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It appears the 'wrong side of the Yarra, right side of Maribyrnong' encompassing Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick, North Melbourne and Northcote has been chosen as the region where most Apartments.com.au readers would like to live or own a property.  The centre of the city and inner South round out the most popular regions of Melbourne respectively.  

That's the conclusion drawn from our ongoing <a href="http://www.effectivemeasure.com/" target="_blank">Effective Measure</a> reader surveys that are now in their third month.

The large amount of investment - both in infrastructure and residential construction - currently being funneled into Footscray does not appear to sway Apartments.com.au readers as only 15% of Apartments.com.au's audience selected inner West.  The inner East including Richmond - the suburb which lead the inner-city gentrification through the early 90s - appears to be off the boil with only 33% of the Apartments.com.au audience selecting it in the multi-choice question.

We did attempt to correlate any kind of relationship with the number of projects we're tracking on our database with the survey responses however we came up empty.

The total projects we're tracking in <a href="/developments/fitzroy-vic-3065">Fitzroy</a>, <a href="/developments/carlton-vic-3053">Carlton</a>, <a href="/developments/collingwood-vic-3066">Collingwood</a>, <a href="/developments/northcote-vic-3070">Northcote</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a> and <a href="/developments/brunswick-east-vic-3057">East Brunswick</a> rounds out to 46.  The inner South representing <a href="/developments/south-yarra-vic-3141">South Yarra</a>, <a href="/developments/prahran-vic-3181">Prahran</a>, <a href="/developments/st-kilda-vic-3182">St Kilda</a>, <a href="/developments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a> and <a href="/developments/port-melbourne-vic-3207">Port Melbourne</a> totals 59.  

The centre of the city -<a href="/developments/melbourne-vic" target="_blank"> Melbourne</a> (postcodes 3000 and 3004), <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a> - totals a mammoth 77 projects.

The data provided by Effective Measure breaks down the responses in to gender categories - Apartments.com.au's total audience gender breakdown is 75% male, 25% female.

Amongst males, the inner North again came out on top whilst female readers nominated the centre of the City as their most desirable place to live or own a property. 

It mightn't come as any surprise that the outer suburbs barely registered on the survey and it appears Apartments.com.au might have a small tree-changer following with 13% of audience share allocated to a rural area / other regional city in Victora.

So what is it that makes the inner North a favourite of Apartments.com.au readers?  

Truth be known, there was no specific purpose in asking the question on the survey - we thought we'd just throw it out there but it has given the editors some ideas for the next round of surveys which will be rolled out soon.

Perhaps this is a good time to disclaim that both Apartments.com.au editors currently live on 'the wrong side of the Yarra, but right side of the Maribyrnong' - one is a native of the region, the other a 'migrant' from the outer South East.  

We're very much interested in having a discussion on why the inner North has come up trumps, so feel free to leave a comment in the box provided below.

 

The question asked:  Which of the following areas would you find most desirable to live, invest or own a property in (choose a maximum of 3)?

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Region</td>
			<td>Audience Share</td>
			<td>Male</td>
			<td>Female</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner North (Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick, Northcote, North Melbourne)</td>
			<td>57%</td>
			<td>60%</td>
			<td>43%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Centre of the City (CBD, Southbank, Docklands)</td>
			<td>52%</td>
			<td>51%</td>
			<td>57%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner South (South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, South Yarra, St. Kilda, Fishermans Bend)</td>
			<td>45%</td>
			<td>46%</td>
			<td>43%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner East (Richmond, Hawthorn/Glenferrie)</td>
			<td>33%</td>
			<td>34%</td>
			<td>29%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inner West (Footscray, Yarraville, Maribyrnong)</td>
			<td>15%</td>
			<td>15%</td>
			<td>14%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>A rural area / other regional city or town in Victoria</td>
			<td>13%</td>
			<td>11%</td>
			<td>21%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Middle ring of suburbs - North or West of the Yarra (Coburg, Thornbury, Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Heidelberg, Williamstown)</td>
			<td>11%</td>
			<td>12%</td>
			<td>8%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Middle ring of suburbs - South or East of the Yarra (Sandringham, Elsternwick, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Oakleigh, Camberwell, Doncaster)</td>
			<td>10%</td>
			<td>9%</td>
			<td>14%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>The urban heart of a regional city (Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong) </td>
			<td>7%</td>
			<td>6%</td>
			<td>7%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Outer ring of Suburbs - South or East of the Yarra</td>
			<td>4%</td>
			<td>4%</td>
			<td>1%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Outer ring of Suburbs - North or West of the Yarra</td>
			<td>1%</td>
			<td>1%</td>
			<td>1%</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
To see the rest of our demographic data captured through the user surveys, you can view it on our recently published Media Kit located <a href="/contact">here</a>.

