Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

Joel Robinson

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

First look: Winx billionaire’s beachfront Surfers Paradise apartment development greenlit

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

&nbsp;

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

The top five reasons to buy in a mixed-use development

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

Off-the-plan property explained: What is stamp duty?

Roberts Co has entered a new phase of growth following its acquisition by Arada, one of the world’s fastest-growing property developers in Australia.

The acquisition is supported by a $50 million capital injection into Roberts Co’s Australian balance sheet, consisting of the previously announced $25 million recapitalisation and an additional $25 million in new funding from Arada.

This investment strengthens Roberts Co’s financial position, stabilises operations, and provides the foundation for strategic expansion beyond its New South Wales base, with a focus on new opportunities in Queensland, including the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions.

With Arada’s international resources and financial backing, Roberts Co will broaden its portfolio across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors, reinforcing its strong market position in New South Wales and setting itself to capture growth in one of Australia’s most dynamic construction markets.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said Roberts Co has a proud Australian heritage, an outstanding delivery record, and a strong reputation for collaboration with clients and partners.

"By combining this expertise with Arada’s global scale and financial capacity, we are creating a platform for sustained growth in the Australian market,"&nbsp;Alkhoshaibi said.

“Our $50 million capital injection, including new funds from Arada, underlines our commitment to both stabilise and expand Roberts Co’s operations, particularly into the fast-growing Queensland market. We see significant potential in South-East Queensland’s pipeline and are confident Roberts Co is well placed to deliver lasting value for clients and communities.”

George Kostas, CEO of Roberts Co, said Queensland, and particularly South-East Queensland, is one of the most active and opportunity-rich regions in Australia right now.

"The lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will bring unprecedented investment across housing, transport, and infrastructure. Roberts Co is eager to play a major role in that transformation and secure a meaningful share of this fast-growing market.”

Arada pours more funds into Roberts Co, flags expansion into South East Queensland construction market

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The Housing Industry Association new home sales report, a survey of Australia's largest volume builders, shows seasonally adjusted new home sales increased by 4.2% in January 2013.
It reflected a 4% increase in detached house sales and a 4.9% boost in multi-unit sales.
"It is a promising update to see the momentum of late 2012 carrying into the new year," said HIA chief economist, Harley Dale.
"Over the three months to January this year new home sales increased by 10%, although sales volumes were still 6.4% lower compared to the same period a year earlier."
"Sales of new detached houses have now increased over three consecutive months, a crucial improvement given the considerable weakness experienced through the majority of last year," said Harley Dale.
"Even now, the volume of detached house sales is not much more than half the long term average. Consequently there is a long way to go to see evidence that new home building will reach the levels the economy requires as the contribution from resources-related investment wanes."
In the month of January 2013 detached house sales increased by 9.1% in Victoria, 10.6% in South Australia, and 7.4% in Western Australia.
Sales fell by 1.3% in New South Wales and were down by 6% in Queensland.
Over the three months to January 2013 detached house sales increased by 23.7 % in New South Wales, 10.8% in Victoria, 13.2% in South Australia, and 7.6% in Western Australia.
Detached house sales fell by 3.1% over this three month period in Queensland.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

