<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" 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%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

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?

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.

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

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Journalists with a 24-hour news cycle and a 30-minute attention span declared the end of life as we know it in South Australia when BHP Billiton had its recent panic attack over falling prices for some commodities. 
Those with a simplistic mindset and the analysis skills of a Footy Show star reasoned that the Olympic Dam expansion was the biggest thing – no, wait, the only thing – happening the SA economy, therefore the BHP decision to delay – hang on, let’s change that to “scrap” – the project meant that SA was basically finished. 
We even heard that a range of property developments planned for the Adelaide CBD would die because everything depended on Olympic Dam. 
You have to wonder – is your average journalist really that dumb, or do they simply not give a damn? 
To paraphrase Shakespeare: The first thing we do, let’s kill all the journalists. Then most of the economists. 
South Australia, let me tell you, is far from finished. It’s our most under-rated state. It leads the nation in several important industries and it’s now our third big resources state, though few people appear to realise it. 
Let’s not dwell too long on SA’s status as the leading state for Defence contracts (including the current $8 billion AWD project and the upcoming $20 billion submarine project) and also for alternative energy facilities, particularly wind farms. Nor on the fact that Adelaide has more infrastructure projects under construction than Sydney, although that’s more an indictment on New South Wales than a credit for SA. 
Let’s focus on resources. Anyone who thinks Olympic Dam is the only show in town for SA hasn’t been paying attention. It’s not even the biggest show. 
By far the biggest single factor likely to impact the SA economy is the decision to open up the Woomera Prohibited Area for mining. The potential outcome from this decision, first announced a year ago, will make Olympic Dam look puny. 
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
This is topical because there was a further federal-state announcement about this last week. The October 4 announcement by Defence Minister Stephen Smith and SA Premier Jay Weatherill gave mining companies formal approval to explore the giant WPA. They say it will become “one of Australia’s most significant resource provinces”, with minerals worth over $1 trillion, according to one guesstimate. 
This vast area (it comprises 13% of the state) is believed to contain Australia’s largest copper and uranium resources, considerably more than those at Olympic Dam. The WPA also has big gold and iron ore reserves. 
The move to grant exploration licences comes after negotiations between the federal government and the state to reconcile weapons testing and defence training (the reasons this is a prohibited area) with full-scale mining operations.
Weatherill said the approval was "one of the most significant milestones for the advancement of South Australia's resources sector". This area already has 150 exploration licences, with 80 more applications in the pipeline.
Yet media coverage of the announcement was somewhat muted and underplayed the importance of the event. I imagine if Smith and Weatherill had announced they were scrapping the plan it would have been on the front page of The Australian, the nation’s most relentlessly negative newspaper, and many others as well. 
The location best-positioned to benefit from mining in the WPA and elsewhere in the state is Port Augusta, a crossroads town which is a logical place to fly-in-fly-out workers to base themselves. Port Augusta is well-situated for the growing number of iron ore mines emerging on the Eyre Peninsula, as well as what’s happening in the WPA and will happen, eventually, at Roxby Downs with some form of expansion of Olympic Dam. 
Whyalla also has a big future, for similar reasons.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a> and can be <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hotspotting" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">followed on Twitter</a>.
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

South Australia's property investment opportunities far from finished: Terry Ryder

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The Adelaide property market still has further to fall before it hits rock bottom, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White (HTW) in its latest property market round-up.
Looking at the Adelaide market over August, HTW valuers say the volume of both home and unit sales are declining while demand for new housing remains soft.
The latest report notes that new Adelaide houses and units are “almost never” sold at prices exceeding their potential resale value.
And the outlook for Adelaide remains on the gloomy side.
“The Adelaide property market in the short term continues to be flat and limited growth is expected in the next 24 months,” says HTW in its latest report.
Despite reporting that capital values are still declining, the situation is not all bleak for property investors, with HTW reporting that it remains a balanced rental market for both houses and units, with the vacancy rate steady in the case of houses and “stable” for units.
Adelaide Hobart and Canberra are the only three capital city property markets still in a downswing.
According to HTW, the Adelaide market has been in decline for the past year.
In its September 2011 report (for the month August) HTW said Adelaide was a declining housing market although at the time it said there was “fair” demand for both new houses and units.
“Although there has been a slight decline in house prices since 2010, investors have also been cautious about entering the market due to the speculation that interest rates were due for an increase, especially on the back of inflation figures,” said HTW back in September 2011.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

