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The Legislative Assembly yesterday agreed to the amendments proposed by the Legislative Council after the third reading of the <a href="http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubPDocs.nsf/ee665e366dcb6cb0ca256da400837f6b/bd7ef38ce1a4b425ca257e6d00170ff2!OpenDocument">Infrastructure Victoria Bill 2015</a>. Once the Governor has lent her signature to the bill, the way will be paved for the creation of Infrastructure Victoria.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
The Parliament passed 5 bills today <a href="http://t.co/V75wHdEdsq">http://t.co/V75wHdEdsq</a> Next they go to the Governor for royal assent <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/springst?src=hash">#springst</a>
— Victorian Parliament (@VicParliament) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/VicParliament/status/639371853727862784">September 3, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Much of the rhetoric to date has centred around Infrastructure Victoria needing to be independent of Government and while the legislation sets out the boundaries of its independence, the seven member board will have a minority of three Department heads as ex officio directors and a majority of four independent directors. The <a href="http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubPDocs.nsf/ee665e366dcb6cb0ca256da400837f6b/BD7EF38CE1A4B425CA257E6D00170FF2/%24FILE/581105exi1.pdf">explanatory memorandum</a> for the bill explains this as follows:

<blockquote>
The inclusion of Department Heads on the board ensures Infrastructure Victoria is able to receive input from the public sector. However, the composition of the board safeguards Infrastructure Victoria's independence by ensuring these Department Heads are a minority of board members
</blockquote>

Infrastructure Victoria will be required to create a 30-year infrastructure strategy which assesses the current state of infrastructure in the state and identifies Victoria's infrastructure needs and priorities over the 30 year period. Furthermore the legislation requires the Government to provide a formal response to the 30-year strategy by creating and then publishing a five-year infrastructure plan within 12 months of Infrastructure Victoria releasing its 30-year strategy.

The Government's response and five-year plan must also identify the priority projects "including an explanation of how the priority projects will achieve the social, economic and environmental objectives stated in the 30-year infrastructure strategy".

Public consultation on the 30-year strategy is enshrined in law requiring Infrastructure Victoria to run a public consultation process when the initial 30-year strategy is drafted and if Infrastructure Victoria subsequently updates the plan in future. Infrastructure Victoria will furthermore be keeping tabs on the Government as the body will be required to publish a report measuring progress against the Government's five-year infrastructure plan in its Annual Report.

In commentary in the Assembly on Thursday, the Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, gave a run down on the amendments the Government was agreeing to.

First amongst the amendments, according to the Minister, was to include clarifying statements in the legislation relation to Infrastructure Victoria needing to research the benefits and costs of infrastructure, not just the benefits.

Secondly the Minister said an amendment moved by the Greens that "requires Infrastructure Victoria to research the impact of climate change on infrastructure, including the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions" had been agreed to. The Minister furthermore said "this research area is indicative rather than prescriptive but it obviously includes the addition of the opportunity to look at the impact of climate change on infrastructure that is being considered".

Other amendments mentioned by the Minister in <a href="http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Assembly_2015/Assembly_Aug-Dec_2015_Daily_3_September_2015.pdf">hansard</a> relate to the requirement that directors sitting on Infrastructure Victoria's board have private sector experience and that Infrastructure Victoria's first 30-year infrastructure must be released by the 31st of December 2016.

<figure><a 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/ivbroc2.jpg" title="A comparison of similar bodies from the Victorian Government's Infrastructure Victoria brochure" class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" rel="gallery-all"><img src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ivbroc2.jpg?itok=BWAlltAB" width="580" height="547" alt="" title="A comparison of similar bodies from the Victorian Government's Infrastructure Victoria brochure" class="image-article-full-width-580px"></a>
<figcaption>A comparison of similar bodies from the <a href="http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/images/documents/Infrastructure_Victoria/Infrastructure_Victoria_brochure_June_2015.pdf">Victorian Government's Infrastructure Victoria brochure</a></figcaption></figure>
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Alastair Taylor

And on the third day... Infrastructure Victoria was born

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Feedback submissions on Spring Street's Victoria's Future Industries: Construction Technologies discussion paper are closing on the 21st of September.