New home sales post fourth consecutive rise in January: HIA

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According the ABS Australia’s housing inventory currently stands at some 8.7 million dwellings. Almost 78% are detached homes, and the balance is almost evenly split between semi-detached homes and apartments. And while apartment living is very much on the increase, the marketing of land estates and house-and-land packages is a major part of the market. Last year our major builders, for example, spent some $105m on media marketing their homes.
House and land
Expansive suburban house-and-land packages have for more than half a century been a part of how urban communities have expanded. For many reasons house-and-land packages are the most popular housing choice, and marketing has been well developed to support this popular market.
House-and-land packages are usually defined as being a sale where a buyer finds an estate, a location and a particular block and then makes choice from a selection of builders to build a home. This same process may also well happen in reverse, where buyers first find their ideal home and then find land to build on. There are many display villages to help and encourage this process.
However, many of the circumstances and comments will also apply to the marketing of a brand-new home where the buyer selects an already complete home in a single transaction.
House-and-land packages are usually associated with new estates. Many of these estates, in particular the very big estates, will be in new greenfield locations on the outskirts of existing cities, although some will be infill locations.
Despite some land shortages in most markets, including Sydney, there are many examples of such developments, and they are the major source of supply.
House-and-land packages are clearly associated with such locations, and the large estates are seen as an ideal way to offer buyers choice. A similar choice of size, location, quality and price would not be provided in smaller developments, where display homes are not a viable marketing tool.
Major new residential housing projects tend, by virtue of the amount of land involved, to be located at the edge of the established residential footprint. But this is not always the case, as tracts of land do become available after a change in use is re-zoned, and these infill locations then present their own marketing challenge. Even large infill locations can lack the services required to sustain a vibrant new community. Examples would include a reborn industrial area, market gardens or defense land previously equipped only with limited services for previous workforce or much smaller community.
However, despite the problems associated with some new estates, including a lag in facilities, long drives to work and at times high prices, suburban developments are still very popular.
I think that we would agree that while many Australians might dream of living on the coast or in the country, in reality the best quality of life for most is still found in the suburbs, in one of the many new estates on the market.
The aspiration to move to the coast or the country is part of the Australian psyche, but what we’re in many ways marketing housing that offers a popular lifestyle.
People do not need much persuasion that they are better off in the suburbs. For many the promise (and reality) is suburbs that have the best of all worlds, with access to good schools, modern hospitals, great shops and reliable jobs, but also large houses, fast internet connections and low crime rates. And when a project marketing job ticks these boxes, everyone is happy!
While a shift to more medium- and high-density living located in the inner city is a trend, the era of the new housing estate will remain part of the local market for many decades yet to come. The area still remains a fertile market and rich environment for marketing professionals.
This being the case, some of the core issues that must always be addressed are:
<ul>
<li> Land supply and location</li>
<li>Onsite site sales facilities</li>
<li>Display homes</li>
<li>Marketing plans – key pointers in particular a whole of market environment</li>
<li>The builder and developer relationship</li>
<li>Product mix and how to best appeal to the target market</li>
<li>The controlled release of land</li>
<li>Estate presentation</li>
<li>How everyone involved with an estate should contribute to the ongoing marketing energy of the estate </li>
</ul>
This is a rich environment where there are many complex questions that I am keen to focus attention as all of the topics will impact every aspect of the project marketing role, from the practical issues of how will people find a project, to selling the yet unrealised lifestyle offer.
Peter Chittenden is managing director for residential of <a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/Colliers%20Corporate/Residential.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colliers International.</a>
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pchittenden-eLqUUC8TWW

How to market house-and-land projects: Peter Chittenden

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After the passing of my father two weeks ago, I’ve found myself pondering a lot of things. Things I’ve learnt from him and things that I want to teach my sons.  Dad didn’t teach me by sitting me down to explain anything, he simply did his thing and I watched. At the time I didn’t even realise I was taking it in, but now looking back, his work ethic and attitude shaped mine.
When writing his eulogy with my brothers and sister, it was truly amazing to recognise all the different jobs he worked to make money. He seemed to always have an idea for creating some extra income, like when he was a milkman: he saw an opportunity to sell hotdogs to the farmers at the co-op where he picked up his milk, as they’d been up early to get the milk to the city and were hungry. So he kept a pot of hot water with the hotdogs and bread rolls in his truck and after selling out, he’d then start on his milk deliveries.
Another example was when he bought a white LTD car – with four kids he needed a big car. But he also used it for chauffeuring weddings on his weekends after working all week in his own tyre-fitting business.
Dad didn’t go to uni or study, everything useful he learnt was from doing it.
While I did go to uni years ago I don’t really use what I studied now.  Everything I learnt about property development has been from doing.  When I remember back to my first development, I really had no idea what I was doing, but I learnt from my builders and my surveyor and my tradies by asking lots and lots and lots of questions and then having a go.
When I made a mistake, I learnt not to do it that way. After 60 or more developments under my belt, I am still learning from each one because they all bring something a little different to me. These differences make up my experience.  I learnt to develop property by doing and repeating and then refining the process.
I see lots of people wanting to learn about property by completing more and more courses, doing more and more seminars.  Like my dad, I believe the real education comes from doing; it comes from the experience that you will take away from what you do.
Jo Chivers is director of <a title="Property Bloom" href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
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jochivers-wq5Bp59R5a

