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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

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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."

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Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Alastair Taylor

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