The <a href="http://yoursay.business.vic.gov.au/futureindustries/application/files/4214/4064/6886/9212_DEDJTR_VFI_Construction_Tech_Paper_WEB2.pdf">paper</a> and the subsequent feedback the State Government is inviting will aid in the development of a Victorian construction industry technologies strategy.

According to the discussion paper, the construction sector in Victoria employs almost 240,000 people and contributes 6.7% or $21.6 billion to the States Gross State Product and this includes residential and non-residential construction activity.

<blockquote>
The Victorian Government has identified the construction materials and technologies industries as one of a number of sectors strategically important for the State. Firms in these industries provide inputs into the construction sector, which is both an important enabler in the Victorian economy and a significant sector in its own right.

This paper outlines how the performance of the construction technologies sector might be improved and identifies a number of areas for stakeholders to further consider:

<ul>
<li>Capitalising on Melbourne’s status as the world’s most liveable city.</li>
	<li>Capturing the demonstration benefit from green, smart projects.</li>
	<li>Accelerating the uptake of new materials and technologies.</li>
	<li>The role of government in the take up of Building Information Modelling.</li>
	<li>Establishing Victoria as Australia’s centre of excellence for off-site construction technologies and businesses.</li>
	<li>Utilising the strength of Victoria’s research base for the benefit of the building materials and building technology industries.</li>
	<li>Getting better at exporting and managing the import challenge</li>
</ul>
<cite>Construction Technologies discussion paper - Executive Summary</cite>
</blockquote>

You could be forgiven for having difficulty trying to wrap your head around what a status bestowed on Melbourne by a foriegn economics magazine has to do with improved construction technologies; nevertheless, the other points listed above are bound to invite robust discussion.

To lodge feedback, see the details on <a href="http://yoursay.business.vic.gov.au/futureindustries/construction-technologies">the Business Victoria website</a>.
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Feedback submissions on Construction Technologies discussion paper closing September 21st

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Melbourne's tram network is the largest in the world measured by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tram#Largest_tram_systems">track length</a>.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">City</th>
			<th scope="col">Network Size (track length)</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Melbourne">Melbourne</a></td>
			<td>250km</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharkiv_tram">Kharkiv</a></td>
			<td>232km</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Saint_Petersburg">St. Petersburg</a></td>
			<td>220km</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Berlin">Berlin</a></td>
			<td>190km</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Moscow">Moscow</a></td>
			<td>181km</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Vienna">Vienna</a></td>
			<td>172km</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Despite Melbourne's tram network being larger, Berlin's Straßenbahn network had roughly the same amount of passengers trips as Melbourne and Vienna's network was well ahead of both Melbourne &amp; Berlin in the 2013-2014 period.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Melbourne</th>
			<th scope="col">Berlin</th>
			<th scope="col">Vienna</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>173,400,000 passenger trips</td>
			<td>174,700,000 passenger trips</td>
			<td>293,600,000 passenger trips</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Melbourne">Source</a></td>
			<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Berlin#cite_note-ZP2014-5">Source</a></td>
			<td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Vienna">Source</a></td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Six of Melbourne's 23 routes have more than 10,000,000 passenger trips per annum:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Route</th>
			<th scope="col">Annual Passenger Trips</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>#109 - Box Hill to Port Melbourne</td>
			<td>15,600,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>#86 - Bundoora RMIT to Waterfront City Docklands</td>
			<td>15,500,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>#96 - St Kilda Beach to East Brunswick</td>
			<td>15,400,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>#112 - West Preston to St Kilda*</td>
			<td>12,300,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>#19 - North Coburg to City</td>
			<td>11,400,000</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>#59 - Airport West to City</td>
			<td>10,200,000</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* I assume the data available on Yarra Tram's <a href="http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/who-we-are/facts-figures/">website</a> reflects statistics before the recent route split.

