The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" dir="auto">
<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" dir="auto">
The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

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

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

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Many of us do not need to hear any more warnings from <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/" target="_blank">the IPCC</a>, <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2209126-david-attenborough-on-climate-change-we-cannot-be-radical-enough/" target="_blank">David Attenborough</a> or climate activists like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/greta-thunberg-schoolgirl-climate-change-warrior-some-people-can-let-things-go-i-cant" target="_blank">Greta Thunberg</a>. We have seen enough to be convinced that limitless <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/post-capitalism-life-within-environmental-limits" target="_blank">economic growth and the globalisation of high-consumption lifestyles</a> have <a href="https://www.breakthroughonline.org.au/whatliesbeneath" target="_blank">brought our planet’s life-support systems to the brink of collapse</a>.
In response to today’s urgent ecological and social problems, we often hear calls from sustainability advocates about the need to “<a href="https://www.sloww.co/downshifting-simple-living/" target="_blank">downshift</a>” away from consumer lifestyles, to practise <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-revolution-disguised-as-organic-gardening-in-memory-of-bill-mollison-66137" target="_blank">permaculture</a> and to embrace <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-simple-life-manifesto-and-how-it-could-save-us-33081" target="_blank">simpler ways</a> to live. When these <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-suburbs-are-the-spiritual-home-of-overconsumption-but-they-also-hold-the-key-to-a-better-future-108496" target="_blank">movements scale up</a>, the argument goes, we will “<a href="http://theconversation.com/life-in-a-degrowth-economy-and-why-you-might-actually-enjoy-it-32224">degrow</a>” our economies to a sustainable scale.
Important though these analyses and perspectives are, they almost always leave something critical out of the conversation. There is a very powerful reason we are currently unable to move toward a simpler and sustainable society: the costs of securing access to land for housing often mean only the relatively affluent can afford such “green lifestyles”.
In response to this problem, we offer some ideas to show how public land could be used for sustainable forms of community-led development.
Creating a place like Sustainable Fawkner’s ‘Dandelion Patch’ depends on access to suitable land. More creative public housing policies could lead the way in developing more community food gardens.
The property system makes simple living hard
Recognition of the need for <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-strikes-greta-thunberg-calls-for-system-change-not-climate-change-heres-what-that-could-look-like-112891" target="_blank">system change</a> is growing. But those arguing for high-impact societies to downshift toward cultures of sustainable consumption need to acknowledge a fundamental problem more clearly: simply keeping a roof over our heads can demand an energy-intensive lifestyle and a dependence on market growth.
Why? Having to buy or rent a home in capitalist societies like Australia has huge implications for most of us. It affects what we do for work, how much we work, our need for a car, etc. And, if you can barely afford land or your own home, putting solar panels on the roof, working part-time or growing your own organic food all become very unlikely.
In short, securing the basic need for housing is putting people in <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/more-home-owners-falling-behind-on-mortgage-as-debt-climbs-20190617-p51yhg" target="_blank">more and more debt</a>. This often means any attempt at “dropping out” of market consumerism first involves a whole lot of “dropping in”. The consequences of this reality are anything but <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.amazon.com/Affluenza-When-Much-Never-Enough/dp/1741146712" target="_blank">simple, local and sustainable</a>.
A different type of land and housing opportunity is needed for reasons of sustainability and equity. Central here is the recognition that access to land, just as with air and water, is not a market product. <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/LandAndHR/Pages/LandandHumanRightsIndex.aspx" target="_blank">It is a human right</a> and should be recognised as such.
Even discussing land reform in terms of “affordable housing” still frames land as a market commodity. These discussions often rely on notions of charity and welfare to increase access to land when it really should be available as a right.
But in a nation where simply <a href="https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2019/07/negative-gearing-reform-dead-buried-cremated/" target="_blank">abolishing negative gearing appears to be politically unpalatable</a>, it would be pragmatic, as a first step, to explore less controversial but still effective policy approaches.
Pointers to rethinking how we govern land