You learn property development and investment by doing, not studying: Jo Chivers

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Sales of residential land on Melbourne’s fringes are set to retreat to levels last seen in 2006 as land prices continue to fall.
Following reports showing that around <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/long-slow-road-to-recovery-for-melbourne-residential-land-market-with-prices-to-fall-further-charter-keck-cramer/2012121158413" target="_blank">30% of all released Melbourne land is being returned by building companies,</a> there seems to be little respite for Melbourne residential developers in 2013, with a higher number of projects competing for business from seemingly reluctant buyers adding to the challenges they face.
According to the latest quarterly report from Oliver Hume, there has been a 29% increase in the number of residential projects being marketed on Melbourne fringes since 2006 with the real estate group forecasting 160 active projects in 2013.
Oliver Hume anticipates that land sales are likely to fall to around 65 per project a year.
“Put simply, since 2006, there has been a 29% increase in the number of projects and a 5% decline in the number of land settlements.
“For the majority of projects, double-digit sales rates may be a long way away,” says report author Andrew Perkins.
Land prices have now fallen for by a cumulative 16% over eight consecutive quarters with an average residential lot price of $190,000.
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Melbourne land prices peaked at an average residential lot price of $225,750 in December 2010.
At the same time, developers continue to offer highly contentious rebates to customers with the median rebate rising slightly during the quarter to $15,000.
Median rebates ranged from $10,000 in Cardinia and Whittlesea to $16,500 in Casey.
When discounting for rebates, Wyndham is the only municipality with a median land price above $200,000.
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The biggest decline from peak prices has occurred in Whittlesea, where the average lot price has fallen 18.6% since peaking in December 2010, falling from $229,850 to just $187,250 – a decline of $42,700. Whittlesea is about 40 kilometres north east of Melbourne.
Land prices have declined 16.9% in Melton, 35 kilometres to the west of the Melbourne CBD. Prices peaked later in Melton than in other fringe suburbs. They reached their highest point in September 2011 of $189,500 and have since declined to just $157,500 – a decline of $32,000.
Casey in Melbourne’s outer south east recorded the third steepest fall in in values with the median land price falling 14.5% from their peak in December 2010 from $232,550 to $198,000 – a decline of nearly $34,000.
Double-digit declines from peaks were also recorded in Hume (values down 13.1%) in Melbourne’s outer north west and in Melbourne’s newest land market Mitchell: Wallan- Beveridge, where values are down 13.8% to just $153,000 – the cheapest place to buy land on the outskirts of Melbourne.
Wyndham and Cardinia recorded the only single digit falls: 9.3% and 9.9% respectively.
For the fourth consecutive quarter, the retail supply has waxed and waned between 3,600 and 3,700 lots, which at current project sales rates, represents 6.6 months supply.
Only three of the seven municipalities recorded an increase in supply over the December quarter: Mitchell (Wallan-Beveridge), Casey and Hume.
Mitchell (Wallan-Beveridge) has the most supply with 9.9 months supply; followed by Whittlesea with 9.5 months. Wyndham and Hume are the smallest with 4.9 and 5 months supply respectively.
"Although many analysts suggest that Melbourne house prices will rise in the year ahead, few would suggest that we are in for a period where growth-area land prices may start to climb.
"There are nevertheless several indicators suggesting the down-side risk is no longer greater than the upside potential," says Oliver Hume.*
Exacerbating the challenges facing fringe land developers, a recent report by Essential Economics warned that Melbourne’s growth areas needed $10 billion spent on new education, transport and health services in the next 15 years - this from a Victorian government trying to rein in spending.
In addition, Essential Economics found there were more limited job opportunities in the 10 councils that form Melbourne's outer urban ring including Wyndham, Melton, Hume, Whittlesea, Yarra Ranges, Casey and Cardinia.
*Update to article: An earlier version of the article included an incorrect statement:  " Oliver Hume reports that developers are holding back on releasing large amounts of land to the market as take—up remains poor." This statement was incorrect and has been removed.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Melbourne land sales heading for toughest year since 2006 as rebates rise: Oliver Hume