A year on, Adelaide property clock still stuck in decline: Herron Todd White

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<img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/snowtown1.jpg">The infamous Snowtown bank has been sold.
Hale Real Estate director Nigel Christie says the Snowtown property fetched a little under its $200,000 price guide.
Its reportedly sold at around $185,000 to interstate buyers who will be owner-occupiers.
It has been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-snowtown-109650811">on the market </a> since February this year.
Christie says the buyers plan to renovate the attached house and run a business from the bank.
The property is located about 150 kilometres north of Adelaide.
The disused bank at Snowtown became infamous after police discovered eight mutilated bodies in barrels inside the vault of the bank in 1999.
The bank sold the premises for $43,000 in 1995. It first sold after the gruesome discovery in 2000 at $34,560.
It sold again at $130,000 in 2005.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/08/snowtown.jpg">
It last traded at $142,000 in 2006.
The property originally built as the bank manager’s residence consists of four good-sized bedrooms and the old bank building.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Infamous Snowtown bank sells

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The single biggest quality underlying the success of mining companies has been their ability to keep their eye on the long-term objective. 
They have resisted the tendency of business generally towards short-termism and knee-jerk reactions to temporary setbacks. 
This is why miners have enjoyed such massive profits recently. Many of the big projects that are now delivering income were conceived and advanced in the shadow of the GFC. 
Grant King, managing director of Origin Energy, said it best with this quote in 2008: “We make investment decisions in assets that have economic lives of 30 years or more. And so, cycles that play out over a year or two are basically irrelevant. We are fundamentally driven by the long-term view.” 
Curiously, a notable exception to the resources ethic of long-term thinking is BHP Billiton. It’s the nervous Nellie of the sector. In 2008, for example, it opened a Western Australian nickel mine that cost $2.2 billion, then shut it down within 12 months of opening when it got GFC jitters (putting 1,800 people out of work) and sold it for $370 million. 
The recent closure of the Norwich Park coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin has all the hallmarks of a dummy spit, after not getting its way in union negotiations. In similar vein, BHP took its bat and ball and went home when Moranbah landlords asked more rent than it felt it should be paying for houses. 
And now we have the Olympic Dam backflip. Half a dozen years of planning and preparation tossed aside because of a few blips on the global radar screen. The people running this enterprise seriously need to develop a spine and some long-term vision. 
The question is how this will impact on the South Australian economy and various property markets. The answer is: not nearly as much as commentators are implying. 
The SA economy has been chugging along quite nicely in recent years without any contribution from an Olympic Dam expansion, and it will continue to do so. 
Media, in its simplistic way, would have us believe that the $30 billion expansion was the only show in town, but this is far from true. 
The state’s resources sector has been in a significant growth phase for many years, and this will continue. Iron ore mines are in various stages of development on the Eyre Peninsula and elsewhere, including several multibillion-dollar enterprises. There’s a $1 billion expansion of Prominent Hill mine, among other projects, happening near Coober Pedy, and the $2 billion Hillside mining venture on the Yorke Peninsula. 
A far bigger potential for SA than Olympic Dam is the prospect of mining operations in the Woomera Prohibited Area following last year’s joint federal-state announcement. The resources in this area and the potential investment are far greater than BHP Billiton’s piddling little affair at Roxby Downs. 
There are multiple export port projects in various stages of planning and development around the state, billions are being invested in wind farm developments, and further billions are circulating thanks to the defence contracts being handled in Adelaide. 
The other thing likely to overlooked as media over-dramatises the impact of the BHP Billiton decision is that the company isn’t scrapping the development of its Roxby Downs resource. It says it’s going to seek less expensive ways of doing it. 
So something major will happen at Roxby Downs, just not as big or as soon as was originally planned.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">hotspotting.com.au</a> and can be <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.twitter.com/hotspotting">followed on Twitter</a>.
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BHP's scrapping the Olympic Dam mine expansion won't affect SA property investors much: Terry Ryder

