email the editors: editor@urban.melbourne
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Alastair Taylor

Spring Street releases long-awaited draft apartment design standards

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Three consortia have been shortlisted and are now in the running to secure the right to build the new Melbourne Metro Rail tunnel and underground stations.

The Premier and Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced the shortlisted bidders at a media conference on Thursday morning. The three consortia are comprised of the following organisations:

<ul>
<li>Continuum Victoria: <a href="http://www.acciona.com.au/">ACCIONA Infrastructure</a>, <a href="http://www.faaunz.com.au/en/">Ferrovial Agroman</a>, <a href="http://www.honeywell.com/">Honeywell</a>, <a href="http://www.downergroup.com/">Downer EDI</a> and <a href="http://plenarygroup.com/">Plenary Organisation</a>.</li>
	<li>Cross Yara Partnership: <a href="http://www.lendlease.com/expertise/what-we-do/engineering/">Lendlease</a><a href="http://www.lendlease.com/expertise/what-we-do/engineering/"> Engineering</a>, <a href="http://www.johnholland.com.au/">John Holland</a>, <a href="http://bouygues-construction.com.au/">Bouygues Construction</a> and <a href="http://capellacapital.com.au/">Capella Capital</a>.</li>
	<li>Moving Melbourne Together: <a href="http://www.cimic.com.au/our-brands/pacific-partnerships">Pacific Partnerships</a>, <a href="http://www.cpbcon.com.au/">CPB Contractors</a>, <a href="http://www.ghella.com/en/">Ghella</a>, <a href="http://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/">Salini Impregilo</a>, <a href="http://www.serco-ap.com.au/">Serco</a> and <a href="http://www.macquarie.com/au/about/company/macquarie-capital">Macquarie Capital</a>.</li>
</ul>
On top of announcing the shortlist, the Premier furthermore announced that the Metro tunnels will be built utilising six 100 metre long, 1,000 tonne, tunnel boring machines.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T1HFLQa4-qY" width="100%"></iframe>

According to the accompanying media release, three large shafts are to be excavated in the CBD in order to prepare for the launch of the tunnel boring machines and station pits.

Shortlisted bidders for the private-public partnership (PPP) component of the project will be asked to submit formal proposals early next year with the contract expected to be awarded in 2017 and tunnelling commencement due in 2018.

<h2>In case you missed it</h2>

The Melbourne Metro Authority published an <a href="http://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/locations/interactive-map">interactive map</a> of the project which provides a high-level overview of the entrance, concourse and platform at each station.

Avid readers might recognise that the walk-through is simply re-using some of the static images that have previously been published.

Alas, it's a start. Here's hoping that once the architectural designs have been set in stone and sent to the planning minister for approval, then the static images are done away with and fully interactive models are published in their place. (It's quite easy to publish models where users can enter first-person mode to explore these days, see <a href="https://sketchfab.com/models/fead337069164dcabc41fb211417581f">here for an example</a>).

<a href="http://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/locations/interactive-map">Happy exploring.</a>
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Three consortia shortlisted to build largest component of the Melbourne Metro Rail project

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Set to open in 2018, the construction for Victoria's first vertical school has begun with the Premier, Minister for Education James Merlino and local member Martin Foley turning the first sod of soil and launching a new state government authority that will oversee building of new, and upgrade of existing local schools and early childhood centres.

Designed by <a href="http://www.hayball.com.au/projects/south-melbourne-primary-school/">Hayball</a>, the P-6 South Melbourne Primary School, located on Ferrars Street, will have five levels with open space on each level according to a Victorian Government media release.

<blockquote>
On a compact inner urban site of 5000m2, it will be located in the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area which is expected to grow to 80,000 residents over the next 40 years.