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During my week, I get sent many potential development sites to assess.  I have a system that enables me to do a quick check before seriously considering any site.
My quick assessment looks at:
<ul>
<li>Location </li>
<li>Size</li>
<li>Slope or gradient</li>
<li>Aspect</li>
<li>Price</li>
</ul>
I’ll expand on these so you know what I look at.
Site Location
Obviously the first thing I’m told or see from the email is what town the land is in. If this town is one that we develop in or in a town we want to develop in I continue. We have preferred towns based on rental demand, sales values and growth history, where my builders will work and what the councils are like to work with. Once the town is approved, we look at the location of the site within the town. We know where the housing commission areas or other undesirable locations are, so we will rule a site out based on this. On the other hand, we know the premium areas of our towns, and I’ll get excited if the site is within these areas. They might be near major shopping facilities, hospitals, schools and parks.
The road or street the site is on is assessed next.  Busy/main roads are usually out and quiet roads close to amenities are in. New subdivision estates are good as long as they have been planned well and there is a limit on dual occupancies within the estate.
Size of site
The square meters we require will depend on the development strategy of our client. We need larger sites for medium density, 1,000 square metres or more for three-unit developments (single storey). For a detached dual-occupancy project we like corner sites around 750 square metres plus. For attached dual-occupancy projects, we only need around 600 square metres, although the width of the frontage is very important.  For our granny flat developments we like 800-square-metre-plus sites with dual access and the position of the existing house and whether it’s a complying site is very important.
If a site has passed the first two checks above, we move on and look at:
Slope or gradient of the land
This can be hard to tell unless we are standing there looking at the land or have a contour survey; beware photos, as they can be deceiving. We don’t like sites with more than about a one-metre fall but will consider them based on the price of the land. The more slope to a site, the higher the site costs such as retaining. If we can get the land cheaper, this will help offset the higher costs. Ideally a relatively flat site is best as long as there is adequate fall to the sewer line and we can drain to the street.
Aspect
We can quickly assess this even without a survey. Here’s a good tip: just look up the address on Google maps or in the street directory and check the compass rose on the page. Then visualise where the units will go and where the internal and external living spaces will be. An ideal site will have the living spaces facing north.  Aspect is not a deal breaker as long as the site is ticking all the other boxes and we will still proceed.
Price
Of course the price of a development site is important. But there is no point even looking at the price if the site hasn’t met the criteria above.  We have a good understanding on building costs for our developments so we can run a quick analysis now and see if the land is priced well. If not, we will let the developer, vendor or agent (whoever has offered it to us) know that the project is simply not viable at that price. If they are not negotiable then we’ll leave it.  It won’t sell to an experienced developer, although it may sell to an inexperienced one.
I can make the assessment above within about five minutes if we have a contour survey.  If not, I’ll call my builder’s nearest site manager and ask them to drive by and check for me if I’m not in the area.
Once we are happy with the elements above, we report back to our client and ask them to look into their conditional finance while we then start our more detailed assessments with council and our builder before negotiating the purchase of the site.
Jo Chivers is director of <a title="Property Bloom" href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
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The five criteria to determine whether a block is suitable for residential development: Jo Chivers