There are <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1941069" target="_blank">many conceptions</a> of property, which means we do not simply have to choose between free market capitalism and state socialism. In Singapore, for example, <a href="https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/history" target="_blank">more than 80% of residents live in state-provided housing</a>.
Societies can govern access to land in an infinite variety of ways. Each way distributes or concentrates wealth and power in progressive or regressive ways.
One policy deserving of attention involves attempting to transcend the “welfare” framing of existing uses of public housing. Already, secure access to public land has empowered some residents to participate <a href="https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/living/rights-responsibilities/get-involved/chapters/community-greening-program" target="_blank">in programs such as community food gardens, resources repair/share programs, housing management, maintenance</a> and, in the UK, even <a href="http://www.forevergreen.org.uk/Forever_Green_Ecological_Architects/hedgehog-self-build-housing-co-op" target="_blank">housing construction</a>.
In New South Wales, <a href="https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/living/rights-responsibilities/get-involved/chapters/community-greening-program" target="_blank">50,000 public housing residents</a> have converted many hectares of land in social housing areas into gardens growing vegetables, fruit and flowers. In Victoria, <a href="http://www.cultivatingcommunity.org.au/community-gardens/our-services-2/" target="_blank">more than 20 public housing estates</a> have established community gardens.
If these self-selecting residents could be <a href="http://ntwonline.weebly.com/" target="_blank">better supported and validated</a>, their status in society (and how they might conceive of themselves) could move from being regarded as “social dependants” to “pioneers of a new economy”. By showing that access to public land can help with the emergence of local and sustainable <a href="https://thenextsystem.org/cultivating-community-economies" target="_blank">community economies</a>, such experiments could be the cultural driver of a broader policy rethink of how we govern land.
For example, more public land could be made available for <a href="http://www.forevergreen.org.uk/Forever_Green_Ecological_Architects/hedgehog-self-build-housing-co-op" target="_blank">housing construction collectives</a>, where people participate in building their own homes under the guidance of experts. Australia could seek inspiration from Senegal, where <a href="https://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/06/17/senegal-transforming-14000-villages-into-ecovillages/" target="_blank">14,000 ecovillages</a> are being developed.
In governing land we are limited only by our imaginations. Currently, a chronic lack of imagination is being shown. It is time to experiment with new frameworks that can increase access to land and thereby empower more people to explore lifestyles of <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-suburbs-are-the-spiritual-home-of-overconsumption-but-they-also-hold-the-key-to-a-better-future-108496" target="_blank">reduced consumption and increased self-sufficiency</a>. 
The first step is recognising the obstacle
We call on the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1469540512444019" target="_blank">simple living</a>, <a href="https://retrosuburbia.com/" target="_blank">permaculture</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9789811321306" target="_blank">degrowth</a> movements – and the sustainability movement more generally – to better recognise the obstacle that access to land presents to achieving their goals. More energy and activism should be dedicated to envisioning, campaigning for and experimenting with <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.routledge.com/Housing-for-Degrowth-Principles-Models-Challenges-and-Opportunities/Nelson-Schneider/p/book/9781138558052" target="_blank">alternative property and housing arrangements</a>.
Our purpose is not to dismiss the importance of the various <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/post-capitalism-life-within-environmental-limits" target="_blank">downshifting movements</a>. We need as many people as possible pushing against the tide of consumerism and showing that low-impact living can be <a href="http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue61/Alexander1_61.pdf" target="_blank">good living</a>.
These social movements will help create the culture of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Sufficiency-Economy-Samuel-Alexander/9780994160614" target="_blank">sufficiency</a> that is needed to support a politics of sustainability. But any such politics must include more empowering and creative land policies.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121246/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Alex Baumann, Casual Academic, School of Social Sciences &amp; Psychology, Western Sydney University. 
Samuel Alexander, Research fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/access-to-land-is-a-barrier-to-simpler-sustainable-living-public-housing-could-offer-a-way-forward-121246" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Access to land is a barrier to simpler, sustainable living