Involving the development of a new model for school and community, a key innovation is the unprecedented integration of shared school and community facilities. As well as a government primary school for 525 students, the project includes an early learning centre, administration, multi-purpose community rooms, a recreation hub (indoor netball courts) and associated amenities.
<cite><a href="http://www.hayball.com.au/projects/south-melbourne-primary-school/">Hayball's description</a> of the new South Melbourne Primary School</cite>
</blockquote>

To read more about the project, see the new <a href="http://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/Pages/Schools/South-MelbourneFerrars-St.aspx">Victorian School Building authority's website</a>.

Select an image below to view the larger renders of the new school, originally posted on the Premier's Facebook feed.
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Victoria's first vertical school to rise in South Melbourne

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Foreshadowed recently <a href="/news/red-black-interviews-the-ceo-of-infrastructure-victoria-part-1">in an interview with Michael Smith</a>, Infrastructure Victoria - as part of one phase in its community consultation process - empaneled two citizens juries to "give a voice to the people" as CEO Michel Masson put it, and the authority has now <a href="http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/">released the metro and regional</a> jury reports.

<blockquote>
Michael Smith: How does this [citizens juries] work? What have they been deciding upon?

Michel Masson: We were very keen to ensure that in process of the developing the 30-year infrastructure we had depth and breadth in the consultation. This was about real, genuine engagement, not just an exercise in ticking a box. The citizen jury is a very interesting way to give a voice to the people. It was fundamental to have the right tool, the right mechanism to have the community express their views.

We’ve created two citizen juries – one in metropolitan Melbourne and another in regional Victoria which is based in Shepparton. These citizen juries are two groups of 40-ish people which have been randomly selected but statistically representative of regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne.

They spend six Saturdays meeting every few weeks and work like a court jury. Each jury has the opportunity to call on experts on a range of issues- from former treasurers, experts in transport planning, specialist in schools or education and so on – in order to gather evidence.

At the same time they are going through all of the options which we tabled. At the end of the process, they will deliberate and provide their recommendations.

<cite>Extract from Michael Smith's <a href="/news/red-black-interviews-the-ceo-of-infrastructure-victoria-part-1">interview</a> with Michel Masson, CEO of Infrastructure Victoria</cite>
</blockquote>

Throughout the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/download_file/view/898/1">metro jury report</a>, a system of various endorsement ranks (or strengths) as well as a priority system (high, medium, low) is used to provide high-level guidance on the metropolitan jury's recommendation on each 'need' and the various areas of focus within each category. Each recommendation and priority is accompanied with a summary of the jury's deliberations.

In contrast to the metro jury report, the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/download_file/view/899/1">regional jury</a> used a system whereby each juror was given five votes to rank infrastructure priorities. This has had the effect of creating a list of priorities ranked from highest to lowest. The regional jury report also expands on why recommendations were made along with other pertinent information.

The 'needs' and various options that went before the juries were originally outlined in the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/download_file/view/900/1">'All Things Considered'</a> report which summarised the feedback Infrastructure Victoria had received in response to its initial public consultation round. And comparing the popularity of some of the transport projects in the 'all things considered' report with the jury recommendations ought to make any populist politician - or political party preparing the platform for the 2018 election - sit up and take notice.

In the all things considered report, the Doncaster heavy rail line (ranked number 6 out of 24) and Rowville heavy rail line (ranked number 13 out of 24) appear in the "most frequent expressions of support" yet in the metro jury report, both options are not supported. The jury report gave this explanation: "the jury recognises that although there is strong community support for these options, Infrastructure Victoria has indicated that they are very high cost and long lead-time options".

The metro jury did provide one caveat, saying "the jury would like to note that these options were not exhaustively researched and that jurors didn't have sufficient opportunity to consider these options".

One area that there appears to be (furious!) agreement between the feedback as outlined in the all things considered report and the metro jury is on bicycle and walking path expansion and improvement. In all things considered this is the number one most frequent expression of support and in the metro jury report, 'Need 4: Enable physical activity and participation - Active Lifestyle Infrastructure Provision' has strong endorsement and high priority.