 
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Alastair Taylor

The inner North: most favoured by Urban.com.au readers

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Announcing Imperial Doncaster 60% sold with Hacer Group to commence construction within weeks, <a href="http://www.axfgroup.com.au/" target="_blank">AXF Group</a> have simultaneously unveiled final renders for the now approved 34 level <a href="/new-apartments/sky-one-box-hill-545-563-station-street-box-hill">Sovereign Square</a> project at 545 Station Street, Box Hill.  

At 120 metres above sea level, Doncaster Hill commands excellent views in all directions and future residents will be afforded and even greater perspective once the 10 level Imperial Doncaster development is completed. 

Sales and Marketing manager for AXF, Scott Jessop, says beyond the headline figure of 60% of apartments sold, Imperial Doncaster has attracted strong interest from local owner-occupiers looking to remain loyal to their community by downsizing into Imperial Doncaster's offerings.  The project has reportedly seen keen interest from buyers who wish to play a more hands-on role in configuring their apartments with multi-purchase and combine configurations a common occurrence.

Like all the projects we track around the city, Apartments.com.au will be keeping a watchful eye on Imperial Doncaster's construction progress post the construction launch in March.

<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/GS_Doncaster_External%20Daylight%20V1_RETOUCH_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Imperial Doncaster - Image © Buchan Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/GS_Doncaster_External%20Daylight%20V1_RETOUCH_0.jpg?itok=lZIgIBEK" title="Imperial Doncaster - Image © Buchan Group" width="580"></a>

A short trip along the aptly named Tram Road - the route of the <a href="http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/boxhill.htm" target="_blank">Southern Hemisphere's first electric tramway</a> which opened in 1889 - is another development by AXF Group previously known as 545 Station Street Box Hill, and now referred to as Sovereign Square.

Having spent more than a decade observing projects all around Melbourne, this site has appeared on the radar multiple times in one guise or another, yet the current proposal is the pick of all that have been put forward.  AXF Group have once more utilised Imperial Doncaster designers <a href="http://buchan.com.au/" target="_blank">Buchan Group</a> to produce this 34 level residential tower on the corner of Station Street and Carrington Road, destined to be suburban Melbourne's tallest building.

Perhaps most satisfactory of all, Sovereign Square will set an example as to what can be done with the surface car parks that blight our suburban activity centres throughout the metropolitan area.

Where Imperial Doncaster consisted of 94 apartments, Sovereign Square will boast 419.  Studio, one, two and three bedroom configurations will be present throughout the building and 288 car, 15 motorbike and 167 bicycle spaces will round out the on-site transport aspects of the project.

<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/External%20Image.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sovereign Square - Image © Buchan Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1030" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/External%20Image.jpg?itok=jQdF8KTv" title="Sovereign Square - Image © Buchan Group" width="580"></a>

Given Sovereign Square's location directly adjacent to Box Hill Station with the comprehensive array of transport options located within the immediate vicinity, this tower is located in an area ripe for intensive urban development.

Carrington Road, synonymous with Indochinese cuisine, forms one of the site's boundaries and Sovereign Square looks set to expand the dining precinct with 2677 square metres of restaurant space within the podium, supplemented by 715 square metres of ground floor food premises. A further 2263 square metres of premium serviced office space is also to be included.

<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/Podium%20Corner.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © Buchan Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="348" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Podium%20Corner.jpg?itok=_y-sVl-9" title="Image © Buchan Group" width="580"></a>

Sovereign Square is an interesting turn of events for the this middle ring corridor in Eastern Melbourne, not only because of the scale of the development but more so the prolonged period of time taken for Box Hill to densify?

As discussed earlier, Box Hill appears - on paper at least - to be the better node to support higher densities given both the high frequency of rail services right through the heart of the suburb, Tram 109 as well as its concentration of bus routes to and from the activities district.

