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One can't help but feel for the City of Melbourne and their plans for Arden-Macaulay. If ever there were a redevelopment zone which has been battered and bruised by the state government, it's <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/buildingandplanning/futuregrowth/structureplans/ardenmacaulay/Pages/ArdenMacaulayStructurePlan.aspx" target="_blank">Arden-Macaulay</a>. Like all development structure plans, they are dependent on the private sector playing their part and as the old adage goes, the private sector invariably wants certainty over anything else. With Arden-Macaulay there's very little if you look at the state of play with regards to public transport, the great enabler for any redevelopment zone.

A heavy focus of the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/BuildingandPlanning/FutureGrowth/StructurePlans/ArdenMacaulay/Pages/Information.aspx" target="_blank">Arden-Macaulay structure plan</a> rests on the addition, post 2025, of a new Metro station at the end of present day Queensberry Street in North Melbourne. This station was proposed as part of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project from the Bracks/Brumby era and still favoured by the current opposition ALP.

<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/arden_macaulay_metro1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Maps from the City of Melbourne Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan www.melbourne.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="597" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/arden_macaulay_metro1.jpg?itok=X9tk-0zC" title="Maps from the City of Melbourne Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan www.melbourne.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Maps from the City of Melbourne Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan www.melbourne.vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>However as announced during the recent Victorian budget, the current government has walked away from the original Melbourne Metro tunnel project and stamped its own claim on new rail capacity in central Melbourne through the announcement of the Melbourne Rail Link project.

Making matters worse, <a href="/news/planning-minister-approves-eastern-section-of-east-west-link" target="_blank">the Planning Minister has waived through the section of the East-West Link</a> project which will see the footprint of CityLink expand across the Moonee Ponds creek, when the East-West Link planning assessment committee recommended deferral while other design options were reviewed. The CityLink barrier is going to get wider.

One could argue the region's public transport infrastructure is already conducive to supporting increased densities - especially around the existing train stations at North Melbourne, Macaulay and Flemington Bridge - however the political ping-pong that has become public transport planning in this state does not provide much certainty for anyone. New projects, frequencies and routes will help the region develop quicker and likewise improve the attractiveness for private investment.

<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/arden_macaulay_metro2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Maps from the City of Melbourne Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan www.melbourne.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="406" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/arden_macaulay_metro2.jpg?itok=TlKca4pQ" title="Maps from the City of Melbourne Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan www.melbourne.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Maps from the City of Melbourne Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan www.melbourne.vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>If we take the state opposition's rhetoric on face value and should they win the Victorian election in November, the original Melbourne Metro Tunnel and Arden Central station would be built at some point in the future alongside their promise to grade separate 50 level crossings.

If the current government manages to hang on, despite recent polls painting a very dire and soul-searching picture, the significant rail capacity increase through the area will be borne out of the Sunbury line being diverted through the Melbourne Rail Link and frequencies are increased on the Upfield and Craigieburn lines.

While the Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan was adopted in February 2012, what this region and many other redevelopment zones in Melbourne need is a decisive victory at the state election.

And a decisive new or re-elected state government is required to lock in major transport project plans very early in the term so the work of the private sector, public and social housing and local government sectors can begin in earnest and focus on the principles in the structure plan: regenerating the public realm, creating a culturally and socially engaged community and creating local liveable neighbourhoods for people from a diverse and inclusive range of income levels.
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Alastair Taylor

Long live Arden-Macaulay?

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The Planning Minister has distributed a media release stating that he has approved the eastern section of the East West link with some conditions.

It appears the proposed Elliot Avenue Interchange located inside Royal Park has been rejected and will be replaced with an interchange further west at Flemington Road.

Opposition Planning spokesman, Brian Tee, originally <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/east-west-link-project-approved-with-royal-park-largely-spared-20140630-zsr4b" target="_blank">quoted in The Age</a> said "The process hasn't followed any logical path - it has been botched every step of the way. We don't have a business plan, we don't have traffic projections, and now we don't even have a finalised route". Similarly The Age report quotes a community group spokesperson whom called for the State Government to defer "signing contracts for the project until after an assessment of the revised design's full impact on Flemington Road".