<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/metro_citizens_jury_active_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="From the metro citizen jury report (page 15)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="665" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/metro_citizens_jury_active_1.png?itok=j9o5vhEA" title="From the metro citizen jury report (page 15)" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>From the metro citizen jury report (page 15)</figcaption></figure>While I am more than happy to give Infrastructure Victoria the full benefit of the doubt in the way it selected the regional jury, I detected a slight anomaly while sifting through the regional jury report.

The regional jurors met in Shepparton and they also provided a list of the towns and cities they come from. If you drew a line from Melbourne to Bendigo and then on to the state border near Kerang and another line from Melbourne along the peaks of the alps to the state border at Wodonga, the regional jurors came from this north-central part of the state.

Like in a courtroom jury, we, the public, should trust that the jury made the right decision - or in this case recommendation - yet one can't help but feel there's a borderline worrisome location bias inherent in the recommendations.

The location bias becomes quite apparent when high-speed rail from Melbourne to Sydney is #5 on the regional jury's priority list (this kind of project will benefit regional Victorians in the aforementioned north-central region the most) and the 'Regional Rail eastern corridor dedicated rail track' that would benefit Gippsland the most, is opposed owing to cost.

In a publicly funded scenario (in the regional jury's defence, it does recommend considering privately funded options for high-speed rail), perhaps the most costly piece of transport infrastructure for the state (or federal) government to build would be high-speed rail line to Sydney!

This in and of itself shouldn't be cause for trashing the entire process, nor the regional jury's recommendations as they currently stand, but perhaps it highlights that there can't just be one jury for all of regional Victoria: there would need to be many, should citizens juries be empaneled in future to deliberate on updates to the state's infrastructure strategy.

<h2>Further reading</h2>

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/download_file/view/898/1">Metropolitan citizen jury report</a>. Pay particular attention to the introduction if you're still unsure of exactly what these citizen reports are all about.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/download_file/view/899/1">Regional citizen jury report</a></li>
</ul>
P.S. Infrastructure Victoria: in future, if you could record and publish any audio/video testimony experts give to the juries, it would be a sure-fire way to maximise even greater community engagement.
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Infrastructure Victoria releases metro and regional citizen jury reports

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It shouldn't surprise anyone that new development is to form part of the level crossing removal projects.  After all, it was only a few short years ago that the City of Glen Eira became the first council to implement the reformed planning zones.

Glen Eira is the now infamous council that got in first, locked up a <a href="http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/document-resources/planning/amendment_c110_print_pdf_for_web.pdf">significant amount of its territory with the new neighbourhood residential zone</a> and then proceeded to explain that it will help share the population growth of metropolitan Melbourne by focusing development into the small-scale residential growth and "high street-focused" commercial-zoned areas throughout the municipality.

North Road at Ormond station, where <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/highrises-to-soar-over-suburban-stations-to-help-fund-level-crossing-removals-20160725-gqd3gi">The Age reported</a> high-rises "at up to 13 levels" could be developed as part of a value capture mechanism, fits right into this zoning scenario. 

<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/glen_eira_ps_map_2_zones.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Screen grab from the Glen Eira planning zone maps - source"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="525" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/glen_eira_ps_map_2_zones.png?itok=ID4E5mKL" title="Screen grab from the Glen Eira planning zone maps - source" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Screen grab from the Glen Eira planning zone maps - <a href="http://planning-schemes.delwp.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/179591/gleneira02zn.pdf">source</a></figcaption></figure>As seen above, the railway corridor is zoned Public-use Zone 4 (PUZ4) - which is the general land zoning for transport uses - and Commercial Zone 1 (<a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/vpps/34_01.pdf">C1Z</a>) and Mixed-use Zone 1 (MUZ1) are either side of the rail line on North Road.

The more pertinent question is: how will the land created by decking over the trench at railway station be re-zoned?  Will it be a simple matter of "painting" the new parcel the same colour as those on either side of the railway corridor?