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The decision by BHP Billiton to cancel its $30 billion Olympic Dam mine expansion project is likely to have direct repercussions for the regional South Australian property markets of Roxby Downs, Port Augusta and Whyalla as well as for the wider South Australian economy.
All three property markets had been tipped to take off again once the long-mooted expansion project kicked off, which would have significantly expanded BHP’s existing mining and processing operation at Olympic Dam, 560 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Figures compiled by RP Data to May 2012 show that Roxby Downs house prices have been rising by a healthy 13.6%  per annum over the past 10 years with a median price of $440,000.
Over the past year to May house price growth picked up to 11.4% having slowed to 7.3% over the past three years - during a time when BHP was awaiting final approval on its Olympic Dam project.
Recent sales at Roxby Downs include a three-bedroom house that sold for $445,000 at the end of June, having last traded for $138,000 in 2003.
A four-bedroom house sold for $488,000 in July, having last traded for $160,000 in 2003.
BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers says current market conditions, including subdued commodity prices and higher capital costs, have led to the decision to investigate "an alternative, less capital-intensive design of the Olympic Dam open-pit expansion".
“As we finalised all the details of the project in the context of current market conditions, our strategy and capital management priorities, it became clear that the right decision  for the company and its shareholders was to continue studies to develop a less capital intensive option to replace the underground mine at Olympic Dam," says Kloppers.
BHP received approval for the project in March this year, with environmental impact studies dating back to 2005.
The planned open-pit mine was expected operate simultaneously with the existing underground mine.
By 2050 the size of the pit was expected to grow to be 4.1 kilometres long, 3.5 kilometres wide and one kilometre deep. Eventually, mining the planned open pit would have produced 60 million tonnes per annum of ore, equivalent to an additional annual rate of refined copper production of 515,000 tonnes.
The Olympic Dam project was expected to “put billions of dollars into the South Australian economy for decades to come”, said BHP in a booklet on the project released last year.
Apart from expansion of the mine itself, BHP also planned to build a new airport at Olympic Dam to cater for large commercial jets and the increase in passengers and air traffic and build a new accommodation village for workers.
Transport plans included the building of a landing facility about 12 kilometres south of Port Augusta and extensive use of the Stuart Highway between Port Augusta and and Olympic Dam.
The population of Roxby Downs township was expected to double in size to around 10,000 due to BHP providing additional services and accommodation.
Roxby Downs has a current population of 4,700, according to census 2011.
At the time approval for the dam was granted Sam Saggers from Positive Real Estate wrote that investors who purchased properties in 2008 – and who had been waiting a long time for an announcement – would be able to “recycle their equity and tighten their rents”.
“The Olympic Dam mine is the mothership of projects, so I expect the South Australia economy and workforce to reap the rewards,” <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/south-australia/want-to-capitalise-on-the-mining-boom-consider-whyalla-and-south-australias-olympic-dam-mine-sam-saggers/2012032253859" target="_blank">wrote Saggers in Property Observer in March.</a>
“I think we will see a lot of interest in Whyalla by the middle of this year, with clients looking for capital gains as a spin off from the project. Vacancy rates will tighten up and the outlook is a lot brighter.
Saggers wrote that Whyalla and nearby Port Augusta will derive a great deal from this expansion
“During the construction phase, 6,000 jobs will be created, and the mine will add another 4,000 jobs to its normal operations. Indirectly, the mine expansion will create 15,000 jobs, and the total number of jobs becoming available will total 25,000.
Mineral processing at Olympic Dam began in 1988, initially producing 45,000 tonnes per annum of copper plus associated products of uranium oxide, gold and silver.
Between 1997 and 1999 there was a major expansion of the mine and minerals processing plant.
In recent years annual copper production has averaged about 180,000 tonnes, with 4,000 tonnes of uranium oxide, 80,000 ounces of gold and 800,000 ounces of silver.
Copper produced at Olympic Dam is sold to global and domestic markets. The uranium oxide is sold to power stations for base load power generation. All of the gold and silver is sent to the Australian Mint in Perth.
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Headwinds for Roxby Downs property investors as BHP's Olympic Dam expansion cancelled