<h2>Did you also know…</h2>

…finding passenger trip statistics for an 'average weekday' on trams, trains and buses in Melbourne is a convoluted and inaccurate process?

Today's strike has taken place during the middle of the day, between the peaks and it is therefore safe to say that we have avoided a proper #trampocalypse - as many on social media are calling and hashtagging it.

However, without access to readily available data on daily passenger trips on trams for more accurate predictions to be made about the effect the strike has had, reports will be vague on the subject.

Prime example: Yarra Tram's paints woefully inadequate picture of patronage numbers on its <a href="http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/who-we-are/facts-figures/">website</a>. "There are approximately 3.5 million passenger trips taken on the Yarra Trams network every week - including more than 500,000 on weekends".

And even then things don't add up.

If we manually total the numbers in the per-route breakdown (the top six are in the table above) we're left with 179,000,000 passenger trips. And yet their statement, located just above the per-route breakdown, on "3.5 million passenger trips per week" would total 182,000,000 if we attempted to arrive at an annual figure (multiply 3.5 million by 52).

PTV's annual report from 2013-2014 states there were 176.9 million passenger trips taken on trams - there's quite a variety of numbers floating about, but no central "single source of truth" that is regularly updated to get a better picture on the state of patronage.

<h2>Editor's pick of today's social media posts</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
Looking north and south from Fed Square <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tramstrike?src=hash">#Tramstrike</a> (ping <a href="https://twitter.com/774melbourne">@774melbourne</a>) <a href="http://t.co/mhLibTtMJW">pic.twitter.com/mhLibTtMJW</a>
— Courtney Carthy (@ccarthy) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/ccarthy/status/636716463475154945">August 27, 2015</a>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
What's wrong with this picture? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tramstrike?src=hash">#tramstrike</a> <a href="http://t.co/zMyjNImvwY">http://t.co/zMyjNImvwY</a> <a href="http://t.co/1s7GAFK5Wo">pic.twitter.com/1s7GAFK5Wo</a>
— The Age (@theage) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/theage/status/636693598520524803">August 27, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/top10?src=hash">#top10</a> ways to get to work during <a href="https://twitter.com/fakeyarratrams">@fakeyarratrams</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TramStrike?src=hash">#TramStrike</a> no 1. Horse and Cart <a href="http://t.co/qTepFZDFzg">pic.twitter.com/qTepFZDFzg</a>
— Hipstergeddon (@hipstergeddon) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/hipstergeddon/status/636658396465205248">August 26, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hipstergeddon">@hipstergeddon</a> No.4. Street Slide. <a href="http://t.co/EJhWnz2vUu">pic.twitter.com/EJhWnz2vUu</a>
— Fake Yarra Trams (@fakeyarratrams) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/fakeyarratrams/status/636663506025099266">August 26, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Lead image credit: Wikipedia.
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Melbourne's tram network: did you know?

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Spring Street via VicRoads on Monday 24th August, invited the community to provide feedback on the future of the <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/planning-and-projects/melbourne-road-projects/punt-road-hoddle-street">Hoddle Street-Punt Road corridor</a>.

The State Government media release states:

<blockquote>
The Labor Government wants to hear from motorists, cyclists and public transport users who use the corridor as well as local residents and business owners.

The local communities’ views and the thousands of people who use the corridor every day as a bypass, a distributer and a crossing point, as well as residents and business owners in the area, are a vital part of investigations into traffic management improvements which will be made over the next two to four years.