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Stockland has delivered a horror set of interim results, reporting a 148% drop in statutory interim profits and a loss of $147 million to December 31.
A slump in the outer-Melbourne land market was largely to blame, with Victorian residential lot sales falling 46% from 850 to just 463.
In the space of six months, Victoria has gone from being Stockland's biggest selling region to third biggest, behind a surging WA and a declining Queensland,with NSW the fastest growing region, albeit from a low base.
Australia’s biggest new housing builder with 70 residential communities also reported a $306 million write-down across 13 residential community projects, which have now been listed for wholesale disposal.
Today’s release of results were something of a baptism of fire for new Stockland managing director and chief executive Mark Steinert – the first results briefing he has presided over since taking being appointed to the role  in November and replacing  the long-serving Matthew Quinn.
Ahead of delivering his market briefing on the results today, Steinert called the results “disappointing".
Speaking to the media and analysts, he downgraded this assessment to “very disappointing, driven primarily by weakness in housing market” though he says the outlook is better for the 2014 financial year (from July onwards).
<img alt="stocklandfeb13" height="580" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/02/stocklandfeb13.gif">
Five of the impaired residential projects are in NSW, six in Queensland, one in Victoria and one in WA.
In total there are 4,700 lots across the 13 projects – about 5.5% of the 86,000 lots currently in the Stockland development pipeline.
They include long-held residential sites such as Pinny and Mawson (englobo land) and West Dapto in NSW and Birtinya, Bokarina Beach and Lake Kawana projects, all on the Sunshine Coast.
The residential business was weakest in Victoria over the six-month period, with Stockland reporting a 46% decline in Victorian settlements to 463, compared with 850 in the first half of the 2012 financial year.
This contributed to an overall 6% decline in residential settlement over the first half of 2,085 compared with 2,209 in the previous corresponding period.
There was also a 13% decline in Queensland settlements (686 to 594) – Stockland has a third of the south-east Queensland new housing market – with these declines offset by rises in lot settlements in NSW (up 101% from 210 to 422 lots sold) and WA (up 31% to 606 lots due to growth in new community launches).
Stockland will look to bring its East Leppington and Marsden Park projects on the outskirts of Sydney to market more quickly.
East Leppington in Sydney’s south-west will comprise 3,000 residential lots as well as retirement living and retail facilities with the first settlements expected in the second half of the 2014 financial year. House-and-land packages will start from $350,000.
Stockland acquired the 163-hectare residential site at Marsden Park in Sydney’s north-west from the private Winten Property Group for $165 million in January this year with the potential to deliver about 2,300 new homes. Stockland also secured the first right of refusal from Winten Property Group over an adjacent parcel of land, which has the potential for a further 2,200 homes.
Commenting on the state of the Melbourne market, Steinert said the market had been impacted by the state government efficiently delivering new land supply to the market and by the withdrawal of previous state housing grants.
“We don’t see a collapse, but this has put some downward pressure on price increases,” he said.
“The pull forward effect from early incentives effected prior levels of volume. Those incentives are no longer there, which has created recent slowing in settlements.
“Those things combined – increase in supply and withdrawal of incentives  - means we have a cautious view for Victoria and Melbourne, but it is still an important part of our business and a key profit generator.
Steinert said Stockland’s south-east Queensland business – Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane – had been impacted by the higher Australian dollar on tourism as well as weaker employment growth.
Countering that, he said the increasing use of fly-in-fly-out workers was having a “positive impact”.
Steinert also warned that “election cycle” could also increase buyer caution while there are also concerns over the impact of the recent floods.
He highlighted that business is in a transition phase with everything up for review and he said their had already been signficant job cuts.
"Market conditions, however, are expected to remain challenging with ongoing weakness in Victoria and uncertainty in Queensland where we will watch closely to monitor any impact on already weak consumer sentiment following the recent floods," Steinert said in an earlier statement today.
Stockland expects earnings from its retail and retirement living businesses but returns from its office and industrial portfolios were expected to drop.
"We remain confident earnings will begin to improve from the 2014 financial year as we see the benefit of major new retail and residential projects coming on line,” he said.
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Stockland pins hopes on western Sydney and WA residential projects as interim profits slump 148% 