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Investors need to think laterally to get the most out of property. The best way to exploit a situation is often something other than “the bleeding obvious”.
At a seminar for property investors in Adelaide, the only thing that seemed to interest everyone was: What’s the best way to benefit from the Olympic Dam expansion?
The first thought was to rush off and buy property in Roxby Downs, the site of the big BHP Billiton mine destined for a $30 billion expansion.
I thought there were better ways. Roxby Downs will no doubt be buzzing when the big miner hits the Go button, but where will companies getting the big contracts be based? Where will their people be living? Where will the mine workers be spending their big fat pay packets?
There will be a hefty component of fly-in-fly-out during the construction phase, with on-shift workers living in a temporary accommodation village. Where will the off-shift workers be living? In most cases, not in Roxby Downs. The town will feel plenty of pressure on its services but won’t necessarily enjoy the benefits of workers’ spending.
Adelaide’s property market will be a major beneficiary. That’s where the key companies providing services to the project will be based. Those that win big contracts will expand, and the people who get the jobs will need somewhere to live. I’d be buying in Adelaide.
Regional towns like Whyalla and Port Augusta will play big roles in the projects, and jobs will be created there. There may be more upside for investors who buy there because prices are lower than in Roxby Downs, which is already expensive (median house price $415,000, compared with half as much in Whyalla and Port Augusta).
Property investors seeking opportunities from the resources revolution need to follow the money trail. The spinoffs from a major project can ripple across the nation. In some cases, they can ripple halfway around the world.
Here’s a money trail example. The trail starts in the UK, where there’s a very big natural gas company, the BG Group. It’s decided to invest big time in gas resources in Queensland, including a single project worth $18 billion. It’s extracting coal seam gas in the Surat Basin west of Toowoomba.
From there the money trail is delineated by a gas pipeline that snakes 540 kilometres across the state to seaside Gladstone, where a massive processing plant is being built on Curtis Island.
The plant needs $70 million worth of pipe projects and has handed the contract to Tyco Water.
Tyco has a factory in Wacol in Brisbane’s south-west and needs to hire another 100 workers and double its shifts to service the BG contract. It will also need 20,000 tonnes of steel to make the products BG needs in Gladstone.
Where will it get the steel? That will come from BlueScope Steel, a company based in Wollongong in New South Wales. That’s particularly good news for the Illawarra because BlueScope has been struggling lately and has cut its workforce.
So the benefits of all this will be felt in markets in the towns of the Surat Basin, Gladstone, Brisbane and Wollongong, all stemming from a decision made in London. And that’s just one relatively small contract from a very large project that will hand out work worth billions of dollars over the life of this venture.
In one sense, investing wisely in property involves following the money trail.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a> and can be <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">followed on Twitter</a>.
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Investing wisely in property involves following the money trail to benefit best from the mining boom: Terry Ryder

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The Adelaide unit market proved fairly resilient in the second half of 2011 and ended the year down only fractionally.

WBP says median house price data indicates Adelaide unit prices appear to have bottomed out. 

“Having said that demand is still soft in comparison to the first home buyer boom,” the valuer says.

Charles Tarbey and Louis Christopher offer the same comments about the Adelaide unit market as for the housing market: fairly stable, but showing signs of a pick-up in activity should confidence improve.
<img src="/images/stories/clock-adelaide-units.jpg">
In a recent report, CBRE noted that the South Australian government is currently considering changing planning regulations to increase apartments heights (up to 10 storeys in some areas) to encourage apartment living in inner-suburban areas. The plans include new tram lines and cycling and pedestrian pathways, which once implemented will kick off a 30-year plan to fill unoccupied “infill” spaces close the city.