Media release in full:

<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/231902279/140630-Guy-Planning-Minister-Approves-the-East-West-Link" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View 140630 Guy - Planning Minister Approves the East West Link on Scribd">140630 Guy - Planning Minister Approves the East West Link</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/tayser82" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View tayser82's profile on Scribd">tayser82</a>

<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.7066666666666667" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_40288" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/231902279/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-aLxDOLr4ir42wrlLQ1Vi&amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Planning Minister approves eastern section of East West Link

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Somewhat reminiscent of <a href="/tag/super-tuesday" target="_blank">Super Tuesday</a> back in February, the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has approved another chunk of 2,000 apartments across three skyscrapers; however this time the total value weighs in at $830 million.

Australia 108 at 319 metres, 452 Elizabeth Street at 241 metres and 84-90 Queensbridge Street at 185 metres are now all approved.

Australia 108, originally proposed with a height of 388 metres and subsequently reduced owing to Federal aviation regulations, will have a jaw-dropping amount of apartments split across 1, 2 and 3 bed configurations - 1,105! A spokesperson for the Planning Minister confirmed to Apartments.com.au that the height of Australia 108 is at the ceiling for <a href="/news/flight-paths-and-tall-buildings-in-melbourne-explained" target="_blank">PANS-OPS</a> in that region of Southbank.

Australia 108 will be the city's first super-tall placing Melbourne in an elite global club of skyscraper cities. A 'super-tall' is <a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/HeightStatistics/Criteria/tabid/446/language/en-US/Default.aspx" target="_blank">classified</a> as a building over 300 metres in height.

<a href="/architects/fraser-partners-0" target="_blank">Elenberg Fraser</a>-designed 452 Elizabeth Street joins a long line of approvals for Elizabeth Street in the CBD annex between La Trobe and Victoria Streets. <a href="/architects/rothelowman" target="_blank">Rothe </a><a href="http://www.rothelowman.com.au/" target="_blank">Lowman</a>-designed 84-90 Queensbridge Street is located on the corner of Kings Way and Queensbridge Street in Southbank and will yield 295 apartments.

Update 5:00pm 26/6/14: The Fifth Estate have published an interview with Australia 108's architect Nonda Katsalidis - <a href="http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/63959/" target="_blank">we recommend having a read</a>.

Update 8:00am 27/6/14: Mark Baljak has <a href="https://urbanmelbourne.info/opinion/2014/06/27/70-southbank-boulevard-be-thy-name-for-now" target="_blank">written a follow up on 70 Southbank Boulevard</a>, formerly known as Australia 108.

Media release in full:

<p style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/231329504/140626-Guy-Melbourne-s-Ever-Changing-Skyline-Climbs-Further-Upwards-Media-Release" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View 140626 Guy - Melbourne's Ever Changing Skyline Climbs Further Upwards - (Media Release) on Scribd">140626 Guy - Melbourne's Ever Changing Skyline Climbs Further Upwards - (Media Release)</a>

<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_74733" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/231329504/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Australia 108, 452 Elizabeth Street and 84-90 Queensbridge Street gain Ministerial approval

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The Sydney Morning Herald <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/melbourne-train-operator-metro-to-run-sydneys-northwest-rail-link-20140624-zsjyr" target="_blank">reported yesterday</a> that the Baird Government in New South Wales has selected <a href="http://www.metrotrains.com.au/who-we-are/" target="_blank">Metro Trains Melbourne</a> - the consortium made up of MTR Corporation, John Holland and UGL which operates and maintains the entire Melbourne metropolitan network - to operate the <a href="http://nwrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">North West Rail Link</a>.

The North West Rail Link project consists of twin 15 kilometre tunnels and four kilometres of elevated track from Epping on the city's main northern trainline to Sydney's North West outskirts at Rouse Hill. The project in a way winds back the clock for Sydney (albeit not necessarily in a bad way), as the new tunnels will only cater for single deck trains, and the Chatswood-Epping link will be retrofitted to allow North West Rail Link trains to run all the way from Rouse Hill to Chatswood.