Looking for an example of where a high-rise has fit into a high street setting?  Look no further than in another part of Glen Eira, near Elsternwick station.  

The Element Elsternwick building, as seen in the Google Streetview below, was completed only a few years ago and has 11 levels - zoned C1Z.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sau!4v1469441620821!6m8!1m7!1s6xExM6bhgbskm6E9KwNGQw!2m2!1d-37.88404509925087!2d144.999036727457!3f279.6438614110223!4f8.763110863798616!5f0.7820865974627469" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>Glen Eira snapshot</h2>

Alan Davies, <a href="https://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2016/07/26/is-13-storeys-too-much-for-the-suburbs/">writing on his blog yesterday</a>, calls into question whether "the suburbs" is a useful idea anymore, pointing to the housing make-up of the suburb of Ormond:

<blockquote>
At the <a href="http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/SSC21057?opendocument&amp;navpos=220" target="_blank">2011 Census</a>, only 48.8% of occupied dwellings in the suburb of Ormond were separate houses, down from 50.5% in 2001. Flats, units or apartments made up 35.8% of the housing stock and townhouses made up 14%.
</blockquote>

And looking at Glen Eira more broadly, the development pipeline points to the apartment figures rising substantially.

We are currently tracking 72 projects in Glen Eira - combined, they have 3045 dwellings between them.  The average number of floors in the development pipeline is a very unsuburban-like 4.6 with two proposals in Carnegie having 11 and 12 floors.

Consequently, these two proposals are located in Carnegie's C1Z and MUZ1 north of the railway line.

Back over in Ormond, there are four proposals - which combined have 120 dwellings - along North or Grange Roads.  Two of those proposals are in GRZ1 (both 3 floors), one in C1Z (6 floors) and the remaining proposal in MUZ1 (5 floors).  

The two Carnegie and four Ormond proposals are linked below.

One of the top developments in Carnegie is <a href="/buildings/laila-residences-7-11-belsize-avenue-carnegie">Laila Residences</a>. 
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Context matters: Glen Eira's level crossing removals & 'value capture' redevelopment

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Melbourne's Tullamarine airport <a href="http://melbourneairport.com.au/news-events/listing/overview/melbourne-airports-2015-16-passenger-traffic-results">published its latest passenger numbers</a> on July 20th and announced it had achieved 5.1% passenger growth in the financial year ending June 30. This comprised 9.5% in international passenger growth compared to the same time last year and 3.7% passenger growth in the higher volume domestic segment.

At June 30th 2015, 32,192,000 passengers either originated or terminated a trip at Tullamarine's terminals and a further 122,000 transited at Melbourne to weigh in with a financial year 2015 total of 32,314,000 passengers.

Contrast this with the financial year just finished: 33,876,000 origin/destination passengers - made up of 9,165,000 international and 24,711,000 domestic trips - and coupled with a further 91,000 transiting passengers, the financial year to June 30 2016 total 33,967,000 passengers.

That's 1,684,000 more passengers that will have needed to travel to or from the airport terminals, compared to last year. All of those transfers/last mile trips will have taken placed on roads: on SkyBus, smart buses, private cars, taxis, Uber, town car services or shuttle buses. And that's only the passengers, never mind the legions of people who work at or near the airport precinct.

Aviation passenger statistics have peaks and troughs - at different times of the year and at different times of the week - for simplicity's sake by dividing the year-on-year growth number by 365 days in the year, we come up with an average of 4,613 new passenger trips along the Tullamarine Freeway, Airport Drive or Bulla Road.

But what is it going to be like in 10 years if similar growth continues?

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport &amp; Regional Economic's <a href="http://bitre.gov.au/statistics/aviation/index.aspx">aviation statistics</a>, in the past decade Melbourne airport has no recorded a negative calendar year of passenger growth. We've had two years of slow growth (1.3% in 2009 and 1% in 2011), however we have had on average 4.73% passenger growth each year since 2006. (See the data <a href="http://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/files/WebAirport_CY_1985-2015.xls">here</a>).