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The Gold Coast house-and-land market has sunk to its lowest level in over 30 years.
Residential land and house-and-land packages sales totalled just 980 for the full calendar 2012 year, compared with a long-term average sales of 4,200 per year since 1995, according to the latest quarterly Prodap Report.
This is particularly bad news for developer Stockland, which is selling residential lots and house-and-land packages in six residential communities on the Gold Coast and has 35% of the market.
According to the Prodap Report, the three biggest residential development projects on the Gold Coast are all Stockland projects.
Stockland’s biggest is its Riverstone Crossing project in Upper Coomera, which accounts for 10% of the vacant land market on the Gold Coast. Land in the project is priced between $205,000 and $480,000.
Prodap reports just 22 sales over the December quarter in this project, though up from 15 in the September quarter.
Stockland acquired the 14-hectare site along the Coomera River in 2007 for $15.7 million with plans for 652 lots. To date 337 lots have been sold, with 15 still available and another 75 due to be released over the next 12 months.
Stockland’s two other major projects on the Gold Coast are Highland Reserve also in Upper Coomera, with 19 sales over the quarter (25 in September quarter), and Ormeau Ridge in Ormeau, with 18 sales over the quarter (down from 35 in the September quarter).
In its most recent market update in December, Stockland reported that the new housing market remained “poor” with a “negligible impact” from recent interest rate reductions. The introduction of the $15,000 construction grant available to first-home buyers in Queensland who buy or build a new home since September has also not had an impact on demand.
Stockland's head of residential communities, Mark Hunter, said market uncertainty and a lack of confidence were the biggest problems facing the market.
The Prodap report says there are over 2,800 lots that developers plan to produce over the next 12 months – not all of which will go ahead in the current market – adding that Stockland, Mirvac, Lend Lease and QM Properties have combined sufficient land banked to satisfy total market demand.
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Along with the drop in demand, the report quotes Department of Natural Resources figures showing that Gold Coast house prices fell by 4.5% and units by 7.3% during 2012.
Prodap Report author Bill Morris says such a “grim picture” of the new housing production market has not been witnessed since the 1981-82 recession.
Over the December quarter Prodap records 166 residential lots sales and 64 house-and-land packages sales – a total of 230 compared with 239 sales in the September quarter.
There are 1,117 vacant lots and house-and-land packages for sale on the Gold Coast, with Stockland the most heavily exposed, with 35% of the market.
“The sad news is that not even record low interest rates seem to have had any effect on the volume of sales. Sad but true,” says Morris, who adds that a reduction in council infrastructure charges had no effect on new production.
Morris says the problem is that established houses are cheaper and in many cases better located than new houses.
“In other words, replacement costs are higher than the price of older homes.
“Why is this so? Land prices are still too high, representing more than 50% of the price of the average home. This was not case 10 years ago, when the average serviced block cost $60,000. In 10 years that has risen to $220,000, almost 300% or 30% per annum” says Morris.
Morris says land prices have escalated out of all proportion to house prices over the past 10 years.
“There needs to be a new era of thinking about what level of services constitutes an 'acceptable' house lot. Do we need 'fully serviced' lots? Can we use septic tanks or package sewage treatment for individual lots?
“Should we continue to treat stormwater to very high standards, or should we 'dose' creeks with nitrates to neutralise phosphorous and nitrogen build up?” says Morris.
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Stockland exposed as Gold Coast house-and-land activity falls to worst level in 30 years: Prodap

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In an Australian-first engineering feat, Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia have elevated a 110-tonne steel frame 100 metres in the air, successfully attaching it to the One Central Park apartment block on Sydney’s Broadway.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/heliostat1.jpg" alt="heliostat1" width="470" height="194">
It is considered the most complex part of the construction process in building Australia’s first residential heliostat. Frasers Property Australia chief Guy Pahor says the joint venture partners are delighted builder Watpac was up to the the "highly challenging engineering and construction task".
He said it had been 30 months in the making.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/heliostat2.jpg" alt="heliostat2" width="470" height="601">
When the cantilever is completed, the residents of  Sky at One Central Park will have access to the sky garden with outdoor dining and a plunge pool.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/heliostat3.jpg" alt="heliostat3" width="470" height="313">
Underneath its 3,000 coloured LED lights will become an eye-catching piece of public art at night, illuminating the residential towers with a light display designed by French lighting artist Yann Kersale.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/heliostat4.jpg" alt="heliostat4" width="470" height="313">
With the reflector frame now in place, the next complex task requires 320 large mirrored panels to be affixed to the enormous reflector frame.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/heliostat5.jpg" alt="heliostat5" width="470" height="313">
The Sky apartments comprise 38 penthouse and sub-penthouse apartments, ranging in size from 120 square metre to 200 square metres for the two bedroom offerings and 190 square metres for a dual-level, three-bedroom penthouse.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/02/heliostat6.jpg" alt="heliostat6" width="470" height="313">
 Construction completion is expected in late 2013.
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Frasers and Sekisui House's One Central Park in Sydney gets Australia's first rooftop heliostat