While there are a number of apartment projects under construction (such as the 108 Uno apartments on Waymouth Street), many others are all still being marketed off the plan or yet to receive development application approval. CBRE points out that a problem in Adelaide is that there are often too few pre-sales for projects to proceed to the construction phase.
Population: 1.2 million
Median unit price: $320,000
Unit price growth in February 2012: -3.1%
Annual unit price growth to December 2011: -1.1%
Annual unit price growth to July 2011: -6.8%
Rental yield: 4.8%
To find out where your capital city's house or unit market is on the property clock, <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-australias-autumn-2012-property-clock" target="_blank">download our free eBook.</a>
Property Observer has also analysed the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/south-australia/adelaide-house-market-at-five-o-clock-and-in-a-state-of-limbo-experts/2012041254251" target="_blank">Adelaide house market on the property clock</a>.
 
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Adelaide unit market at six o'clock, with prices bottoming out

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The Adelaide housing market appears to be in a state of limbo, though annualised data from RP Data shows that house price falls accelerated during the final six months of 2011.

Louis Christopher describes the Adelaide market (both houses and units) as “neither falling nor recovering”.

WBP believes the city’s market still has a way to go before bottoming out but says that house prices appear to be stabilising in some areas, while demand is weak in others.

Charles Tarbey places Adelaide close to the bottom of the cycle and says that while there is a higher level of housing stock at the start of 2012 than at the start of 2011, these levels are steadily declining.  

“It may only require a pick-up in global confidence for activity to increase. Signs of increasing activity can be seen, for example, in attendance levels at open for inspections,” he says.
<img src="/images/stories/clock-adelaide-houses.jpg">
Time: Five o'clock
CBRE says affordability will be the key issue for the Adelaide market during the next 12 to 18 months despite the recent house price correction. CBRE says a recovery in the Adelaide housing market is heavily tied to further interest rate cuts and a reduction in global uncertainty over the eurozone, which is encouraging buyer caution.

According to the Real Estate Institute of South Australia, Adelaide vacancies sit around the 3.1% level, just above the equilibrium figure of 3% – indicating a slight oversupply of rental accommodation.
Population: 1.2 million 
Median house price: $390,000 
House price growth in February 2012: 1.4% 
Annual house price growth to December 2011: -5.3% 
Annual house price growth to July 2011: -3.9% 
Rental yield: 4.2% 
To find out where your capital city's house or unit market is on the property clock, <a target="_blank" href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-australias-autumn-2012-property-clock">download our free eBook.</a>
Property Observer has also analysed the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/south-australia/adelaide-unit-market-at-six-o-clock-with-prices-bottoming-out/2012041254252" target="_blank">Adelaide unit market on the property clock</a>.
 
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Adelaide house market at five o'clock and in a state of limbo: Experts