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Calendar Year</th>
			<th scope="col">Projected passenger growth 4% p.a.</th>
			<th scope="col">Projected passenger growth 2% p.a.</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2016</td>
			<td>34,101,000</td>
			<td>33,446,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
			<td>35,465,000</td>
			<td>34,114,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
			<td>36,884,000</td>
			<td>34,797,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
			<td>38,359,000</td>
			<td>35,493,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
			<td>39,894,000</td>
			<td>36,203,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021</td>
			<td>41,490,000</td>
			<td>36,927,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
			<td>43,149,000</td>
			<td>37,665,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
			<td>44,875,000</td>
			<td>38,418,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
			<td>46,670,000</td>
			<td>39,187,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>2025</td>
			<td>48,537,000</td>
			<td>39,981,000</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* The above passenger projections are based on BITRE's 2015 Calendar year figure of 32,790,000 (rounded to nearest thousand) with 4% and 2% per annum growth scenarios accordingly.

Both growth scenarios above - the high growth scenario representing less than the average which has occurred over the past decade - paint a picture of Melbourne airport seeing between 40 and 49 million passengers either originating or terminating their trip at Tullamarine.

And all of these passenger trips through the airport terminals are going to be dependent on the road network.

The <a href="http://citylinktullawidening.vic.gov.au/about">Citylink-Tulla widening project</a> that is set to add an extra freeway lane from the West Gate Freeway all the way out to the airport is set to be complete and the short-term road capacity unlocked in 2018.

The <a href="http://melbournemetro.vic.gov.au/resources/business-case">Melbourne Metro Rail project</a>, which according to its <a href="/news"> business case documents</a> is a dependent project for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, is not set to be complete until 2024.

Assuming a best case scenario where the planning, approvals, tendering and financing of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link were to occur in the latter stages of the Melbourne Metro Rail project's construction phase, so that construction can start in earnest soon after the Melbourne Metro Rail project is complete, we'd be looking at a rail link to Melbourne opening sometime in or after 2027 assuming a quick three year turnaround for construction of the Airport Rail Link.

10+ years from the time the new freeway capacity is unlocked (I give it, maximum, five years before we're back to the same congested status quo, just with higher volumes of traffic) to when a potential rail link would open is enormous. And risky from a congestion point of view; not just at the airport, but on many other segments of the Tullamarine Freeway.

The roar of engines on their take-off roll is only going to increase in frequency, yet this relentless passenger growth, both current and projected, is met with silence on providing real structural change in the way we interface with the airport.

Tick, tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://railgallery.wongm.com/skybus/E114_2168.jpg">wongm's rail gallery</a>
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Tick tock: Melbourne airport records 5.1% FY16 passenger growth

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Construction watchers rejoice: Victoria's Level Crossing Removal Authority is catering to your every desire through the prolific use of its facebook page.

Whilst locals have the opportunity to <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/frankston-line-level-crossings-massive-voids-draw-crowds-to-three-stations-20160714-gq64bk">peer into the massive construction site</a> on the Frankston line, at Bentleigh, McKinnon and Ormond stations, for those of us not in the neighbourhood, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/?fref=ts"> authority's facebook page</a> is turning out to be a useful tool.

Fresh off the digital camera is the lead image above - posted earlier this morning; a photo overlooking the new station pit at Bentleigh with the three platforms well underway and now clearly visible.