Trains running on the new line and through the retrofitted Chatswood-Epping corridor will be fully automated being centrally controlled with no train drivers. This will be a first for Australia.

The New South Wales Government also outlined plans to <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/planned-new-rail-line-would-cut-direct-trains-from-inner-west-to-redfern-sydney-university-20140624-zsjnd" target="_blank">convert the existing Bankstown line</a> and build a <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-electricity-sale-to-pay-for-new-harbour-crossing-rail-roads-20140610-39uyu" target="_blank">second Sydney Harbour crossing</a> to allow the new North West Link to form a part of a complete rapid transit line.

The ultimate goal of having one long rapid transit line from Sydney's North West through the Central Business District and out to South West is very similar to the goal in Melbourne, of running Pakenham and Cranbourne trains in the South East through the Melbourne Rail Link to Sunbury (and when electrified) Melton. And as various documentation released by the Victorian Government and Public Transport Victoria has alluded to, the new high-capacity signalling system - to be rolled out as part of the <a href="http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/projects/cranbourne-pakenham-rail-corridor-project" target="_blank">Dandenong corridor project</a> - will be a precursor to allowing Melbourne trains to head down the automated path as well.

Given the same consortium will be building both the North West Rail Link and the Dandenong Corridor project in and around the same timeframes, it will be interesting to see how much of the same technology will be applied in both cities.

Lead image credit: <a href="http://nwrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/The-Project/Project-Overview" target="_blank">nwrail.transport.nsw.gov.au</a>
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Metro Trains Melbourne to operate Sydney's North West Rail Link

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Over the July school holidays major works are to be carried out in order to finalise the Sunshine to Southern Cross section of the <a href="http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">Regional Rail Link</a> project. Bendigo and Ballarat <a href="http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/news/june2014" target="_blank">train services will be replaced by coaches between Saturday 28th June and Tuesday July 15th</a> in order to allow the Regional Rail Link authority and its contractors to complete track and signal installation.

The shutdown period is also set to include testing and commissioning works between North Melbourne and Southern Cross, driver familiarisation trips and noise barrier installation in West Melbourne.

Once the shutdown period has ended, Bendigo and Ballarat V/Line services will then begin to use the new track that has been under construction for the past few years between Sunshine and Southern Cross, marking the first segregation of Metro and V/Line rail traffic inside metropolitan Melbourne.

Bendigo and Ballarat trains will also start to utilise the new platform infrastructure at Footscray and Sunshine stations and the rebuilt North Melbourne flyover will also see V/Line trains cross Metro services to enter regional platforms at Southern Cross unhindered.

A spokesman for the Regional Rail Link commented the greenfields section between West Werribee and Deer Park is scheduled, weather and other construction-related risk permitting, to be complete by the end of the year with Geelong services using the new track in early 2015.

<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_8106.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Works on the new signalling infrastructure at Sunshine in January 2014 - Image credit www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/IMG_8106.jpg?itok=mQEW_YGv" style="height:387px; width:580px" title="Works on the new signaling infrastructure at Sunshine in January 2014 - Image credit www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au"></a>
<figcaption>Works on the new signalling infrastructure at Sunshine in January 2014 - Image credit <a href="http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/news/images?result_92818_result_page=2" target="_blank">www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au</a></figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

While the benefit likely to kick in after the July shutdown is limited to a mainly modest operational one, within 6 to 12 months construction, testing and driver familiarisation will be complete on the entire project and PTV will have rolled out its new V/Line and Metro timetable. As the project name itself suggests, the biggest beneficiary for the Regional Rail Link is the regional passengers travelling beyond metro's footprint and traveling inter-city but it is the metro side which will have the greatest impact on reducing congestion and driving new development investment into Melbourne's West.