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It’s been about 12 years since I started my business. Within this period I’ve established many business relationships.
The thing that I’ve really learnt is that relationships are extremely valuable.  Not shallow, B.S. relationships but good, strong established relationships that can only really be made with time.
As a property investor and developer, having good relationships can propel you further than you could imagine. Just this week, my relationship with one of my builders gives my lucky new client the opportunity to purchase a choice development site. This site is owned by my builder’s company, and they’ve been sitting on it for a little while, land banking.  The beauty of this deal is that Property Bloom has already completed a development in the same subdivision for another client. This project was one of the best results we’ve achieved to date, with the creation of over $220,000 in equity in just over a year.  So I knew it was a hot site, I knew what the build costs would most likely be and I knew that my new client could never find a deal like this himself.
The benefit to my client is time and risk minimisation. Because the land is not on the open market, we have the time to spend looking closely at the project. This development site has been offered to me exclusively. I now have the luxury of time to show my new client the land and take him through the project analysis. If this site were to hit the open market, that luxury is removed and there would be a rush to secure the site. This is where errors in the analysis process can be made, when there is no time to properly assess a site. The price of the land can also be driven up by multiple parties.
Here’s another good example of how a strong relationship helps both parties. We have a preferred real estate agent in one of the large towns in the Hunter region we develop in. This agent is savvy. He also understands the value of relationships. He’s been building one with me for 12 years.  He will call me as soon as he has a good development site, before it hits the open market; he knows what I’m looking for. I know where I stand with him when we are negotiating a purchase.
In return, I refer him business – because he’s a great agent, I have no hesitation in recommending him. He has offered our clients a good discount in property management fees and so he and his business has become our preferred agency in this town.  We scratch each other’s backs.
From our arrangement, he gets all of my client’s properties to manage.  Believe me, I would not refer his business to my clients if he didn’t have the best property management team on staff, and he does.  There were a few years when he took a break from the industry, sold his agency to one of his staff, and I never heard from that new owner again. The relationship he had worked so hard to build was easily broken by the new owner when he didn’t call. I didn’t have faith in the business so I stopped referring it. The new owner didn’t understand the value in keeping the established relationships. I'm glad to say, my agent resurfaced in a larger town a few years later and has worked hard to be one of if not the best agent in this area. We were back in business.
Our business relationships are precious and we nurture them accordingly. As a reward, our clients get priority service from several of our suppliers, our pest and building inspector, our surveyor, our architect, our certifier, our builders, our trades – plus we get to work with an awesome team of people who we respect.  You can’t buy this, you need to build this, and it all comes together with time.  Over time, you work out who you need, who you can rely on and most importantly, who you like doing business with.
Jo Chivers is director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/" title="Property Bloom">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
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Strong relationships the cornerstone to successful property investment

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The $400 million Hamilton Reach development by Australand has successfully sold four terrace homes in the second stage of the Green Quarter precinct.
Construction of the first 12 Green Quarter terrace homes is now complete with $11.5 million secured in sales after its late 2011 launch.
<img height="378" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/01/greenquarter.jpg" alt="greenquarter">
The two-storey Green Quarter homes had been "hugely popular", says Richard Fulcher, general manager of Queensland residential Australand.
<img height="374" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/01/greenquarter2.jpg" alt="greenquarter2">
The second and final stage of the Green Quarter precinct was released last October with 10 townhouses, ranging in size from 241 square metres to 283 square metres and priced from $980,000 to $1.475 million. With four already sold the remaining six offerings are priced from $980,000 to $1.15 million.
The Hamilton Reach development is located six kilometres from the Brisbane CBD in north shore <a target="_blank" href="/news">Hamilton </a>and is bordered by 530 metres of river frontage and 2.5 hectares of Northshore Riverside Park.
<img height="204" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/01/greenquarter1.jpg" alt="greenquarter1">
The Green Quarter precinct is located one street from the river.
Homes within the precinct endeavour to promote environmentally friendly living – with solar panels and solar hot water to reduce energy and water consumption.
The terrace homes, designed by Rothe Lowman White architects, also boast internal courtyards, high-level windows and private terraces.
“We are happy to see people embracing the concept of environmentally sustainable living, which is becoming increasingly important to buyers as they become more conscious about energy consumption and reducing their carbon footprint,” says Fulcher.
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