There’s no sign of the development wave that began several years ago slowing along Old Burleigh Road.

Around 10 new apartment developments are either underway or preparing to launch along the 800-metre strip stretching from the southern edge of Surfers Paradise towards the heart of Broadbeach, collectively adding just shy of 1,000 new apartments to the beachfront corridor.

The latest plans propose a further 30 apartments to replace an original six-unit walk-up on a 658 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/20a-old-burleigh-road-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">20A Old Burleigh Road</a>. The 14-storey building has been designed by Ferro Chow Architecture, which recently joined the Elevation Architecture Group.

The developer behind the project is Geoffrey Booth, whose Future Liv In has focused on delivering rental accommodation across regional Australia.

<img alt="Old Burleigh Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99d393e7-d404-43bc-80cb-6255c39b83d6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2012.28.44%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ZFT8F3mOny4M4ut.kFF3woC9WH9oR5gT" />

The Old Burleigh Road development will comprise 18 two-bedroom apartments, 10 three-bedroom apartments, and a single four-bedroom residence occupying the entirety of level 12. Above, the building will be crowned by a two-storey penthouse with its own private lift, several multi-purpose rooms, and two rooftop terraces — one featuring a puppy lawn and spa, the other offering a private swimming pool, sunset deck, and built-in barbecue.

Resident amenities will be located on the second level and include a pool with adjoining spa, cabana, and pool deck, along with an indoor residents’ lounge featuring a bar and an alfresco barbecue kitchen.

In the architectural statement submitted by Elevation Architecture, the project is referred to as “UMI”, which the firm says has been “inspired by the majestic hinterlands and shaped by the coastal climate”.

“It is an exemplar of how community living can still feel at one with nature, breathable, and deeply connected in place,” the architects noted.

They added that the site benefits from established building separation to adjoining towers, helping to maintain privacy, sunlight, and residential amenity, while still offering direct beach access within an urban setting.

“Drawing inspiration from the Gold Coast hinterlands and the region’s natural landscape, the podium and tower detail highlights the contrasting elements of treetop green and cliff-face peach. The vibrant texture and materiality shaped by time has a richness in depth and character.”

<img alt="Old Burleigh Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3d6c923-a0ab-4d74-86da-177313447e8e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2012.28.38%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=i2fygmoVQM6hWpbATTAW_yTitoMTrnI1" />

Old Burleigh Road has become a hotspot for developers, with the three-tower Jewel development kickstarting a wave of projects up and down the strip when it was completed in 2020.

Currently under construction and approaching completion is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/faro-broadbeach-123-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">FARO Broadbeach</a> by 5Point and Bottega, 21 large-scale half- and full-floor apartments. 5Point is also behind the recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lumara-108-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Lumara</a>, another 37 apartments to add to the pipeline.

Luxury builder GRAYA is progressing construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/enclave-by-graya-118-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Enclave</a>, its first Gold Coast tower, while Polycell remains the most active developer on the street. They are preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sandpiper-broadbeach-155-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Sandpiper</a>, a 50-storey redevelopment of the former Sandpiper Holiday Resort that will deliver around 200 apartments alongside extensive resident amenity. The group also has another 130-apartment project approved nearby, as does <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/dvb-approved-for-second-broadbeach-apartment-development">Dean Gallagher’s DVB Projects</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Old Burleigh Road apartment development wave continues

Sunshine Coast developer Habitat Development Group continues to position itself as one of the region’s largest new apartment developers.

Its latest project is in Maroochydore, where it is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-millwell-2-millwell-road-east-maroochydore-qld-4558">The Millwell</a>. Adjacent to the new 53-hectare Maroochydore City Centre project, Habitat is planning a further 180 apartments on a 3,468 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/132-136-aerodrome-road-maroochydore-qld-4558">132–136 Aerodrome Road</a>. The site was purchased with approval for a smaller 13-storey, 103-unit building.

Habitat will demolish the two existing retail centres, currently home to the Salvation Army Family Store and Neighbours Aid, and replace them with an 18-storey building featuring the significant rooftop amenities that have become a hallmark of Habitat developments in recent years. The rooftop will include both indoor and outdoor spaces, anchored by an infinity swimming pool.