The community can use an online mapping tool on the VicRoads website to provide feedback on their experiences along particular parts of the corridor.
<cite>Media Release from Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan</cite>
</blockquote>

VicRoads profiles two individual projects which are investigating options for improvements in both the <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/planning-and-projects/melbourne-road-projects/punt-road-hoddle-street/hoddle-street--streamlining-initiative">Hoddle Street</a> and <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/planning-and-projects/melbourne-road-projects/punt-road-hoddle-street/punt-road-investigations">Punt Road</a> sections.

The increasingly ubiquitous map open for the community to add their commentary already has a large number of submissions with a mix of sustainable transport versus private vehicle commentary.

<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/vic_roads_comm_consult_map.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Screenshot of VicRoads' community consultation map"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="362" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/vic_roads_comm_consult_map.png?itok=Ir9dsnb6" title="Screenshot of VicRoads' community consultation map" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Screenshot of VicRoads' community consultation <a href="http://consult.vicroads.vic.gov.au/hoddle-street-punt-road-consultation/maps/hoddle-punt-corridor-map">map</a></figcaption></figure>To participate and provide your own feedback on the Hoddle Street-Punt Road corridor investigations, see <a href="http://consult.vicroads.vic.gov.au/hoddle-street-punt-road-consultation">VicRoad's website</a>.

Lead image credit: UM user MelbourneGuy.
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Have your say: Hoddle Street-Punt Road corridor

<html><body>
Here's a round-up of construction highlights posted on the Apartments.com.au forum this month. As always, click the images for a larger version.

UM user MelbourneGuy posted this image in the <a href="/news">St Kilda/Port Melbourne forum thread</a> recently showing the near-complete Icon by Pace Development with Caydon's Pace Development's Icon S.T.K. apartments looming in the background.

<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/melb_guy_icon_caydon.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Looking south from the corner of Toorak and Punt Roads, by UM user MelbourneGuy"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/melb_guy_icon_caydon.jpg?itok=ZFSckgR6" title="Looking south from the corner of Toorak and Punt Roads, by UM user MelbourneGuy" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Looking south from the corner of Toorak and Punt Roads, by UM user MelbourneGuy</figcaption></figure>The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre feels like it was designed to delight construction watchers like us - VCCC is a big favourite for UM forum users with images frequently posted in the <a href="/news">Carlton &amp; Parkville forum thread</a>.  The image below is from earlier on in August and by editor Mark Baljak.

<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/img_5281.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The VCCC from Flemington Road - image by editor Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_5281.jpg?itok=BZrMk2P0" title="The VCCC from Flemington Road - image by editor Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The VCCC from Flemington Road - image by editor Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure>United Asia Group's North at 19-33 Flemington Road which has seen over 3000 hits on our Project Database page is powering along on Flemington Road opposite the VCCC. Image by editor Mark Baljak.  Also worthy of note is the video created for marketing the project, check it out on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://player.vimeo.com/video/79928699">vimeo</a>.

<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/img_5778.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="North at 33 Flemington Road - image by editor Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_5778.jpg?itok=zX6svLZ3" title="North at 33 Flemington Road - image by editor Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>North at 33 Flemington Road - image by editor Mark Baljak</figcaption></figure>Ryan Seychell, who also runs the <a href="https://instagram.com/urbanmelbourneau/">Urban.com.au Instagram account</a>, took a smattering of photos of the newly opened The Grid @ 567 Collins street last week - check out all the images in <a href="/news">567 Collins Street's dedicated forum thread</a>.  

<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/77c4bea98d5372fc91394df21b0b54d1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Grid at 567 Collins Street - image by Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/77c4bea98d5372fc91394df21b0b54d1.jpg?itok=P-KOpF-v" title="The Grid at 567 Collins Street - image by Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Grid at 567 Collins Street - image by Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure>Ryan also took these recent images of 888 Collins Street in Docklands - on the corner of Collins &amp; Bourke Street - see the full set in the dedicated <a href="/news">888 Collins Street forum thread</a>.