<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/bentleigh_lxra2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bentleigh Station building preparation works - 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/bentleigh_lxra2.jpg?itok=3idVfVRi" title="Bentleigh Station building preparation works - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Bentleigh Station building preparation works - image <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/?fref=ts">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure> 

Seen above is the opposite view from the lead image.  The caption on the LXRA's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/ms.c.eJxFjdkNRDEIAztacZlA~;409LSjx72g8VhVEeyC1TQQ~;vaBhcK8L~;AyIfCCtUFlKY4EQTFT9Aqtp4L3YRpE0ZmJGY6L9orpRd4K~;cYRGrhEE85LnAzlBL8g~-.bps.a.1084549324953085.1073741848.843601892381164/1105493459525338/?type=3&amp;theater">facebook page</a> reads "preparing the Bentleigh concourse for the station building".

<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/bentleigh_lxra3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The trench south of Centre Road - 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/bentleigh_lxra3.jpg?itok=Sv2kxTNe" title="The trench south of Centre Road - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The trench south of Centre Road - image <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/ms.c.eJxFjdkNRDEIAztacZlA~;409LSjx72g8VhVEeyC1TQQ~;vaBhcK8L~;AyIfCCtUFlKY4EQTFT9Aqtp4L3YRpE0ZmJGY6L9orpRd4K~;cYRGrhEE85LnAzlBL8g~-.bps.a.1084549324953085.1073741848.843601892381164/1105493372858680/?type=3&amp;theater">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure> 

In the most recent update, posted this morning, the shot below shows construction at McKinnon is well advanced with the new lift and ramp structures well on their way.

<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/mckinnon_lxra1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="McKinnon station platforms advancing through their construction phase - 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/mckinnon_lxra1.jpg?itok=A6OOPwwG" title="McKinnon station platforms advancing through their construction phase - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>McKinnon station platforms advancing through their construction phase - image <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/ms.c.eJxFjdkNRDEIAztacZlA~;409LSjx72g8VhVEeyC1TQQ~;vaBhcK8L~;AyIfCCtUFlKY4EQTFT9Aqtp4L3YRpE0ZmJGY6L9orpRd4K~;cYRGrhEE85LnAzlBL8g~-.bps.a.1084549324953085.1073741848.843601892381164/1105493286192022/?type=3&amp;theater">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure> 

And another angle on McKinnon station - this time of the platforms under the new McKinnon Road bridge.

<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/mckinnon_lxra2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="McKinnon station's new platforms - 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/mckinnon_lxra2.jpg?itok=fgfzY-VQ" title="McKinnon station's new platforms - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>McKinnon station's new platforms - image <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/ms.c.eJxFjdkNRDEIAztacZlA~;409LSjx72g8VhVEeyC1TQQ~;vaBhcK8L~;AyIfCCtUFlKY4EQTFT9Aqtp4L3YRpE0ZmJGY6L9orpRd4K~;cYRGrhEE85LnAzlBL8g~-.bps.a.1084549324953085.1073741848.843601892381164/1105493176192033/?type=3&amp;theater">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure> 

And over in the west, the new Ginifer station had its first lift installed.

<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/ginifier_lxra1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ginifer station site - 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/ginifier_lxra1.jpg?itok=w8pifYcg" title="Ginifer station site - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ginifer station site - image <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/a.973297856078233.1073741840.843601892381164/1102533806487970/?type=3&amp;theater">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure>​

Not content with simply taking photos from ground level, there are aerials aplenty as well - below is the Blackburn station site, posted last week.

<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/blackburn_lxra.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An aerial overview of the Blackburn level crossing removal site - image LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/blackburn_lxra.jpg?itok=r6cr2UOl" title="An aerial overview of the Blackburn level crossing removal site - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An aerial overview of the Blackburn level crossing removal site - image <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/a.1100272346714116.1073741854.843601892381164/1100923066649044/?type=3&amp;theater">LXRA</a></figcaption></figure>To keep up to date with all the construction right around the metro, simply like the Level Crossing Removal Authority's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/

And here's some specific links to the various albums on the authority's page.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1084549324953085">Bentleigh, </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1084549324953085">Ormond</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1084549324953085"> and McKinnon</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=921405267934159">Main Road, St Albans</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=973297856078233">Furlong Road, St Albans</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1100272346714116">Aerials - Blackburn</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1100873993320618">Aerials - Bayswater</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1100992856642065">Aerials - Heatherdale</a>
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The level crossing removal information & picture blitz

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The University of Melbourne in partnership with the Victorian Government is set to build a new Melbourne Conservatorium of Music next door to the Melbourne Recital Centre on Sturt Street in Southbank.