With a flurry of mid-rise proposals north of Whitehorse Road, Box Hill Hospital's redevelopment and the now under construction ATO office accommodation, Box Hill has started to flex its muscle by demonstrating it can capitalise on all the necessary elements it has at its disposal to mature into an urban hub, with Sovereign Square leading the way

 
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Imperial Doncaster starts construction, Sovereign Square unveiled

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During November Apartments.com.au presented Guiding Melbourne's Urban Growth ('GMUG 2013'), an event as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week 2013.  Today's article focuses on the presentation given by William McDougall, Principal and Public Transport practice leader at global consulting firm <a href="http://www.globalskm.com/" target="_blank">SKM</a>.  

<blockquote>
If Melbourne is to fulfil its own motto of gaining strength as it grows, planning policy must shift away from the auto-centric low-density suburban growth patterns of the past.  Cities which encourage diverse human interaction through policies which enable increased residential and employment densities benefit from increased localised economic and social activity. With the great Australian dream of owning a home becoming increasingly unattainable where spiralling congestion and travel distance to employment and services offset the lower prices of new fringe suburban development, how can Melbourne make medium and high-density living more attractive to individuals and families at a price they can afford?
</blockquote>

<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Gotham, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Each of the invited presenters were asked to respond to the above question, drawing on their expertise and views from within the Urban Industry and here is William's presentation.</div>

<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Gotham, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div>

<div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/84362525" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://vimeo.com/84362525">Urban.com.au - Guiding Melbourne's Urban Growth: Part 5 - William McDougall</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user19840635">The Video Agency</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.

<blockquote>
In my presentation I was highlighting that we urgently need to accommodate change and flexibility in urban planning for Melbourne (and elsewhere), perhaps more than ever before. The main reasons for this are to ensure that we can take full advantage of technological and social change – which are both expected to accelerate enormously – instead of assuming some sort of ‘business as usual’ (which is jargon for ‘no change’) when we’re predicting the future and trying to plan for it.

The example I quoted (which is just one of many) – autonomous vehicles – is quickly becoming the hottest topic in transport. All the major vehicle manufacturers are developing self-driving capabilities and collaborating with Google and its competitors in the process. With this industry investment, self-driving cars will be a reality very quickly. Initially this will be in high-end models but eventually in all new cars, and even in modular form to retrofit into existing vehicles. The traffic efficiency, safety and social benefits are potentially enormous and we must ensure that our urban planning and regulatory systems facilitate, rather than obstruct, their progress.

Coupled with revolutionary changes in transport energy sources and efficiency (electric vehicle technologies in particular), and integration with fast-changing internet and social networking technologies, a new paradigm of automated, efficient and smart transport systems will evolve rapidly from this groundswell.

 - William McDougall, January 2014.
</blockquote>

The editors of Apartments.com.au would once again like to thank William for taking time out his Friday night to share his perspectives and similarly would like to thank The State Library of Victoria team and our partners at <a href="http://www.thevideoagency.com.au/" target="_blank">The Video Agency</a> for filming the entire event.
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GMUG 2013: William McDougall on future transport trends for cities