<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/ca5ed5e38e3624845e6c544511e1f66c.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="888 Collins Street - image by Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ca5ed5e38e3624845e6c544511e1f66c.jpg?itok=MwzhYlGy" title="888 Collins Street - image by Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>888 Collins Street - image by Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure><a href="/news">The Australia 108 forum thread</a> is likely to be referenced a lot over the coming years - primarily because it's dedicated to an enormous project.  Ryan took this image of the site on the 13th of August.

<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/bd483d3677a881df57e4cd1c7605588d.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="How skyscrapers begin their lives - Australia 108 site - image by Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bd483d3677a881df57e4cd1c7605588d.jpg?itok=KkrUcDLL" title="How skyscrapers begin their lives - Australia 108 site - image by Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>How skyscrapers begin their lives - Australia 108 site - image by Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure>West Side Place now has a tall display suite - image by UM user Adrian back on the 8th of August.

<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/54bdb791b1d276f92fc54486c7e9aa00.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Westside Place's display suite - image by UM user Adrian"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/54bdb791b1d276f92fc54486c7e9aa00.jpg?itok=brYUgUi6" title="West Side Place's display suite - image by UM user Adrian" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>West Side Place's display suite - image by UM user Adrian</figcaption></figure>Lead image is 131 Russel Street by Ryan Seychell - see the full set in the <a href="/news">131 Russel Street forum thread</a>.
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Melbourne construction highlights - August

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One of the major changes to planning during the term of the last Victorian Government was the implementation of <a href="/news/planning-minister-approves-new-residential-zones-in-39-victorian-lgas">new residential and commercial zones</a> right throughout <a href="/news/planning-minister-approves-new-residential-zones-in-39-victorian-lgas">metropolitan and regional areas</a>.

The new planning zones were designed to provide clarity to the community and also to developers in order for them to make investment decisions with a clear understanding of what can be built on the sites they purchase.

One developer which is working away in the General Residential and Residential Growth Zones is <a href="http://www.samuel.com.au/">Samuel Property</a>.

To date Samuel Property have begun development of two projects: Vela in Blackburn and Lennox Glen Iris. Apartments.com.au recently chatted with Illan Samuel who is head of the company and some interesting planning anecdotes came out of the conversation.

<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/lennox.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Lennox Glen Iris. © Samuel Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="337" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/lennox.jpg?itok=XRuU3Ah1" title="Lennox Glen Iris. © Samuel Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Lennox Glen Iris. © Samuel Property</figcaption></figure>Lennox, located at 25 Belmont Avenue North in Glen Iris, was initially targeted at the downsizer market and four weeks out from kicking off the marketing campaign for the project, a decision was made to switch direction and target young professionals.

All 20 apartments were sold in 4-5 weeks and it attracted “very much a hyper-local buyer pool - young people who were either renting or originally grew up in the area - and no offshore buyers” according to Samuel.

Illan Samuel told Apartments.com.au that development sites in side streets right near main strips are preferred; buyers like being close to the action but not directly on the main drag as it were. Lennox in Glen Iris and Vela in Blackburn fit this bill.

Take this <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/194614/whitehorse02zn.pdf">map of zones</a> for the Blackburn area in Whitehorse, Vela Blackburn as seen in the render below is located at 4 Station Street, just off Whitehorse Road and right inside the <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/whitehorse/ordinance/32_07s03_whse.pdf">RGZ3</a> zone. Lennox in Glen Iris located at 25 Belmont Avenue North comes under <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/stonnington/ordinance/32_08s10_ston.pdf">GRZ10</a> according to <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/191743/stonnington06zn.pdf">Stonnington zone maps</a> for Glen Iris.

<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/apartments4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Vela Blackburn. © Samuel Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="330" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/apartments4.jpg?itok=7vqlzmIm" title="Vela Blackburn. © Samuel Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Vela Blackburn. © Samuel Property</figcaption></figure>Vela in Blackburn, like Lennox in Glen Iris, has sold out of its 24 apartments and Illan told Apartments.com.au the sales campaign drew in a lot of local buyers.