Located in an area that has seen a large amount of cultural and media investment in the past decade, the new Conservatorium will be built adjacent to the VCA campus at 33 Sturt Street on land currently owned by the Victorian Government.

The University of Melbourne is set to enter into a long-term lease of the public land and the development is valued at $105.5 million. The Victorian Government is tipping it will generate $350 million for the state.

The architect responsible for the design as depicted above, John Wardle Architects, has this to say of the new MCM on its <a href="http://www.johnwardlearchitects.com/projects/project/99-melbourne-conservatorium-of-music">website</a>:

<blockquote>
Outwardly focused and inviting, the MCM aims to balance the singular concentration required of students with the camaraderie of engaging with others. The building makes a place to rub shoulders with fellow music students, and the artistic milieu of the wider campus and precinct.

Multiple vantage points in the new MCM allow for appreciating the inner workings of music education. The learning and rehearsal spaces, both small and large, are interspersed with bell-shaped portholes, hinged panels and disguised windows that generously exhibit the activity within. A large oculus window into the ground floor orchestral rehearsal space unlocks the traditional vault of music education to reveal its inner realm.
<cite>John Wardle Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>Ding dong, another surface car park is gone</h2>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sau!4v1468367686941!6m8!1m7!1sKWtXGkUNZkkW1jLxImYPkA!2m2!1d-37.8244742252453!2d144.9670398691161!3f54.15733323072226!4f3.503894875492847!5f1.1924812503605782" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe>

Currently wasting away as a surface car park, the site, located opposite the ABC and one of the original gated communities of Southbank, will also feature a new public space that will link Dodds and Sturt streets.

The new public space will be framed by the overhanging 400-seat auditorium which will protrude southwards from the seven + mezzanine level building.

In a media release the Deputy Premier, James Merlino, said "the Conservatorium will bring students from around Victoria, Australia and the world, giving them the skills for the rest of their career. Southbank is already home to an extraordinary concentration of top calibre arts training facilities, as well as the best art galleries and performance venues in the country."

The new Conservatorium is set to open for students in 2019.
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Southbank to host new Melbourne Conservatorium of Music

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The Premier along with the Minister for Public Transport this morning announced major work will begin on the grade separation projects on the Dandenong rail corridor.

The Dandenong rail corridor will be grade separated between Caulfield and Dandenong by way of three separate elevated sections of new track.  The elevated lines will, for the most part, be constructed whilst the existing railway continues to operate.

As shown in the Level Crossing Removal Authority's video below, the elevated sections of track consist of piers built beside the existing track and a large gantry system will slide pre-fabricated sections of rail guideway into place between each pier.

Contained within a media release, the Government also announced that as part of the grade separation project, all 30 stations on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line will have their platforms extended as well as receive a new power and signaling system.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lGtIIDAgwi4" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>Comment</h2>

Ever since the Andrews Government came to power, Public Transport announcements have tended to focus solely on electorate-friendly, digestible milestones - such as this latest one.  And you can be forgiven for forgetting about the bigger picture.

The Melbourne Metro Rail project, improving existing infrastructure (level crossing removals), lengthening existing platforms to support a new dedicated fleet of longer trains, new duplicated track to Melton, a new signalling system that will likely leapfrog 2-3 technology generations and a new power system are all key components that will make up a metro line from Pakenham and Cranbourne in the South East through to Sunbury in the North West, and Melton in the West once that line is electrified.