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I didn't expect to be writing about a momentous project in the municipality I spent my Secondary School days and most weekends, however this is most certainly warranted.  I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when perusing our forum and in particular a <a href="/news">thread</a> created by Apartments.com.au member Fedsquared featuring the new <a href="http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/" target="_blank">Casey Cultural Precinct</a>.
After a 6 month design competition with finalists including Ashton Raggatt McDougall, DCM and John Wardle, City of Casey have selected the winning design for the Casey Cultural Precinct.  Conceived by fjmt (<a href="http://www.fjmt.com.au/" target="_blank">Frances-Jones Morehen Thorp</a>), the cultural hub will encapsulate an 800 seat theatre, gallery and community spaces.  Further, the new centre will also function as a Library and Civic Centre replacing the existing buildings located just to the north of the site.
<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/Image-1_external.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Casey Cultural Precinct - image source: http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="243" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image-1_external.jpg?itok=UfXY9iRq" title="The Casey Cultural Precinct - image source: http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/" width="580"></a>
Further to the aforementioned features of the project, the Cultural Precinct will also host a plaza, pictured at top, whilst also acting as a regional schools centre for the arts. 
Sourcing City of Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett via a <a href="http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Media-Release_Contemporary-and-innovative-design-unveiled-for-125-million-Casey-Cultural-Precinct.pdf" target="_blank">media release</a>,
<blockquote>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		‘The winning design is striking, engaging and functional and will ensure the Casey Cultural Precinct will be an inviting central heart for the community that celebrates participation, belonging and civic pride. </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		 </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		‘The design rises from the landscape and integrates with the surrounding environment, while the iconic roof which resembles soaring eagle wings, reaches out to create an interactive meeting space for the community. </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		 </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		‘The building incorporates a blend of materials, including an impressive metal and timber roof, contemporary curved glass facade and a warm timber interior. </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		 </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		‘The performing arts centre, regional art gallery, multi-purpose exhibition space, library and Civic Centre are easily accessed on the ground level through a common foyer which welcomes visitors to the precinct. </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		 </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		‘Outdoor pathways meander through the precinct, drawing visitors to the central community plaza where people will be able to celebrate, collaborate and connect. </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		 </div>
	<div class="rtejustify">
		‘The design is a fantastic outcome for the community and will be a welcoming place for everyone to come together when it opens in 2017’.</div>
</blockquote>
First thought to cross my mind when viewing the foyer images...drawing inspiration from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" target="_blank">Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh</a>.
  <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/Image-2_foyer.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The striking foyer in the Casey Cultural Centre - image source: http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="324" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image-2_foyer.jpg?itok=mqcC8-t5" title="The striking foyer in the Casey Cultural Centre - image source: http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/" width="580"></a>
  <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/Image-3_foyer_plaza.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Another view of the foyer in the Casey Cultural Centre - image source: http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="274" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image-3_foyer_plaza.jpg?itok=8SJaO_GD" title="Another view of the foyer in the Casey Cultural Centre - image source: http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/design/design/" width="580"></a>
The new Cultural and Civic Centre is reportedly set to open in 2017 and is to be financed by the council itself owing to 'Many years of responsible financial management...Council can finance the Casey Cultural Precinct without an increase to rates".  The Council's own <a href="http://www.caseyculturalprecinct.com.au/project/faq/" target="_blank">FAQ</a> page states a combination of savings, a small loan and external funding will combine to finance the $125 million dollar project.  
Given a State election is due in November it might not come as a surprise to anyone that both the Government and Opposition may just pledge cash to the precinct given that, according to ABC election guru Antony Green's <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/elections/vic/2013/redistribution.htm" target="_blank">analysis</a>, both the Narre Warren North and Narre Warren South seats sit on margins of 4.8% and 7.4% after the final redistribution of seat boundaries.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83821030?byline=0&amp;portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://vimeo.com/83821030">Casey Cultural Precinct Design</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/cityofcasey">City of Casey</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.
<div>
	 </div>
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Casey Cultural Precinct comes up with the goods

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Today we have re-launched our site - imagnatively dubbed Apartments.com.au 2.0 - with a completely new theme.
Over the Christmas and New Year break the team have been working on customising the theme, as well as making some infrastructure upgrades which will allow us to integrate many different content silos.
All content areas of Apartments.com.au 2.0 are now completely responsive, meaning whether you're looking at Apartments.com.au on a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, the site will render to best suit the device you are using. In our previous theme, the forum - which attracts near 40% of our total site traffic - was not responsive and mobile users (which represent 20% of all Apartments.com.au users) had a very poor browsing experience. Not anymore.
For our heavy forum users, when you hotlink images you wish to post, the site will automatically resize the image if it is wider than the viewable area. No need to resize existing images you have posted, it is all automatic and the images will resize depending on the device you're using to browse.
We have also heeded advice and we're responding to feedback on the need to integrate the main 'silos' of content we have been working with for the past nine months. As part of the infrastructure upgrades, we're now able to show Project Database information directly on related Projects &amp; Construction forum threads at the top of the left sidebar. See our <a href="/news">single project thread</a> and <a href="/news">multi-project thread</a> examples. The process of linking Project Database pages to forums is a slow process, so bear with us as we continue to roll this out.
While only a small visible change at present, the ability to integrate information that rests in different areas on the site will play a big role in future development.
You might have also noticed that <a href="/news">Visual Melbourne</a>, previously integrated with other news items, now sits prominently in the main menu - this is because we have introduced "Photo of the day". This is a single image we either take ourselves, or find from an external source, that we love and want to highlight. It may have been previously posted on the forum, or submitted to us by content partners.
If you are interested in participating, you can submit images in <a href="/news">this forum thread</a>.
We've also made changes to article categories. Given we specialise on planning application reporting, we've split this from a general 'Development' category and any planning application pieces will be in the new 'Planning' category. Likewise we have split Design from Sustainability &amp; Environment as well as splitting Policy and Culture into their own individual categories.
These article category splits have been partly guided by our ongoing user surveys conducted by Effective Measure.
We've also enhanced the login process to allow using either a username or associated e-mail address as the login. We have also implemented Transport Layer Security (TLS/SSL) across the site - data transmitted between your browser and our server is encrypted.
A belated apology for taking the site down for the past few days - when we only anticipated needing one - however we're back and ready to roll for 2014.
If you have any feedback, questions or would like to report any issues, we've created <a href="/news">this forum thread</a> that we'll be monitoring.
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Welcome to Urban.com.au 2.0