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Plant extinctions have skyrocketed, driven in large part by land clearing and climate change. 
Earth is seeing an unprecedented loss of species, which some ecologists are calling a <a href="https://theconversation.com/earths-sixth-mass-extinction-has-begun-new-study-confirms-43432" target="_blank">sixth mass extinction</a>. In May, a <a href="https://www.ipbes.net" target="_blank">United Nations report</a> warned that 1 million species are threatened by extinction. More recently, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">571 plant species</a> were declared extinct.
But extinctions have occurred for as long as life has existed on Earth. The important question is, has the rate of extinction increased? Our research, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063" target="_blank">published today in Current Biology</a>, found some plants have been going extinct up to 350 times faster than the historical average – with devastating consequences for unique species.
Measuring the rate of extinction
“How many species are going extinct” is not an easy question to answer. To start, accurate data on contemporary extinctions are lacking from most parts of the world. And species are not evenly distributed – for example, Madagascar is home to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_of_Madagascar" target="_blank">around 12,000 plant species</a>, of which 80% are endemic (found nowhere else). England, meanwhile, is home to <a href="https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/England_Red_List_1.pdf">only 1,859 species</a>, of which 75 (just 4%) are endemic.
Areas like Madagascar, which have exceptional rates of biodiversity at severe risk from human destruction, are called “<a href="https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots" target="_blank">hotspots</a>”. Based purely on numbers, biodiversity hotspots are expected to lose more species to extinction than coldspots such as England.
But that doesn’t mean coldspots aren’t worth conserving – they tend to contain completely unique plants.
We are part of an international team that recently examined <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063" target="_blank">291 modern plant extinctions</a> between biodiversity hot- and coldspots. We looked at the underlying causes of extinction, when they happened, and how unique the species were. Armed with this information, we asked how extinctions differ between biodiversity hot- and coldspots.
Unsurprisingly, we found hotspots to lose more species, faster, than coldspots. Agriculture and urbanisation were important drivers of plant extinctions in both hot- and coldspots, confirming the general belief that habitat destruction is the primary cause of most extinctions. Overall, herbaceous perennials such as grasses are particularly vulnerable to extinction.
However, coldspots stand to lose more uniqueness than hotspots. For example, seven coldspot extinctions led to the disappearance of seven genera, and in one instance, even a whole plant family. So clearly, coldspots also represent important reservoirs of unique biodiversity that need conservation.
We also show that recent extinction rates, at their peak, were 350 times higher than historical background extinction rates. Scientists have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534717300502" target="_blank">previously speculated</a> that modern plant extinctions will surpass background rates by several thousand times over the next 80 years.
So why are our estimates of plant extinction so low?
First, a lack of comprehensive data restricts inferences that can be made about modern extinctions. Second, plants are unique in – some of them live for an extraordinarily long time, and many can persist in low densities due to unique adaptations, such as being able to reproduce in the absence of partners.
Let’s consider a hypothetical situation where we only have five living individuals of Grandidier’s baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) left in the wild. These iconic trees of Madagascar are one of only nine living species of their genus and can live for hundreds of years. Therefore, a few individual trees may be able to “hang in there” (a situation commonly referred to as “extinction debt”) but will inevitably become extinct in the future.
Finally, declaring a plant extinct is challenging, simply because they’re often very difficult to spot, and we can’t be sure we’ve found the last living individuals. Indeed, a recent report found 431 plant species previously thought to be extinct have been <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">rediscovered</a>. So, real plant extinction rates and future extinctions are likely to far exceed current estimates.
There is no doubt that biodiversity loss, together with climate change, are some of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-a-lot-of-bad-news-in-the-un-global-environment-outlook-but-a-sustainable-future-is-still-possible-115137" target="_blank">biggest challenges faced by humanity</a>. Along with human-driven habitat destruction, the effects of climate change are expected to be particularly severe on plant biodiversity. Current <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">estimates</a> of plant extinctions are, without a doubt, gross underestimates.
However, the signs are crystal clear. If we were to condense the Earth’s 4.5-billion-year-old history into one calendar year, then life evolved somewhere in June, dinosaurs appeared somewhere around Christmas, and the Anthropocene starts within the last millisecond of New Year’s Eve. Modern plant extinction rates that exceed historical rates by hundreds of times over such a brief period will spell disaster for our planet’s future.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122255/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Jaco Le Roux, Associate Professor, Macquarie University; 
Florencia Yanelli, Researcher, Stellenbosch University; 
Heidi Hirsch, Postdoctoral research fellow, Stellenbosch University; 
José María Iriondo Alegría, Catedrático de universidad en el área de Botánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; 
Marcel Rejmánek, Emeritus professor, University of California, Davis 
Maria Loreto Castillo, PhD Candidate, Stellenbosch University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/plants-are-going-extinct-up-to-350-times-faster-than-the-historical-norm-122255" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Plants are going extinct up to 350 times faster than the historical norm