As is the custom when Apartments.com.au asks developers about future plans, there was a lot of coyness, but Illan did tell us that a similar profile development - side street just off a main strip in RGZ or GRZ - is currently at planning in Glen Eira.

Vela in Blackburn is already under construction and Lennox Glen Iris is set to commence construction in October.

<h2>Comment</h2>

There is still, no doubt, scope to improve the planning zones further. For instance, encouraging (forcing?) councils to apply them to more areas in their LGA and experimenting with other "carrot or the stick" tools like density bonuses which might allow developers to build an extra level in exchange for affordable or social housing components in developments located in any General Residential or Residential Growth Zone.

Regardless, it is encouraging to see capital seek out these development opportunities and from early-adopter and entrepreneurial developers as well; as it is the little things, built in high volume, that are going to count over the long run if Melbourne is to reach the goal of diversifying its residential stock as we grow over the coming decades.

Lead image credit: Lennox Glen Iris location, <a href="http://www.lennoxgleniris.com.au/video">Samuel Property</a>.
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Samuel Property and the new residential zones

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<blockquote>
Cities are the foundation on which modern society comes together to share, develop and exploit ideas for the betterment of everyone. Humans and the built environment are in a never ending symbiotic relationship with each other in the great cities of the world and Apartments.com.au seeks to create a content rich meeting place for the wider Melbourne community and urban development industry stakeholders – developers, architects, urban planners, sales agents – to come together and discuss, critique, admire and ultimately project an image of how they wish to see their city grow in the future.

Our city's motto - Vires acquirit eundo - specifically states we gather strength as we go, and to go, or more contextually relevant grow, we must do so sensibly and sustainably around a framework of core urban, rather than suburban, principles that drive growth into areas which maximise the usage of existing land based in suitable urban corridors.
<a href="/about#manifesto"><cite>Urban.com.au manifesto</cite></a>
</blockquote>

I would normally say any time is as good a time as any to debate the future direction of our city but days such as this are a good time to reflect on the past and recommit to stated - written or oral - goals.

To a grander, sustainable, tolerant, entrepreneurial and most definitely more urban Melbourne!

http://melbourneday.com.au/

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4728150">Panoramio</a>.
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Vires Acquirit Eundo: Melbourne 180

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This morning marks a new beginning for Tullamarine with the phased opening of the new Terminal 4 starting today.

According to a <a href="http://www.t4you.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FINAL-Mel-Air-Fact-Sh-T4-low-res.pdf">fact sheet</a> posted on T4's dedicated website - www.t4you.com.au - the terminal is "the first terminal in the Asia Pacific region to open as a complete self-service operation", referring to the self-service check-in kiosks and automated bag-drop facilities.

There has also been a departure from the norm in terms of accessing the terminals as well: check-in / bag-drop and arrivals baggage claim are all on the ground floor rather than being split between ground and upper floors as is common in the three other terminals at Tullamarine and other airports around Australia. As shown in the video below, after check-in passengers are required to head to the upper floor for the security check and departure lounges.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ubM-uU44lhc" width="100%"></iframe>

According to a Melbourne Airport spokesperson, the existing Tiger terminal check in and baggage claim (the infamous tin shed) areas are now being refurbished and Tiger Airways will be moved back into its original home after the refurbishment has been completed. This new work on the existing Tiger terminals will see the original facilities seamlessly connected to the new T4 building.

Jetstar and Rex will be operating from T4 in the "coming months" according to the fact sheet.

The terminal has a capacity for 10,000,000 passengers per year (or roughly one third of the passengers that currently fly in and out of Tullamarine annually at present) and over 30 retail and dining outlets will be located in the terminal when it's fully occupied. The new car parking facility that was under construction at the same time as T4 will open in coming months as well.