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On December 24th City of Stonnington lodged a request seeking approval for <a href="http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/connect-with-us/state-planning-reforms-/new-residential-zones-/" target="_blank">new planning zones</a> with the State Government.  According to the still active <a href="http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/theplanningsystem/improving-the-system/new-zones-for-victoria/new-and-reformed-residential-zones" target="_blank">DPCD website</a> "Reformed residential zones for Victoria have been approved to better respond to present-day requirements and will give greater clarity about the type of development that can be expected in any residential area."  With that in mind City of Stonnington, like all metropolitan Melbourne councils are required to analyse and consult their municipality and then ultimately roll out the newly reformed zones.

The map produced for the initial consultation period (see below) shows a larger use of the new Residential Growth Zone, whilst a comparison of the consultation/adopted maps shows High Street, Wattletree Road and Waverley Road have had their Residential Growth Zone overlay replaced with General Residential.  Likewise Toorak Road east of Orrong Road no longer sports the Residential Growth zone along one of the municipality's main thoroughfares.

The prominence of the Commercial Zone, <a href="http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/197352/34_01.pdf" target="_blank">which can incorporate residential uses</a>, in the western end of the municipality will ensure Chapel Street remains the primary focus of Stonnington's growth.  Chadstone Shopping Centre toward the far eastern end of Stonnington is naturally Commercial and interestingly the entire Stonnington side of Dandenong Road and Warrigal road around Chadstone is to receive the new Residential Growth zone.  

How long can we leave Chadstone without a fixed heavy rail link?  <a href="/news/all-roads-lead-to-chadstone" target="_blank">Urban.com.au has posed the question in the past</a>.

Upon analysing the maps - both the consultation period and council-adopted versions - a clear theme for the new Residential Growth Zone has been paired with Stonnington's many tram corridors.  For instance this section of Malvern Road, as seen below in Google's Street view, has been endorsed to have the new Residential Growth Zone.  

<iframe frameborder="0" height="394" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=-37.854137,145.049741&amp;panoid=8joBoWpXdiWRYac7sWehkQ&amp;cbp=13,266.32,,0,11.05&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=-37.857113,145.051482&amp;spn=0.006675,0.01502&amp;z=16&amp;output=svembed" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=-37.854137,145.049741&amp;panoid=8joBoWpXdiWRYac7sWehkQ&amp;cbp=13,266.32,,0,11.05&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=-37.857113,145.051482&amp;spn=0.006675,0.01502&amp;z=16" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a>

Similarly the section of Glenferrie Road between Malvern Road and High Street has been endorsed for the same Residential Growth zone treatment, enforcing the ideal that  higher density living should be within close proximity to light rail services.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="394" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=-37.853831,145.029708&amp;panoid=xssO6qjs_sf0UGMTYVf69Q&amp;cbp=13,15.52,,0,1.58&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=-37.855167,145.030367&amp;spn=0.003338,0.00751&amp;z=17&amp;output=svembed" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=-37.853831,145.029708&amp;panoid=xssO6qjs_sf0UGMTYVf69Q&amp;cbp=13,15.52,,0,1.58&amp;source=embed&amp;ll=-37.855167,145.030367&amp;spn=0.003338,0.00751&amp;z=17" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a>

Click the maps below to see a larger images of the residential zones as envisaged by City of Stonnington.  Alternatively click <a href="/news/reformed-planning-zones-city-of-moreland" target="_blank">here</a> to see Apartments.com.au's previous rundown on City of Moreland's changes, another council with intense development within its locality that will receive clarity in planning via the reformed residential zoning.