One on hand, Werribee and Williamstown line commuters are likely to benefit the most early next year as all Geelong trains are to be diverted via the new track opening up the existing corridor to increased capacity. One thing to watch around the time the new timetables take effect in 2015 (and thereafter) is whether or not planning application activity throughout the rail corridors in Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham sees an uptick.

By early 2015, increased levels of service on the Werribee and Williamstown lines will arrive conveniently after the new planning zones are bedded down; more mass transport capacity and planning certainty is a match made in heaven for increasing densities. This, of course, does hinge on whether PTV actually do increase services over what currently operates - caveat emptor!

Yet on the other hand it's telling the largest rail project in living memory is coming to its conclusion and thanks to a balance transport policy mentality in a extremely unbalanced transport modal share situation we have in Melbourne(1), we are realistically another 10 years away(2) from seeing the full benefits on the Metro side for those who live or plan to invest along the Sunbury line.

Footscray wins no matter which way you look at it: increasing levels of service on the Werribee and Williamstown line will enhance the attractiveness to increase development investment. But Brimbank, which has <a href="https://stratus.pbondemand.com.au/connect/brimbank/?mapcfg=NewResidentialZones" target="_blank">liberally deployed the Residential Growth Zone and General Residential Zone around Sunshine, St. Albans and Watergardens</a>, has a less bright - more delayed - urban development future hanging over it.

The three North and North Western lines - Sunbury (9), Craigieburn (9) and Upfield (3 services in the afternoon peak) - are not far off maxing out the capacity in the loop tunnel they currently use and unless one is removed from the loop there's likely to be little uplift in Metro services under the status quo.

The question: Why weren't the Melbourne Metro (now Melbourne Rail Link) plans finalised in the first or second year of the current Government - and funding prioritised so construction could start sooner - utilising the labour deployed on the Regional Rail Link as the project wound down?

There are many answers, some more cynical than others, feel free to leave yours in the comments section below.

(1) I'm referring to the anti-urban East-West link and the amount of funds it will suck from the infrastructure purse over the next decade.

(2) When the Melbourne Rail Link, or who knows which next iteration, is complete and operating.

Lead image credit: www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au
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It begins - Regional Rail Link benefits start to flow in July

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Open House Melbourne is upon us once again with the organisers of the July 26th and 27th event announcing the building list recently. Among the <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings" target="_blank">list of buildings</a> are some familiar favourites as well as buildings throwing open their doors for the first time and also brand new recently completed and occupied buildings.

Among the new buildings this year are <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/government-house" target="_blank">Government House</a>. Open only the the Saturday, there will be guided tours of the State Apartments between the reduced hours of 10am and 3pm. On the other side of St. Kilda Road, <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/vic-barracks" target="_blank">Victoria Barracks</a> will be open on both Saturday and Sunday, however the guided tours will be limited to 30 people at 10am and 1pm only.

<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/government_house_chris_phutully_flickr_cc_by_sa_20.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Government House, source: flick, CC-BY-SA 2.0"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/government_house_chris_phutully_flickr_cc_by_sa_20.jpg?itok=c3H9VALV" style="height:386px; width:580px" title="Government House, source: flickr, CC-BY-SA 2.0"></a>

<figcaption>Government House, source: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/72562013@N06/8416406044" target="_blank">flickr</a>, CC BY-SA 2.0</figcaption></figure>Happily, one of the buildings which at the time we asked "<a href="/news/is-this-melbournes-best-new-residential-development" target="_blank">Is this Melbourne's best new development?</a>" is also flinging its doors open. The Commons in Brunswick will have guided tours of 15 people every 15 minutes where, <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/commons-the" target="_blank">according to the OHM profile</a>, visitors will be exposed to many of the building's elements.