<img alt="Maroochydore" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad434d07-666b-4614-b33e-530ad6a2d261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2010.12.33%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7pyLsPWKQuwv0us3_v.9DmbzEc2VZe9Z" />

There will be a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments.

The Development Assessment Report, submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council, says the proposal&nbsp;is not speculative, but a response to both zoning intent and demonstrated housing need.

“The proposed development represents an appropriate and logical intensification of the site, consistent with the planning framework and the intended urban outcomes for the locality.”

Across the Sunshine Coast, councils are increasingly scrutinising not just height or yield, but whether new projects genuinely align with the long-term structure plans underpinning growth corridors. The&nbsp;ASTP Planning Report&nbsp;reinforces the approach, noting that the project has been shaped around site responsiveness rather than generic typology.

“The development has been designed to respond to the physical constraints and opportunities of the site, while delivering a high-quality residential outcome that integrates with the existing and emerging urban context.”

<img alt="Habitat" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a03fc54-4ca5-4868-88d0-eeced70604e2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2010.12.28%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=1pkK3lJrrZjkghTLBReM2zatcas4Nc4B" />

In mid-2025, Habitat, a developer that also builds its own projects, commenced construction on The Millwell, located just over one kilometre from the new proposal. The Millwell will comprise more than 200 apartments across two eight-storey buildings.

Habitat also has two projects on Lake Kawana in Birtinya: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-clair-birtinya-930-931-waterside-retreat-birtinya-qld-4575">St Clair</a>, a 200-unit, two-building development launched last year and set to welcome buyers this year; and Esperance, a 175-apartment project currently progressing through the development approval process.

First look: Habitat continues to bolster Sunshine Coast apartment pipeline with Maroochydore development plans

John Camilleri, the breeder of legendary racehorse Winx, is set to deliver a landmark two-tower beachfront development that would redefine the Surfers Paradise skyline.

Camilleri, who spent around $100 million acquiring development sites across the Gold Coast in 2025, has lodged plans for two new towers on the dress-circle stretch of Garfield Terrace, just two days before Christmas.

In assembling the site, Camilleri's Celestino Developments has effectively acquired the 71 Garfield project by Iris Capital and AALTO by Weiya Holdings, creating an unrivalled <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">4,000 sqm beachfront holding along Garfield Terrace</a>.

The proposal comprises two residential towers of 55 and 48 storeys, linked by a dramatic skybridge which will home “exclusive VIP and wellness amenities.”

In total, the development would deliver 275 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments across the two towers, rising above a shared landscaped podium that incorporates a central green space and a beachfront swimming pool stretching more than 90 metres.

<img alt="DBI" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="097900f3-6bef-4919-b168-b08f2f762876" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.37.58%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=et0SpmcvaPPVrexI_zWi46BVFtZBxAzx" />

Architecture firm DBI, in documents submitted to Gold Coast City Council, said the project at 63–79 Garfield Terrace would “establish a new benchmark for beachfront residential living on the Gold Coast.”

"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. Together, the 48-storey North Tower and 55-storey South Tower form a distinctive twin-tower composition whose dynamic silhouette will make a significant contribution to the Surfers Paradise skyline."

DBI said the architectural language draws inspiration from the fluidity and movement of the coastal landscape.

"Each tower is defined by organic, curving forms and continuous balcony ribbons that wrap the buildings, providing deep shading, enhancing environmental performance, and reinforcing the rhythmic, sculptural expression of the façade. These balcony forms also reduce the apparent mass of the towers while maintaining strong visual continuity from podium to summit. Sculpted reflective downturns run along the western spine of both towers, shifting and lifting as they extend upwards to frame service zones and open eastward to maximise ocean views."

<img alt="Garfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2a00ce3-a0e9-45d6-b4b5-b7baed592ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DnruWV1dhLrtXOeElwekyd7vPq2gw55t" />

The project’s most striking feature is the skybridge at level 45, which will house executive lounges, formal dining spaces, wellness facilities and panoramic ocean-facing views.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI added.