<html><body>
Estate agent Jesse Raeburn had only just joined The Agency, Albert Park when he won a spot as a competitor on this year's The Block, the biggest Block ever.
He was a selling agent and auctioneer on The Block in 2018, where he <a href="https://aws.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/celebrity-property-news/91501-the-agency-secure-top-gatwick-price-per-sqm" target="_blank">successfully sold Courtney and Han’s apartment</a> to the former custodians of The Gatwick. 
He aspired to join after appearing last year and bought his apartment just down the street from the 1850s terrace house row.
Raeburn described his experience filming the show with his girlfriend Mel as "the best thing I have ever done in my life."
He says he's been obsessed by The Block since the initial series at Bondi Beach in 2003.
His initial bedroom renovation will feature a fabric wall plus large cornicing as the feature in the slightly contemporary renovation they propose.
"Being a real estate I have been into many of the homes in the area and that's what the buyers want," he said.
The opening episode showed him admonished several time times for not clearing dangerous debris during their initial demolition.
He was described as cocky, by foreman Keith Schleiger.
"He's being very cocky so far... he's an auctioneer...give me another few days he'll be like a fish out of water, he has no idea what he's doing" Schleiger said.
"If anyone has ever been set up to be the subject of mockery, it’s real estate agent Jesse," reported Domain, who are expected to spruik the show even more than ever since they are officially part of the Nine Network.
Raeburn did an apprenticeship in floor and wall tiling for a large commercial tiling contractor and once he finished he went out on my as a sole trader for a few years in Queensland. 
He worked for a project builder in Mackay where he would tile on average one house a week.
"That was where I really learnt the meaning of hard work. 
"When you work for yourself you have to be extremely self-motivated and also take pride in what you do a lot like real estate so I found the transition quite easy."
His Agency boss Peter Kakos says clients gravitate towards Jesse because his enthusiasm "and they know Jesse will achieve great results for them.”
“His infectious personality and engaging energy has attracted a loyal client base,” Kakos said.
Raeburn said he joined The Agency as he wanted to be a part of a national brand not restricted by post codes.
He started off in real estate in 2015.
He says there indicators of a more positive Melbourne property outlook for the coming period, "with two interest rate cuts, APRA announcing loosening of lending criteria, and a return to power for the incumbent government."
"Buyer sentiment is returning and auction clearance rates around the 70% mark are a good sign that the Melbourne market is again finding its feet.
"If you believe what makes media headlines the market is always in one of two states: crashing down, or racing up out of control and housing is unaffordable. 
"The reality is always somewhere in the middle, but the last twelve months have certainly shown a slower growth than the 5-7 years prior."
He says clients nowadays have a great bulldust detector and can see through flashy presentations and false claims. 
"Every client of mine is a client for life, because they know they can trust me." 
Estate agents were traditionally brought in to find a buyer for the Block properties once the teams had completed their renovations.
But in recent year's they emerged even earlier to assist the contestants on selecting styles that suited the locality.
Buyers agents have have even bigger roles, and <a href="/expert-insights/building/no-conflict-of-interest-over-judging-say-block-south-yarra-buyers-agents">in 2015 were facing conflict of interest suggestions</a> given their dual role.
The show’s 15th season premiered last night on Nine.
Doubts have been raised on the terrace's end appeal given severe cost cutting by the producers.
The contestants have only been given $250,000 to renovate their 460 sqm space, with terrace house with rear studio above garage.
It is just $30,000 more than the $220,000 budget allocated to each of the 230 sqm spaces in the Block's Gatwick. It has averaged 160 sqm throughout the entire series.
The Oslo will see $540 allocated per square metre. It was $950 per square metre.
"The $250,000 sounds like an enormous amount of money... however when you start to renovate an old building lots or labour lots or work - that money can go really quickly," contestant Mark said.
"We spend that much money on a two bedroom 90 sqm apartment," Mitch added. Their latest project <a href="/news/the-block-oslos-mitch-and-mark-seek-north-bondi-buyer">remains for sale at North Bondi. </a>
The couples have been asked to create a 30 square metre bedroom with an ensuite, touted as the “toughest first-week challenge ever.” 
The opening renovations were given an absurdly short period of time for completion as the producers amp up the stress to win ratings.  
"Hell on earth at the Oslo," is how it was described by a contestant trying to meet the cruel deadline in between Lite n' Easy meals.
It seems youfoodz, sponsors of The Block for two years, aren't going to be supplied in the onsite fridge.
Last night The Block failed to crack 1 million metro viewers with its first episode, instead drawing in 991,000, well down on its 2018 premiere of 1.163 million and 1.117 million metro viewers in 2017.
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