<a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/coops-shot-tower-and-museum" target="_blank">The Coops shot tower and museum</a> will be open for self-guided tours on both Saturday and Sunday and 41 Exhibition Street, housing the <a href="http://www.architecture.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Institute of Architects</a>, will be open as well. <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/41x" target="_blank">41 Exhibition Street</a> will have guided 15 person tours, two in the morning and two in the afternoon each day taking in the rooftop, levels 21 and 1 through 5 as well as the <a href="http://www.architext.com.au/" target="_blank">Architext</a> Bookshop. 41 Exhibition Street was one tower<a href="/news"> we had a very close eye on during construction</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_9326.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="41 Exhibition Street, picture © Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_9326.jpg?itok=4My48aa7" style="height:387px; width:580px" title="41 Exhibition Street, picture © Mark Baljak"></a>

<figcaption>41 Exhibiton Street, image credit: Mark Baljak.</figcaption></figure>Among the other new buildings this year are the <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/collingwood-masonic-centre" target="_blank">Collingwood Masonic Centre</a>, the <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/australian-catholic-university" target="_blank">Australian Catholic University</a> and <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/circus-oz-hq" target="_blank">Circus Oz HQ</a>.

NAB's new <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/nab-headquarters-700" target="_blank">700 Bourke Street building</a> is also open allowing visitors to mill around the concourse level and guided tours (which require photo ID) will lead visitors through NAB's new activity-based workplaces as well as visit the rooftop garden.

<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/NABDocklands6_woods_bagot.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="NAB 700 Bourke Street, image © Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/NABDocklands6_woods_bagot.jpg?itok=GEKXy7QU" style="height:387px; width:580px" title="NAB 700 Bourke Street, image © Woods Bagot"></a>

<figcaption>NAB 700 Bourke Street, image © <a href="http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/national-australia-bank-docklands" target="_blank">Woods Bagot</a>.</figcaption></figure>The recently redeveloped <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/argus-building" target="_blank">Argus Building</a> will be open to tours, however it will be by ballot only (opening on July 1).  Interestingly this year <a href="http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/buildings/port-of-melbourne-boat-tours" target="_blank">Port of Melbourne will have boat tours</a> with guided commentary by Port of Melbourne staff as the boats pass through the Coode Canal, Victoria, Appleton and Swanson Docks.

Do you have any recommendations?  Post it in the comments section below.
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Open House Melbourne building list announced

The Planning Minister has announced the approval of 1000 units in five towers in two separate towers - both projects having been profiled on Apartments.com.au previously.

Apartments.com.au first profiled 2 Hopkins Street <a href="/news">on the forum</a> in May last year with images taken from the original planning application lodged with Maribyrnong City Council. 2 Hopkins Street consists of 751 apartment split across four towers ranging in height from 16 to 28 levels.

57 Haig Street Southbank was similarly profiled originally <a href="/news">on the forum</a> and then in <a href="/news/57-haig-street-unveiled" target="_blank">this piece</a> at the end of April last year. 57 Haig Street will have 249 apartments over 38 levels and is nestled between Clarendon Street and the West Gate Freeway in Southbank.

Of great interest is the scale of the 2 Hopkins Street project. Slowly but surely nodes outside the traditional core of Melbourne are building their own medium and high-density development momentum. Where South Yarra was the poster child (and still arguably is one of them) for non-CBD high-density development, Footscray is increasingly asserting itself.

For a map and list of all the projects Apartments.com.au is tracking in Footscray, <a href="/developments/footscray-vic-3011">click here</a>.

<h2>Full media release</h2>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.scribd.com/doc/227747599" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Five Towers and 1,000 Units Approved in Central Melbourne on Scribd">Five Towers and 1,000 Units Approved in Central Melbourne</a>

<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_94405" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/227747599/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>

2 Hopkins Street Footscray and 57 Haig Street Southbank approved

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PrefabAUS, the peak body for Australia's off-site construction industry, has announced the dates for its inaugural conference. To be held at Rydges Swanston Street on the 11th through to 13th of August, the 150 delegate event will feature an influential line-up of national and international speakers and cover all approaches to off-site construction, from commercial to residential and across all key infrastructure sectors including health and education.