 
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Reformed planning zones: City of Stonnington

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The Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has given approval to 54-56 Clarke Street, Southbank.

<a href="/new-apartments/elysium-54-clarke-street-southbank" target="_blank">54-56 Clarke Street</a>, designed by <a href="http://b-k-k.com.au/" target="_blank">BKK</a>, will rise 240 metres above its peers, standing third tallest on Southbank (which could be shifted to forth tallest should <a href="/news/planning-application-1-23-queensbridge-street-southbank" target="_blank">1-23 Queensbridge Street</a> be built).  

Thanks to its slender profile, the building will only yield 256 apartments over 73 levels and the architects have managed to squeeze a café at ground level.  

Much of the talk in the mainstream press has revolved around the building's height however we at Apartments.com.au would like to draw attention to another important aspect of the building: its interaction with us, the passer-by on the street.

<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/54clarke_street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="54-56 Clarke Street street interaction"><img alt="" class="image-article-half-width-351px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_half_width_351px/public/pictures/article-images/54clarke_street.jpg?itok=M9DlAsr5" title="54-56 Clarke Street street interaction" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Image source: <a href="http://b-k-k.com.au/projects/multi-residential/project/clarke-street-apartment-development/" target="_blank">http://b-k-k.com.au/projects/multi-residential/project/clarke-street-apartment-development/</a>

Organic, active, green and unlike anything either on or a stone's throw away from City Road - a picture speaks a thousand words.  

54-56 Clarke Street will inevitably become a destination for more than just its residents and it most certainly will be a welcome one in an otherwise street life deprived block of Southbank.

 

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/192603718/54-56-Clarke-Street-approval" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View 54-56 Clarke Street approval on Scribd">54-56 Clarke Street approval</a>

<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_99568" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/192603718/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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54-56 Clarke Street Southbank Approved

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After having attended a lecture last Tuesday at the University of Melbourne presented by <a href="http://www.mcgill.ca/architecture/faculty/friedman" target="_blank">Avi Friedman</a>, Professor of Architecture at McGill University, many questions on housing affordability were posed in general and specifically relating to Melbourne. Professor Friedman is best known for his pioneering housing affordability work in Montréal through the creation of the Grow home and the Next home concepts which started out as pilot projects on the grounds of McGill University's campus and has since evolving to many thousands of individual units delivered in Montréal and further afield.

The <a href="http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/afhoce/afhostcast/afhoid/cohode/buhoin/buhoin_005.cfm" target="_blank">Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation</a>'s case study states that Grow homes are targeted at new home buyers "to create an affordable ownership housing form where the interior can be finished incrementally to match the space requirements and financial circumstances of the homeowners".

Architects like to talk about their craft with all its processes being a journey and as Professor Friedman noted in his lecture last Tuesday, he wasn't on a journey to land himself into glossy Architecture magazines (although he now is) – he wanted his work to make nations and markets change.

In the Western World, a car and white picket fence in a far flung suburb has been the predominant housing development pattern for the best part of half a century and yet when the conversation switches to housing affordability, it's generally this outer suburban development which gets categorised in the “most affordable” method.

But is it truly affordable?

Professor Friedman's work on the Grow home and the following incarnation - the Next Home - challenges the notion that when you buy a dwelling the internal fit out must be entirely complete upon picking up the keys.

In a nutshell the Next homes work like this: narrow - 6.1 metre wide - modules built with timber frames can be stacked both vertically and horizontally creating a diverse amount of unpartitioned internal space. The prospective buyer then proceeds through a formula of choosing a) how many floors they would like to purchase, b) how each floor's layout will be configured and c) how much of their dwelling they wish (and can afford) to fit out from the day they obtain the keys. Think of an IKEA catalogue for dwellings - refer to the 9th page, numbered 111 <a href="http://www.housingeducators.org/Journals/H&amp;S_Vol_25_No_1-2_The_Next_Home_Affordability_Through_Flexibility_and_Choice.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> for an example.

The whole concept forces the buyer to sharpen their focus on what they can truly afford.

Apart from empowering the purchaser with multiple individual choices to suit their needs and budget, the buyer in essence enters into a longer-term relationship with the developer than what currently is the norm, rather than the traditional method where which involves the purchase process, build, occupancy followed by the parting of ways upon completion. Next home buyers are instead encouraged to adapt the space they own as their needs change and financial position dictates.