<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/150817-terminal-4_mprebeg_low-res_10-1500x1000.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The check-in area of T4, image from www.t4you.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/150817-terminal-4_mprebeg_low-res_10-1500x1000.jpg?itok=IAVhpqfW" title="The check-in area of T4, image from www.t4you.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The check-in area of T4, image from www.t4you.com.au</figcaption></figure>It's not hard to see why Tullamarine Airport has felt like a perpetual construction site for the past decade - with T2 (International) expansion and now the brand new T4 low-cost terminal - one need only look at the data available for passengers movements at the airport.

<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/mel_air_1985_2014.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport passenger movements 1985-2014"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="299" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mel_air_1985_2014.jpg?itok=tWD1AhDe" title="Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport passenger movements 1985-2014" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport passenger movements 1985-2014</figcaption></figure>In 1985 when the data series available on <a href="https://bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/airport_traffic_data.aspx">BITRE's website</a> begins, there were 5.1 million domestic passengers, 1.2 million international passengers rounding up to a total of 6.3 million passengers. Interestingly international passengers at Tullamarine in 1985 represented 23% of all passengers passing through the airport.

Fast forward to 2014 and there were 23.3 million domestic passengers and 8 million international passengers totalling 31.4 million. In 2014 international passengers represented 34% of all passengers flying in and out of Tullamarine.

It took Tullamarine 12 years to move from 10 million passengers to the 20 million mark and it took nine years for Tullamarine to go from 20 million passengers to 30 million.
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The new T4 at Tullamarine opens

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The following is an abstract from the "<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://apo.org.au/node/55361">Making Apartments Affordable - moving from speculative to deliberative development</a>" paper published by Swinburne University in late June. Apartments.com.au will let the paper do the talking and we likewise recommend all development industry participants from the CEO level to the analyst level download the paper from <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://apo.org.au/node/55361">Australian Policy Online</a>.

The paper's authors are <a href="http://www.swinburne.edu.au/health-arts-design/staff-profiles/view.php?who=asharam">Dr Andrew Sharam</a> - Research Fellow at Swinburne Institute for Social Research; <a href="http://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/bryantl2/">Dr Lyndall Bryant</a> - Property Economics lecturer at Queensland University of Technology; and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tom-alves-178987">Dr Tom Alves</a> - adjunct Research Fellow at Swinburne Institute for Social Research and Senior Adviser at <a href="http://www.ovga.vic.gov.au/">OVGA</a>.

<h2>Abstract</h2>

Urban planning policies in Australia presuppose apartments as the new dominant housing type, but much of what the market has delivered is criticised as over-development, and as being generic, poorly-designed, environmentally unsustainable and unaffordable. Policy responses to this problem typically focus on planning regulation and construction costs as the primary issues needing to be addressed in order to increase the supply of quality, affordable apartment housing.

In contrast, this paper uses Ball’s (1983) ‘structures of provision’ approach to outline the key processes informing apartment development and identifies a substantial gap in critical understanding of how apartments are developed in Australia. This reveals economic problems not typically considered by policymakers.

Using mainstream economic analysis to review the market itself, we find high search costs, demand risk, problems with exchange, and lack of competition present key barriers to achieving greater affordability of apartments and limit the extent to which ‘speculative’ developers can respond to the preferences of would-be owner-occupiers. The existing development model, which is reliant on capturing uplift in site value, suits investors seeking rental yields in the first instance, and subsequently capital gains, and actively encourages housing price inflation. This is exacerbated by lack of density restrictions, such as has been the case in inner Melbourne for many years, which permits greater yields on redevelopment sites.

The price of land in the vicinity of such redevelopment sites is pushed up as landholders' expectation of future yield is raised. All too frequently, existing redevelopment sites go back onto the market as vendors seek to capture the uplift in site value and exit the project in a risk-free manner.