What still hasn't been confirmed by the government is, actually, the thing that really matters: what type of service levels can we expect and how will it scale as each new component in the bigger picture comes online?

Longer trains running on the Pakenham/Cranbourne line seems to suggest that frequencies will stay much the same after the Dandenong corridor grade separation project is completed but capacity will increase thanks to the larger trains.  

Moreover, once the Melbourne Metro tunnel is complete, we know that stations like West Footscray and Westall are likely to see targeted investment in new platforms that will allow trains to run in shorter segments, thus increasing frequencies where it is needed. 

There is an indicative service plan contained within the Melbourne Metro documents, however the shorter-term picture for services after the level crossing removals is not clear.  

Providing a robust service plan, with key milestones indicating when and where frequencies will increase, should be top priority for the elements of PTV that are headed into the new Transport for Victoria.  

We ought to be informed of service plans, and their adaptations over time, because it is a powerful determiner and signal to both the residential &amp; commercial development industry and apartment buyers on when and where to invest.

Lead image credit: <a href="http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media-library/news/major-works-start-soon-on-caulfield-to-dandenong-elevated-rail-line">levelcrossings.vic.gov.au</a>
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Major work on the Dandenong corridor grade separations to start in August & comment

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The Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan has announced that current Myki operator NTT Data has been awarded a new seven year, $700 million, contract to operate Victoria's public transport ticketing system.

In a media release distributed on Tuesday morning, the Minister stated "this is a stronger contract that provides a better deal for Victoria and paves the way for major improvements to myki. It provides stronger performance requirements and will deliver better value for money by ensuring any unanticipated costs are borne by the operator - not taxpayers".

The Minister also stated that the government will "immediately begin investigating new contactless technology, including the ability for passengers to touch on and off with their credit card or smart phone".

No timeframe for the implementation of new access technology was provided however this new aspect of Myki 2.0 builds upon the marked improvements made to fare gates at central Melbourne and select suburban stations; the reduction in time it takes for online topups to credit to a Myki account; and the speed improvements to Myki readers on trams.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/myki_vix_gates_springvale.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New Myki gates at Springvale Station. Image Marcus Wong"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/myki_vix_gates_springvale.jpg?itok=o5rmXx1x" title="New Myki gates at Springvale Station. Image Marcus Wong" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New Myki gates at Springvale Station. Image <a href="https://railgallery.wongm.com/myki/F110_1946.jpg">Marcus Wong</a></figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

Famed for its Oyster smartcard system, implemented last decade, Transport for London (TfL) now <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/other-methods-of-contactless-payment">offers a myriad of payment options</a> that utilise contactless technology either through smart phones or smart phone accessories.

TfL accepts payment through apps that utilise Apple Pay (launched through ANZ in Australia) and Android Pay (imminent launch by ANZ and Westpac in Australia) as well as local payment methods such as utilising mobile phone credit through the UK Vodafone network.

If I were to create a wishlist for Myki 2.0, it would include the same depth of payment options as TfL's repertoire. Access should also be granted to the public transport network through the use of Bank-issued Visa Paywave and Mastercards Paypass enabled cards.

Notwithstanding the benefits to the Victorians who currently don't have a Myki card, as Melbourne gains more and more interstate and international travellers, allowing them to utilise a wide range of payment options can only be a good thing.

Likewise, bringing non-Myki services like Skybus on to the network should be a priority. An inbound traveller to Melbourne should simply be able to walk off the plane, collect their luggage and then walk on to the bus, swiping their credit/debit card or smartphone in the process and then be on their way.

There would be different fares for Skybus (and no doubt with any future airport rail service) but Myki 2.0 should aim to make access as universal as possible, without the need to have a specific card.

Lead image credit: <a href="http://www.danielbowen.com/2015/12/11/myki-evolution/">"Myki improvements are an evolution, not a revolution" (danielbowen.com)</a>
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Myki 2.0 contract signed, new payment technology to be investigated

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

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

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

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

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