The podium will host an extensive suite of recreational amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a large open green lawn, and the signature 90-metre pool stretching along the beachfront. The pool is divided into lap, lounge and children’s zones.

The southern end of the podium will accommodate additional wellness facilities, including a gymnasium, plunge pools, treatment rooms and a dedicated yoga lawn.

<img alt="Garfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ee1b4f25-231f-4804-83b1-a573a1481962" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.55.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zObzIA3D5w7EwqPsHjr2pKrA4vbB28zL" />

There will be 127 apartments in the North Tower and 148 in the South Tower, including multiple penthouses, while the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages will be activated by a series of food and beverage tenancies.

Camilleri emerged as the most active site acquirer on the Gold Coast in 2025. He spent just over $30 million acquiring Pacific Point, a 10-level Surfers Paradise apartment block and an adjoining three-level duplex, from fellow racing identity and Aquis billionaire Tony Fung. Plans are now underway for a 93-apartment, 40-storey tower on the 1,682 sqm site.

He also paid $53.65 million for the 1,500 sqm Garfield Terrace site previously marketed as AALTO by Weiya Holdings, before acquiring the adjoining parcel from hotel billionaire Sam Arnaout’s Iris Capital, the developer behind V&amp;A Broadbeach.

First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge

The Melbourne-based HLA Group is the latest developer to expand into South East Queensland, lodging plans for a unique mixed-use short-term accomodation and apartment building in Taringa, with the building design inspired by the Glasswing Butterfly.

The development application for 10 Morrow Street seeks approval for a total of 232 dwellings, comprising 116 residential apartments and 116 short-stay accommodation units. The build-to-sell residential component is made up of 31 one-bedroom apartments, 67 two-bedroom apartments, 17 three-bedroom apartments, and a single four-bedroom apartment, offering a diverse mix aimed at singles, couples, families, and downsizers.

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33913cd4-9839-4456-b325-d35b3f8b4694" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=sLvc7jUrYzDwqPDZBPrXTosKHDSp.qrt" />

Designed by Ellivo Architects, the tower takes strong inspiration from nature, with the architectural language driven by one of Queensland’s most delicate species. As described in the planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council, Ellivo Architects state the design is “inspired by the elegance of the Glasswing butterfly," and mirrors the graceful sweep of its wings, a form that feels light, fluid, and alive.

“Lush subtropical greenery is throughtfull woven throughout, transforming the building into a sanctuary in the heart of the city.”

The proposal positions the building as more than a conventional residential tower, with Ellivo Architects describing 10 Morrow Street as “an urban oasis that blends short term accomodation with residential living. A destination for rest, relaxation, and renewal.”

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84e9a0ff-464e-4973-bffe-5d5a8fe9f087" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.32%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dhX9eVgUaQE2TvCzJPhF8N8_hzYSKpyK" />

Formally, the building’s massing and floorplate are directly shaped by its butterfly inspiration. Ellivo explain that, “adopting the wings of the Glasswing Butterfly, the tower's plan is divided into four distinct quadrants, each shaped to mirror the wing's segmented geometry and taking the slender ‘veins’ up the facade of the tower.”

"This approach results in a sculpted tower form with articulated façades and a strong vertical expression."

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5947011d-ff6c-4a57-bdc1-9072a472a79c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.29%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=nnGqd4WCZM8AOJZY.c3u49BO4LurKRhb" />

The Assessment Report by Human Habitats said the 19-storey tower capitalises on its strategic connectivity and prominence at the entrance of Taringa Village and adjoining the Taringa Station.

"The proposal offers a significant revitalisation of the subject site that integrates architectural excellence, innovation, and sustainable design to directly address long-standing connectivity and safety challenges, housing supply , and diversity together with enhanced streetscape activation and convenient access to major transport corridors."