This paper proposes three major reforms, which together would enable development of better, more affordable apartments for housing consumers:

<ul>
<li>Firstly, that the market for apartment development be re-designed, following insights from the economic field of ‘Market Design’ (a branch of Game Theory). A two-sided matching market for new apartments is proposed, where demand-side risks can be mitigated via consumer aggregation.</li>
	<li>Secondly, consumers should be empowered through support for ‘deliberative’ and ‘do-it-yourself’ (DIY) development models, in order to increase competition, expand access, and promote responsiveness to consumer needs and preferences. A ‘Smart Housing Market’ is proposed to broker the necessary connections and simplify the process.</li>
	<li>Finally, planning schemes need to impose density restrictions (in the form of height limits, floor space ratios or bedroom quotas, for example) in localities where housing demand is high, in order to dampen speculation and de-risk development by creating certainty. Restrictions on over-development on larger infill sites can be offset by permitting intensification of ‘greyfield’ suburbs. Aggregating existing housing lots to enable precinct regeneration with moderate height and density increases would permit better use of airspace thus allowing design outcomes that can optimise land use while retaining neighbourhood amenity.</li>
</ul>
To download the full paper, visit <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://apo.org.au/node/55361">Australian Policy Online</a>.
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Making apartments affordable: moving from speculative to deliberative development

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The State's primary population projection report was released last Friday and key amongst the more noteworthy numbers is Victoria's projected population, which is expected to hit 10 million people by 2051.

The Victoria in Future (VIF) 2015 report is the official State government projection of population and households with "Projections used by decision markets across government and in other areas" according to the <a href="http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/308511/Victoria-in-Future-2015-WEB.pdf">opening pages of the report</a>.

One of the key differences between the Victoria in Future report projections and official <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3222.0">ABS Estimated Resident Projections</a> is that the VIF report is more detailed geographically than the ABS equivalent. "The smallest areas in the ABS projections are the Capital City and Rest of State statistical areas. VIF 2015 provides projections of population and households for Victoria, Greater Melbourne, the eight SA4s in Victoria's Regions and the 79 Local Government Areas in Victoria".

In the year since the release of the prior Victoria in Future report, the underlying total population projection for the state in 2051 has changed only slightly: 10.008 million (2015 projection) versus 10.011 million (2014 projection).

For the Greater Melbourne Capital City Area - a.k.a. the metropolitan area - the latest VIF report projects the population will be:

<ul>
<li>in 2021: 5,078,400</li>
	<li>in 2031: 5,982,800</li>
	<li>in 2041: 6,893,900</li>
	<li>in 2051: 7,849,400</li>
</ul>
The annual population change for Melbourne expressed as a percentage is projected to slowly decline over the coming decades:

<ul>
<li>2011-2021: 2% change per annum</li>
	<li>2021-2031: 1.7% change per annum</li>
	<li>2031-2041: 1.4% change per annum</li>
	<li>2041-2501: 1.3% change per annum</li>
</ul>
In terms of breaking down the various Local Government Areas (LGA's) and looking at the population projections in greater detail, the VIF report only includes projections out to 2031. "Inner Melbourne" consists of the Cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra, Stonnington and Maribyrnong. These chosen LGA's in 2011 had a combined population of 450,500. In 2021 they're projected to have a combined population of 611,300 and in 2031 the population is projected to be 734,300.

The projections for City of Port Phillip look set to change over time given that this LGA will be bearing the brunt of the population growth from Fishermans Bend. The VIF report has Port Phillip in 2011 with a population of 75,200 and projects the population in 2021 will be 117,700 and in 2031, 140,500; a little on the conservative side I would think.

There's a lot of lag when it comes to these projections but I'm willing to bet that future reports will probably increase the Port Phillip numbers markedly as the first projects in Fishermans Bend begin seeing residents move in.

You can view the report, FAQs and glossary on <a href="http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/planning/forward-policy-and-research/victoria-in-future-population-and-household-projections?remap=delwp.vic.gov.au/victoria-in-future">DELWP's website</a>.
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Victoria in Future 2015 report released

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

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

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Alastair Taylor

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