Writing in a newsletter sent out to subscribers, PrefabAUS CEO Sarah Backhouse says "as the off-site construction sector begins to expand rapidly, this Conference is timed to bring together key representatives from all related areas for the first time; from architecture, engineering, manufacturing, material supply, property development and construction, universities, government agencies and client representatives".

List of speakers:

<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person617608" target="_blank">Dr Masa Noguchi</a>, ZEMCH and The University of Melbourne</li>
	<li>
Steve Hayden, ACT Government</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.prefabnz.com/About/People/" target="_blank">Pamela Bell</a>, CEO of PrefabNZ</li>
	<li>
Associate Professor Haeyoon Yoo, Seongsil University, South Korea</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/comment/in-profile-tai-hollingsbee-from-ghd" target="_blank">Tai Hollingsbee</a>, Sustainability and Performative Design Group at GHD, Australia</li>
	<li>
<a href="http://constructionedge.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/bio.pdf" target="_blank">David Chandler</a>, Construction Edge</li>
	<li>
Damian Moloney, <a href="http://www.themoloneygroup.com/" target="_blank">The Moloney Group</a>
</li>
	<li>
<a href="https://humanities.curtin.edu.au/about/humstaff/research.cfm/P.Newman" target="_blank">Professor Peter Newman</a>, Curtin University</li>
	<li>
Mark Albert, <a href="http://www.mtmauto.com/history" target="_blank">MtM</a> and Linsey Siede, <a href="http://www.asea.net.au/" target="_blank">Automotive Supplier Excellence Australia</a>
</li>
	<li>more speakers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.</li>
</ul>
On the afternoon of Monday August 11th, optional factory tours and project visits will be offered. Tuesday August 12th the Conference gets underway in full swing from 9am to 5:30pm with a drinks and networking session from 6pm. At 7:30am on Wednesday 13th, the PrefabAUS Annual General Meeting will be held and open for members to attend and then the final session of the conference will be held from 9am to 3pm.

<a href="http://www.prefabaus.org.au/join-prefab/" target="_blank">PrefabAUS members</a> are offered a generously discounted rate to attend the conference with early bird rates set at $600 and from June 16th the full rate of $800 kicks in.

Non-member rates start at $1,400 and from June 16th the full rate of $1,600 applies.

Interested parties who would like to participate in the conference are invited to contact PrefabAUS CEO Sarah Backhouse: <a href="mailto:sarah@prefabaus.org.au">sarah@prefabaus.org.au</a>.

PrefabAUS is a member of the Apartments.com.au Industry Hub.
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PrefabAUS announces inaugural conference dates

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Chances are that 25% of everyone who reads this article will belong to or take an active part in what we deem to be a part of the Urban Industry - property developers, architects, planners, engineers, development managers, financiers, analysts and creatives.

Today we are launching a new section of Apartments.com.au where we aim to concentrate industry focused news, analysis and opinion as well as allow interested organisations to carve out their own little corner of Apartments.com.au.

The best analogy to use when describing the Industry Hub is a highly-targeted Yellow Pages-like directory for the Urban Industry... with a modern twist. The Industry Hub member pages themselves are what you'd expect in a directory: a chance to showcase product and service offerings while facilitating lines of contact for new business enquiries. In addition Apartments.com.au staff also build a portfolio of projects each member organisation has worked on, leveraging off the Apartments.com.au Project Database. Third-party advertising is suspended on all member pages - only Apartments.com.au house ads will run.

Since March 9th 2013, the day Apartments.com.au launched, the site's motto has been "enhancing community and development industry interaction for the mutual benefit of a future urban Melbourne." Quite simply we aim to accelerate interaction by deploying platforms such as the Industry Hub. Melbourne is a knowledge-focused, innovative city and knowledge is always enhanced by the concentration of people and their ideas - the Industry Hub will be no different.

After an expression of interest has been received, new members will get a friendly "hello" call from myself and one of the first questions I'll be asking is how new member organisations may be able to contribute to ongoing discussion on Apartments.com.au in a wide variety of forms.