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South Australia is our most under-rated economy. People still see it as a state that lacks population and economic impetus. Some economists believe it’s a recession state.
Here’s what they’re missing:
South Australia is our third big resources state. Not many realise it, but a quick counts shows $50 billion in mining projects percolating in the background, largely unnoticed – other than BHP Billiton’s expansion of Olympic Dam, which gets most of the media attention.
The $50 billion figure doesn’t include projects that will emerge from the 2011 decision to allow mining in the Woomera Prohibited Area, which contains copper and uranium resources larger than Olympic Dam.
The only reason we’re not agog about the level of mining enterprises in South Australia is that Queensland and Western Australia, which have even larger numbers, are getting all the attention.
Adelaide is the centre of the defence industry in Australia, with the $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer project well under way. There is also a big expansion of military resources at the Edinburgh facility in Adelaide’s north. And there’s the possibility of the submarine fleet project, likely to cost tens of billions.
Adelaide is a leader in car manufacturing, with an assured future emerging from the announcement that Holden has agreed to inject $1 billion into vehicle manufacturing in Australia and to make two next-generation models at its Adelaide plant, after getting federal government's contribution of $215 million.
Adelaide has more infrastructure development currently happening than Sydney (which is more an indictment of NSW than a tribute to South Australia).
Current major enterprises include the Royal Adelaide Hospital ($1 billion), the Southern Expressway upgrade ($500 million), the South Road upgrade ($800 million), the extension of rail to Seaford ($300 million), the desalination plant ($1.8 billion) and the ongoing electrification of the city’s rail system.
South Australia is the national capital for wind farm developments, which could be a significant industry (from both the economic and environmental viewpoints) if state governments would stop impeding it for dubious political reasons.
So far South Australia has avoided the impulse to inflict the draconian restrictions that have made Victoria and NSW look silly.
As the South Australian resources sector expands with a rapidly growing number of projects, property markets around the state will thrive, including those in the state capital. Often what matters is not where the big projects are located so much as where the key companies are headquartered.
The $30 billion expansion of Olympic Dam is a fine case study. The big holes will be dug at Roxby Downs, but the impacts will spread hundreds of kilometres in various directions.
As we have seen with Perth and Brisbane, we can expect demand for CBD office space to grow, as well as demand for industrial space. The growth in white-collar jobs will fuel demand for dwellings in Adelaide, as will the creation of thousands of fly-in-fly-out positions for people who live in the state capital but work in Roxby Downs.
The state government says the project is worth an average of $8.6 billion a year to the state's economy. Some say they doubt the project will proceed, despite the fact that it has already started.
Adelaide company Ausco is among the first to win work from Olympic Dam. It has been handed a contract to build transportable units which will house some of the first of 10,000 workers for the project. Ausco increased its shopfloor workforce by 50% to 120 during 2011 and is busy recruiting the same number again - a doubling within 18 months.
Adelaide civil engineering firm Exact Mining has recruited 80-90 specifically for this project, in addition to 60 of its existing personnel, because it’s been hired to build haulage roads and level the site alongside the proposed open pit of the copper-gold-uranium mine, so heavy equipment can be brought to Olympic Dam.
Other companies to secure contracts include Roxby Downs-based earthmovers Heading Contractors and Adelaide engineering company Tonkin Consulting.
Our biggest miner will be building new infrastructure at Port Adelaide, which will boost property markets in the area, which already has the AWD project creating jobs.
Regional centres like Port Augusta and Whyalla will also feel the impacts.
Port Augusta will provide the landing stage and assembly point for imported equipment. Its power stations are also likely to be the primary power source for the Olympic Dam expansion.
Whyalla will be the site of the $700 million desalination plant and pipeline that will provide the water BHP Billiton will need. The monster trucks used in the mining operation will be assembled at Whyalla by Cavpower.
The likely impacts of allowing mining in the Woomera Prohibited Area can only be guessed at, given that the announcement was made only last year. But this area, previously off limits to everyone but the military, is the largest untapped minerals resource in Australia and is likely to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars over time.
Coober Pedy, which has some major mining action already happening, is well positioned to grow as a result. So too are Port Augusta and Whyalla, as the WPA minerals will need to be processed and exported – and these are the logical places.
 
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a> and can be <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">followed on Twitter</a>.
Photograph by <a href="https://www.allshotsimaging.com.au/" target="_blank">Allshots Imaging</a> courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>
 
 
 
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Adelaide mistakenly overlooked by investors as projects get under way: Terry Ryder

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Houses in South Australia’s slowest-selling suburb, Tumby Bay, north of Port Lincoln, took 174 days to sell last year, according to RP Data. This was closely followed by Meningie and Milang, south of Adelaide, where houses took 164 days to sell. There were 24 sales in Tumby Bay.
<table width="217" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Localities
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
Days on Market
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Tumby Bay
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
174
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Meningie
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
164
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Milang
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
164
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Maitland
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
160
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Minlaton
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
159
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
West Lakes Shore
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
159
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Hindmarsh Island
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
157
</td>
</tr>
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<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Keith
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
156
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Yorketown
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
155
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
Kapunda
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="103">
154
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
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