HLA Group Australia is registered to South Yarra and is currently delivering Adamson No.5, just 15 luxury apartments that start from around $2 million.&nbsp;

The Butterfly Effect: Glasswing butterfly inspires Taringa apartment development

Geocon Group has been given the green light to develop its Woden Pool Project, securing the future of the aging community facility with a contemporary aquatic centre designed for year-round use by families, schools, fitness enthusiasts and the broader community.&nbsp;

There will be 286 new units delivered as part of the first stage. There will be around 700 units across three stages.

“This approval represents an important step forward for Woden and reflects a significant private investment into a major community sport and recreation facility," Geocon says.

"We understand how important the Woden Pool has been to local families over the years and we are proud to be contributing to infrastructure that will deliver long-term benefits for residents, families and the broader community, while supporting the continued revitalisation of the Woden Town Centre.”

The new facility will comprise:

• An eight-lane 25 metre lap pool

• A 20-metre warm water program pool with relaxation zone

• Dedicated facilities for families and recreation, including a toddlers’ pool, learn to swim pool, leisure pool, and indoor and outdoor water play splash pads

• Wellness amenities, including steam and sauna facilities, a marshalling area to support organised programs and events, and an on-site café

These inclusions have been designed to support year-round use, cater to a wide range of user groups and meet contemporary standards aquatic facilities. Supporting Woden's Evolution The Woden Pool Project aligns with the ACT Government's vision for Woden Town Centre as a vibrant, high amenity urban hub.

With approval secured, Geocon Group is preparing to formally release the associated residential apartments to the market, capitalising on the project’s prime Woden Town Centre location and its integration with a major new indoor aquatic facility.

“We have designed the residential apartments as part of a well-considered Woden precinct that prioritises lifestyle, long-term amenity and connectivity," added Geocon.

"Future residents will benefit from a premium town centre location and the integration of high-quality recreation and lifestyle infrastructure, providing confidence in the quality and longevity of the development.”

The residential release will highlight the unique opportunity to secure housing within a precinct anchored by significant new lifestyle and recreation infrastructure. Works are expected to commence on site once all relevant approvals are in place. The existing ice rink will continue to operate as usual, and the current 50-metre outdoor pool will remain operational during its normal seasonal opening days and hours.

Geocon approved for Woden Pool project

The Deery family, long established in Australian hospitality, is set to deliver another landmark in central Brisbane.

An entity linked to Richard Deery has filed plans for a mixed-use hotel and apartment development on a prime 2,600 sqm site across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/215-229-main-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">215-229 Main Street</a>, adjacent to the family's Story Bridge Hotel, which they have owned and operated since 1967.

The new development, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/wallacebrice-architecture">WallaceBrice Architecture</a>, will comprise two towers, one rising 18 levels and the other smaller building topping out at eight levels. Both towers sit atop a shared podium that includes communal open space and rooftop terraces, and they will be anchored by a ground-level cafe and hotel lobby.

<img alt="Main St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0e7ca583-2dff-4475-a9a3-1817c4348c30" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-22%20at%209.38.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=8kuR4C3xnS1QnG4MSYBvgi0W4.VEn.Nr" />

“The proposed built form is sympathetic to the surrounding skyline south of Baildon and Bright Streets, and preserves views to and from the Story Bridge,” WallaceBrice Architecture stated in their Design Report.

Whilst the site has no frontage to the Brisbane River the site retains views between existing towers across to the Town Reach of river and towards the city centre as well as to the north up Main Street to the Story Bridge.

The assessment report by Planning Initiatives states the Deery family, who&nbsp;have lived and worked on the Kangaroo Point Peninsula for over 60 years, are "strongly invested in the local community and aim to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the area."

"The proposal is intended to complement surrounding entertainment uses such as provided by the historic Story Bridge Hotel opposite on Main Street thus supporting a land use synergy between the hotel component and the Story Bridge Hotel."

Central to the proposal is a commitment to "city making." The development incorporates a luminous art feature by Illuminart, conceived as a live data-responsive installation that subtly responds to environmental cues like tides, wind, and sky colour. This illuminated plane aims to create a dynamic, non-intrusive landmark visible between the Story Bridge and the new Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.