Put simply we're targeting any organisation - small, medium or large - who operates within the Urban Industry - our sign up form lists the different categories. With the end of financial year approaching, the Apartments.com.au Industry Hub is a perfect opportunity to lock in low-cost brand awareness advertising for the next financial year.

<h2>Our goals</h2>

Apartments.com.au is still, despite our continued growth and unique audience profile, very much in a start up phase and we need financial support to help us expand our capabilities. We will always focus on Melbourne's built future through doing what we have always done - collating and analysing new development information as well as report and opine on areas such as Transport, Planning and Policy. However we also wish to provide a platform for more concentrated content for our biggest audience segment.

The financial support Industry Hub members provide will also go a long way to help us expanding content areas such as Melbourne Life - after all, what's the point of building more urbanism in Melbourne if we don't hear about the experiences, ideas and opinions from the people who live in it?

Oh, and... Urban Sydney, you're next.

<h2>The details</h2>

Like the Yellow Pages, a fee is charged to place a classified. The Industry Hub has a simple base annual fee (prices exclude GST) and is tiered as follows:

<ul>
<li>Small businesses with under 10 employees: $350</li>
	<li>Medium-sized organisations with between 11 and 50 employees: $750</li>
	<li>Large businesses with over 51 employees: $1500</li>
</ul>
* The number of employees is based on the nationwide headcount (FTE and contractors) of your organisation.

All new members are required to fill out the sign up form.

After receiving the sign up form, I'll endeavour to contact you on the phone as soon as possible to discuss requirements and then I'll follow up with sending a Media Buying Authorisation (MBA) which will outline the annual fee and any other fee(s) associated with optional promotional features (refer to <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/article-images/UM_Rate%20Card_Industry%20Hub_May14.pdf" target="_blank">rate card</a>) you have elected to purchase.

The MBA includes a content specification and checklist for the Industry page and we ask that you sign, scan and return the first page of the MBA along with your Industry Hub page content. Invoices are generated on the date your Industry Hub page is published and payable within 7 days.

<h2>A thanks and shout out to our launch members</h2>

Thank you to all the people who have filled out the Effective Measure audience surveys which pop up in the bottom right corner of the screen - the information we have been provided with through the surveys has been invaluable and I wouldn't be writing this article had it not been for them. If you haven't filled out an audience survey before, please do - the anonymous information we receive is closely linked with our content and expansion plans.

Check out our launch members! They're all listed below (and this is an opportune time to point out that any Industry Hub member mentioned in an article will have their Industry Hub page link appear at the end of an article).

Special thanks go to Mark Wizel and the CBRE City Sales team who have elected to take out one of the four exclusive Gold Sponsorship packages we offer as part of the Industry Hub - the support they and all Industry Hub members provide is greatly appreciated.
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The Urban.com.au Industry Hub is born

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A rare opportunity for the general public to have a 'touch and feel' session at one of Habitech Systems recently completed projects is presenting itself tomorrow.
Where the word 'prefabrication' conjures up images of temporary 1960s school buildings, the word in the 21st century realistically equates to architectural and construction innovation.
Sometimes innovation and prefabricated technologies are a bit unknown to the general public and this is the perfect opportunity to experience it in a real dwelling.
Quoting <a href="http://www.habitechsystems.com.au/about/" target="_blank">Habitech Systems</a> about page, Habitech have developed <q>a system of high-quality manufactured building components that are delivered to site in a flack-pack format which fit together to get a house to lock-up stage in weeks, not months</q>.
<img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="343" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/why-habitech1.jpg?itok=zAi0S78W" title="Image source: http://www.habitechsystems.com.au/why-habitech/" width="580">
<a href="http://www.habitechsystems.com.au/port-melbourne-open-day" target="_blank">The Port Melbourne House open day</a> will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 31st May at 388 Graham Street, Port Melbourne.
Lead image credit: <a href="http://www.habitechsystems.com.au/port-melbourne-house/" target="_blank">Habitech Systems</a>.
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Habitech Systems Port Melbourne Open Day 

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

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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