Professor Friedman drew inspiration from the Car Manufacturing industry where buyers are given an inordinate amount of choice on exteriors, interiors, engine and various other other bells and whistles like GPS and iPod connectivity. Where you wouldn't want to buy a car with 3 wheels (when there's space, and a requirement, for 4), someone might want to buy 100 square metres of adaptable space and only partition and fit out 50% of it from day one.

The example Professor Friedman talked about in his lecture was a young couple selecting only a kitchen, bathroom and living area partitioned initially whilst having a second floor left unpartitioned and used as a giant bedroom. Over time as the young couple's space requirements and financial position evolves - such as when the family unit grows by 1 through the birth of a child - the couple can start to partition the second level accordingly. The home evolves with the occupants.

Even the cost of installing individual rooms has many different price points, the kitchen being a prime example - costs can be reduced by opting to have shelving instead of cupboards above benchtops with incremental change over time by purchasing cupboards from the developer at a later stage or by taking DIY route.

The Next home concept directly responds to changing demographics both on a neighbourhood basis and right down to a building level. Initially designed to cost $50,000CAD per floor (75 square metres) with land (Montreal prices at the start of last decade), 4 level buildings - perfect for the new Residential Growth zones being rolled out around Melbourne - could have a mixture of uses: ground floor retail, a 1 bedroom unit or office on the first floor and a 3 bedroom family unit on floors 2 and 3. The configuration of every individual building is solely reliant in the needs of a group of buyers.

In the Australian context, there are many issues to confront before we could ever hope to have affordable housing such as the Next home concept become mainstream. This mainly revolves around illustrating to the wider public the benefits of not necessarily "smaller" housing, but more compact housing and ensuring NIMBYism doesn't get the upper hand beyond the implementation of the new Residential Growth zones.

By all accounts, the NIMBY problem exists in Canada just as much as it does here however compact and higher density housing is far more prevalent right across Canada - something Australia would do well to learn from, mimic and even enhance the Canadian experience.

See below for a video of a similar lecture given by Professor Friedman at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlOWpmN6nXI

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="396" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BlOWpmN6nXI" width="100%"></iframe>
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Avi Friedman's outside the box thinking on affordable housing