“The installation is conceived as a slender vertical feature... responding to environmental conditions along the Brisbane River,” the Landmark Illumination Report notes, adding that it will contribute to Brisbane’s evolving night-time identity in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games.

&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Deery family proposes twin-tower hotel and apartment development at Kangaroo Point" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7089d281-bcca-484a-9d3c-ae2ee61b0ea5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/illumination.png?VersionId=XZxYX_ossM6XOtT5e4ynzoC07CBO1T4y" />

The apartment mix targets owner-occupiers, with 12 three-bedroom and 17 four-bedroom dwellings, each featuring expansive outdoor living spaces, cross-ventilation, and sub-tropical design principles aligned with Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” guidelines.

Generous landscaping across podium and rooftop levels contributes to the subtropical character of the project, with over 1,130 sqm of green space proposed, nearly 43 per cent of the total site. Communal amenities include a wellness centre, rooftop pools, barbecue areas, and private lounges. The apartments will sit above the hotel suites which will occupy the ground, first, and second floor.

First look: Story Bridge Hotel owners propose hotel and apartments at Kangaroo Point

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia</a> has officially submitted its plans to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for the Rhodes Bay Masterplan, a $3.2 billion mixed-use project in Sydney’s Inner West.

The project will deliver over 1,800 new waterfront dwellings alongside over 16,000 sqm of new public open space dedicated to a range of sporting facilities and water activities, community parklands and a retail and dining precinct.

The Rhodes Bay Waterfront Masterplan spans 3.1 hectares across four amalgamated sites, fronting Cavell Avenue, Averill Street and Leeds Street in Rhodes. Located on the northern tip of the Rhodes peninsula, the site is one of the suburb’s last remaining north-facing developments that fronts the Parramatta River.

It will see former industrial land transformed into a thriving mixed-use residential village, connected to public transport and community amenities.

Significantly, it will open up previously privatised industrial land on the Parramatta River foreshore and return it to public access for the first time in more than a century.

<img alt="Billbergia’s $3.2 billion vision for Rhodes waterfront to deliver more than 1,800 new homes" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c48b7d1f-550f-4369-b76c-8521426217c2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Active%20waterfront_1_smaller.jpg?VersionId=KmIu65J3EQDxAHsOxQZxA29lBNVuzURs" />

The masterplan has been designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>. It features eight residential towers between 22 and 40 levels, providing a total of 1,840 dwellings. Abundant new community infrastructure will be delivered, including a foreshore promenade and over 16,000 square metres of new public open space and sporting facilities.

The masterplan builds on an earlier Rhodes Place Strategy and now delivers more than double the amount of open space. It is also aligned with the Government’s long-term vision for connected walking and cycling paths along the Parramatta River.

Subject to approvals, 800 of the new apartments will be delivered before 2029 under the Government’s Housing Accord Targets, while the overall precinct could be completed by 2034.

The new Masterplan sits adjacent to Billbergia’s existing Rhodes Bay Stage 1, already approved and under construction delivering a further 400 apartments via a separate SSD process, prior to the Masterplan being prepared.

“We are excited to contribute to the ongoing urban renewal of the peninsula from its industrial past to deliver a new urban village that will unlock public access to the Parramatta River waterfront,"&nbsp;said Saul Moran, Billbergia’s Development Director

"This world-class project will redefine liveability, seamlessly blending modern homes with retail, dining, and essential services – all set among parklands down to the water. More importantly, Rhodes Bay will deliver abundant new amenities for the existing community – with a waterfront promenade, community gardens and a multi-purpose sports, retail and dining precinct.”

Separately, the NSW Government has provided funding for a new Public Primary School on an adjoining site that will include fit-for-purpose classrooms and core facilities to meet the needs of the growing local community.

<img alt="Billbergia’s $3.2 billion vision for Rhodes waterfront to deliver more than 1,800 new homes" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4a93defd-7005-4d0e-91e8-aae61adf8fe2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/BLBG1400_Leeds%20St_E01_Podium%20Stair%20copy%202_smaller.jpg?VersionId=lqETZ9UJKSCAlqbPiYqM4A78CiM_7pXM" />

According to Billbergia, staged construction of the new masterplan could start by late 2026.