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<div class="rtejustify">
	That's one of the recommendations from the <a href="http://www.ces.vic.gov.au/victorias-environment/state-of-environment-victoria-2009-2013" target="_blank">State of Environment Victoria 2013</a> report. </div>
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	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	The SOEV 2013 report quotes Sir Rod Eddington's observation of the 'Pursuit of "iconic" projects at the expense of small projects' as not being optimal and in section 4.3.5.1 on <a href="http://www.ces.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/230918/J_CfES_SoE-report_PartB-G4_382-495_lo-res_reduced.pdf" target="_blank">page 453</a>, the report goes on to explain cheaper and more effective public transport options can be brought to those who currently have access to mediocre levels of public transport by ramping up investment in bus services.</div>
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	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	Notwithstanding the broad nature of the report, to have such a specific recommendation aiding sustainable communities via significant bus investment is telling.  The Public Transport debate tends to revolve around the big ticket items: Melbourne Metro, the entire PTV Heavy Rail plan with buses and trams seemingly put to the wayside.</div>
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	 </div>
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	<img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_702px" height="519" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/transit_modes_at_a_glance_SOEV_2013_page_443.jpg?itok=2Z6RvgSa" width="702">
</div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	The above graphic can be found on page 443 of the report and provides a brilliant rundown on the costs of implementation, the time to start services and potential ridership of different modes of Public Transport.</div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	If there is one thing that could be looked upon as a great positive from the past 50 years of auto-centric suburban expansion in Melbourne. it's the scale and capacity of the road network which has over time come along with it.  Wide medians, wide lanes and wide corridors - think Springvale Road, Cheltenham Road and Stud Road in the East for example - are all prime examples where prior State Governments have begun to see the potential in investing in better bus services via the Smart Bus network.</div>
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	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	Yet, to date Smart Bus has been the highest profile road-based Public Transport investment.  In essence the difference between a Smart Bus service and a 'normal' bus service is unique livery for the fleet operating the routes, higher frequency of service, longer operating hours, extraordinarily long routes and real time information at select bus stops.</div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	Whilst strong growth in patronage can be <a href="http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/Research-and-statistics/Bus-patronage-growth-December-2011.pdf" target="_blank">demonstrated</a> for Smart Buses, might we query whether expansion of the Smart Bus network is the best course of action for Melbourne?</div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	Buses run on roads.  Melbourne has a robust and expansive road network.  You don't need to install expensive real time information bus stops to run buses more frequently.  Route straightening, frequency increase on weekdays and weekends and greater investment in fleets and drivers can easily be marketed directly to local users.  </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	As the below graphic illustrates, convenience is one of the highest reasons for not catching Public Transport.  Given the depth and breadth of our road network, there should be no excuse for investing in a bus route network which utilises this great asset.  And to make it all work, frequency of service - whether it is a major arterial route or a collector - should be the absolute top priority.  </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	Notwithstanding the number of people who would scream blue murder at the thought of their road network being taken over by buses (by way of extended bus lanes to allow multiple routes running on major corridors at higher frequencies) or trucks, in the outer suburbs where I grew up, the bus was looked upon as the poor man's transport.  Trains?  That's how you got to the city.  But to get to Fountain Gate?  You drove, or had your parents drive you.</div>
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	 </div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	This is the very culture and mentality that needs to be attacked head on and the buses are the cheapest and most rapidly deployable mode of Public Transport in arsenal to win not just the battle, but the war on congestion and basic service access.</div>
<div class="rtejustify">
	 </div>
<img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_702px" height="359" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/selected_reasons_for_not_using_pt_SOEV_2013_page_452.jpg?itok=M8HSEZkL" title="Select reasons for not using Public Transport - SOEV 2013 report, Page 452" width="702">
It's interesting the collective 20% from the transport survey above who nominated "Need to carry passengers, equipment or tools" or "Own vehicle needed" seem to be some of the loudest voices when it comes to a Public Transport versus Road expansion debate on mainstream media outlets - yet as this study shows, they're quite a significant minority.    
If balance of transport modes and dwelling type for a growing Melbourne is the aim of the State Government of the day and into the future, then why aren't buses prioritised over say, the Mernda Rail extension?   Bus drivers are the fastest and cheapest to procure and train, bus routes are the cheapest to implement and they're a vehicle type which can run on infrastructure that already exists.
The SOEV 2013 report's authors ought to be commended for focusing on the blindingly obvious Public Transport mode which will have the greatest effect on new growth areas as well as aiding the network effect in existing areas for a future sustainable Melbourne.
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Melbourne needs more focus on buses: SOEV 2013 Report

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For the past few weeks you may have noticed a small popup in the bottom right hand corner stating Apartments.com.au is looking to better understand its audience.  

<img alt="" class="image-article_half_width_351px" height="241" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_half_width_351px/public/pictures/article-images/share_feedback.jpg?itok=tq3_DJaN" title="Share Feedback button" width="351">

We have recently onboarded Melbourne-based global online measurement company <a href="http://www.effectivemeasure.com/" target="_blank">Effective Measure</a> to help us with this task.

The <a href="http://survey-b.effectivemeasure.net/launch/2WpsjiGs0nqv38ixax2wzukhyYrCqq3MEAflYoSrybVOjEHh5YDFZMLzcZn9HZO9/info" target="_blank">survey</a> has standard market research questions - age group, gender, profession, level of education and income brackets - however we have also added 3 custom questions to the survey more specific to Apartments.com.au.   And it's these Apartments.com.au questions along with the profession-based Market Research questions which will have an impact on the content we plan to publish in the new year - so we would greatly appreciate as many responses as possible.

All data is reported to us in aggregate form - meaning no personally identifiable information appears in the Effective Measure reports - and you have the choice of not answering specific questions.  Along with helping us plan our content for next year, the data collected during November and December will be used for a new media kit we will be producing in January 2014.

So on behalf of the Editors of Apartments.com.au we'd like to thank you for helping us out by you taking a few minutes out of your day to complete the survey.

You can directly access the survey via this <a href="http://survey-b.effectivemeasure.net/launch/2WpsjiGs0nqv38ixax2wzukhyYrCqq3MEAflYoSrybVOjEHh5YDFZMLzcZn9HZO9/info" target="_blank">link</a>. (Opens in New Window).

Our privacy policy can be viewed <a href="/content/privacy-policy">here</a>.  Effective Measure's privacy policy can be viewed <a href="http://www.effectivemeasure.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank">here</a>.

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Urban.com.au audience survey

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

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]

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

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

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The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

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The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

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What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Alastair Taylor

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