The application aligns with the NSW Government’s Housing Accord targets to deliver 322,000 homes across Greater Sydney by 2029.

The Rhodes Bay Masterplan will also deliver more than $150 million in contributions toward State and Local Government infrastructure including affordable housing.

Leading Rhodes’ urban renewal for more than 15 years, Billbergia is the single-largest provider of homes and privately-funded social infrastructure in the suburb. Billbergia has already delivered more than 3,000 homes alongside social infrastructure, including the 1.2-hectare Phoenix Park, 13,000-square-metre Rhodes Central Shopping Centre, $63 million Bennelong Bridge and the new $90 million Rhodes Recreation Centre that opened on 20 October 2025.

Detailed planning, technical studies and early consultation has been undertaken to support a submission to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), with assessment and public exhibition expected in the New Year.

Billbergia’s $3.2 billion vision for Rhodes waterfront to deliver more than 1,800 new homes

Boutique Melbourne developer JMSN has been given the green light by the Department of Transport and Planning for its&nbsp;second apartment development in the Fitzroy area.

Fresh off topping out its debut project ns277 in Fitzroy, JSMN, led by Sam Jamieson, will develop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/301-317-rae-street-fitzroy-north-vic-3068">27 apartments in Fitzroy North</a>. The seven-storey building will replace a single-storey brick warehouse on a 1,069 sqm corner site on the corner of Rae and Alfred streets, within the Nicholson Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre.

<img alt="JMSN" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="31fe7f2d-6585-427c-bdb2-c44418ff7294" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-17%20at%2011.36.54%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=I1r4AFIIQG6K4EmKdtuIeI7RlYev4gvj" />

The apartment mix includes 10 two-bedroom apartments, six of which are loft-style homes across the lower levels, and 17 three-bedroom apartments, targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking larger configurations in an established inner-city suburb. Vehicle access is proposed via the rear laneway, with parking provided across two basement levels.

According to the planning report, the project is intended to be a “contextually driven response that will sit comfortably in the established streetscapes of Rae and Alfred Street,” with the built form carefully scaled to respect neighbouring heritage buildings. Upper levels are stepped back and articulated to reduce visual bulk, while materials including brick, rendered concrete and green tile have been selected to reference the area’s industrial and residential character.

<img alt="JMSN" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4b243f1b-d7ae-420b-812b-c103d36a4cd3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-17%20at%2011.36.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=qcPl6Z_0Nc9FeWaAPuAFIATO1d4iQfkb" />

The design was workshopped extensively with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect under the state’s Great Design Fast Track process, aligning with the seven published design principles. The report notes the development will achieve an average 8-star NatHERS rating, with a strong focus on natural ventilation, thermal comfort and low ongoing operational costs.

Communal amenity is centred around a 218 sqm ground-floor courtyard, complemented by landscaped breezeways and seating throughout the building. Landscape architecture by Vivid Green extends into the public realm, with new planting and additional bicycle infrastructure proposed along Rae and Alfred streets.

The planning report added the project will “rectify the industrial legacy of the existing building and release much-needed sustainable housing” in an area undergoing significant infill development, while maintaining a respectful relationship with Fitzroy North’s valued heritage context.

The next project to launch in Fitzroy North will be <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/edison-north-fitzroy-197-205-st-georges-road-fitzroy-north-vic-3068">Edison</a>, just 17 apartments designed by Austin Maynard Architects on St George's Road.

JMSN plots second Fitzroy building after topping out debut Melbourne project

With just a few units left in its luxury Palm Beach apartment development La Belle,&nbsp;Marquee Development Partners is planning its next.

They are moving down The Esplanade, filing plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/velare-444-448-the-esplanade-palm-beach-qld-4221">Velare</a>, 31 apartments on an amalgamated 1,236 sqm site at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/velare-444-448-the-esplanade-palm-beach-qld-4221">444–448 The Esplanade</a>, directly opposite the Palm Beach foreshore.

The family-owned developer, ran by Jacques Winterburn, has had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ellivo-architects">Ellivo Architects</a>&nbsp;design the nine-storey building that will comprise 15 two-bedroom apartments, 15 three-beds, and a four-bedroom penthouse.

<img alt="First look: Marquee Development Partners plans 31-unit beachfront apartment tower in Palm Beach" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83c0ffe7-28f1-4ab2-93d2-99ca28f45f15" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/palm%20beach%20da%20podium.png?VersionId=x9pY7kEFJFlZfYa4G4RKtrKQZZ7gPFmZ" />

&nbsp;

A residents' lounge with work from home pods will sit on the first level, as will a gym, an alfresco deck with outdoor kitchen, and a lap pool with adjoining spa.

The building will sit next door to Solmare by Chanine Developments, which is set to launch soon, as well as the Casablanca Palms on the Beach resort.

Marquee is on track to deliver its 11th Gold Coast project, with La Belle slated for completion in late 2026. Only four-bedroom apartments remain in the 75-unit development. Marquee has delivered several central Gold Coast projects around Surfers Paradise and Chevron Island, but in recent years has shifted its focus to the southern end of the coast, completing Palm Beach Residences, Northshore Palm Beach, and SOL and Monterey at Kirra.

&nbsp;

First look: Marquee plots latest Palm Beach apartment development, Velare

St Lucia's best street is set for a striking new apartment development, with Bottega Group filing plans for a riverfront building on the dress circle Macquarie Street.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bottega-property-group">Bottega Group</a>, led by Louis Mendes, wants to develop 47 apartments across a 15-storey building at 178-180 Macquarie Street, the second-to-last site on the exclusive riverfront strip. It will likely retain view lines to the east given the neighbouring building is a childcare and then after that it's a x high school. I

Positioned along the Brisbane River, the site enjoys approximately 30 metres of frontage to both the river and Macquarie Street. The existing single dwellings on site would be demolished to make way for the new building, which has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>.

<img alt="First look: Bottega Group plans 15-storey riverfront apartments at St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77288e8f-d97b-4e48-97e3-ecd8cc60583a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_7.png?VersionId=QIdQMBNTyuuKJRduWgTSJzXJAH2uZYqu" />

The design incorporates a sculptural tower form that steps and curves to respond to river views, neighbouring buildings, and prevailing breezes.

According to the Design Report by Plus Studio, the vision is for “a crafted urban retreat, riverside amenity, connected to the inner city,” with the architecture described as “considered, timeless and sophisticated”.&nbsp;

The tower is organised into three distinct zones: lower residential, upper residential, and penthouse levels, with recreational amenity distributed across the lower and upper podiums.

<img alt="First look: Bottega Group plans 15-storey riverfront apartments at St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b19e9225-a505-4d77-a50a-44b5cab818ee" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/front.png?VersionId=YzjuaHh6cePm4c9syIZwdDOFH8TzKS3w" />

The development includes a rooftop garden and substantial ground-level landscaping, delivering arpound 559 sqm (37 per cent of the site) to landscape areas. Communal open space is provided on both the ground level and rooftop, including indoor lounges and outdoor terraces designed to maximise views and sun access.

Urbis, the town planning consultant, states in the report that “the proposed development responds to site constraints, such as flooding and vegetation, to present a balanced and well considered built form”.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Bottega Group plans 15-storey riverfront apartments at St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0428800-8ed7-4091-8aca-6230a1065835" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenities_0.png?VersionId=JKO86XicGv7gFoXkhVRj5IjqB1ikYZPh" />

The design has been tailored to manage flooding risk and to retain key vegetation where feasible, with a large existing gum tree in the southwest corner of the site highlighted in the landscape intent.

Macquarie Street's last building was completed recently, just a few doors down from Bottega's new building. The project, 160 Macquarie Street, was delivered in 2024 by QM Properties and comprises 33 apartments by Rothelowman.&nbsp;

Bottega Group are also active in the Gold Coast market, developing Faro Broadbeach in partnership with 5Point Projects.

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