The Agency's Jesse Raeburn portrayed as cocky contestant on skint The Block Goldrush series

<html><body>
Serenity Cove, in the Hope Island and Helensvale precinct on the Gold Coast, has been listed for sale.

The 65 hectare waterfront estate is approved for a multi-staged masterplanned community.

Considered the final puzzle piece of the Hope Island masterplan, Serenity Cove has approval for 235 lots and dwellings in addition to balance land for future development.

There are plans for a 3,800 sqm retal and dining precinct.

A soft launch in 2017 saw 15 buyers of waterfront land spend a combined $10 million on their slice of Serenity Cove.

The first release of land included 48 waterfront lots along Saltwater Creek and on Lake Serenity – some with marina berths.

Located in the Hope Island/Helensvale precinct and some 10 minutes from the world-renowned 5-star resort and golf course of Sanctuary Cove, the subject site has extensive water frontage and is offered for sale via a two-stage tender process through Mark Witheriff and James Branch of Knight Frank in conjunction with Brendan Hogan and James Holland of Colliers International.

<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
“This is one of the last large-scale waterfront approved development sites within South East Queensland,” said Witheriff. 

“There are very limited comparable sites of this scale remaining on the Gold Coast, let alone those with extensive water frontage to cater for an up-market masterplanned residential estate.”

Colliers James Holland said the Helensvale and Hope Island precinct is currently seeing strong sales of waterfront land and homes.

"Due to diminishing land supply in Hope Island, the suburb is currently seeing a resurgence in high density living,” said Mr Holland.

Knight Frank and Colliers International recently transacted the former Village Square Market Place site nearby on Hope Island for $17.025 million. 

The purchaser has since lodged plans for 348 retirement apartments across five x eight level buildings which further underpins and supports the sustainable population growth within the region. 

<h2>Queensland properties selling now:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27575]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=26730]
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Serenity Cove, one of the Gold Coast's last masterplanned communities, hits the market

<html><body>
There are whispers Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins has bought a rebuilding project on the Gold Coast, not far from his dad Mark’s home.
Cummins has been spotted looking at a $775,000, 1970s home on Broadbeach Waters, which is ­described in its marketing as “one for all you Blockheads out there”.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/31/honey%20badger%201%201.jpg" alt="">
The purchase would be highly fitting given his ambassadorial role with Tradies workwear.
The home, with 18 metres water frontage, was sold through McGrath Surfers Paradise agent Simon Cowan.
It traded at $5000 less than in 2017.
Cummins’ dad Mark sold the six-bedroom family home in Brisbane’s south for $1 million and moved to the Gold Coast, paying $1.47 million for a pad on Clear Island Lake.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
</body></html>

firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins set for Gold Coast reno project

<html><body>
Sovereign Estate at Ormeau, a hinterland town and suburb in the City of Gold Coast, has nearly sold out.
Local builder Choice Homes offer a <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/sovereign-estate" target="_blank">range of house and land packages</a> starting from $440,000.
They have a range of three to four bedroom houses with two living areas, two bathrooms and garaging for at least one car.
There are only 15 lots remaining of the 50 lots that were launched this time last year.
This estate is in walking distance to Ormeau Woods State School, a short drive to the new Westfield Coomera Town Centre and an easy commute to Brisbane in the North and the Gold Coast in the South.
Recent buyer Justin Fursey says Sovereign Estate is perfect for his work and lifestyle needs.
“I’m a sales rep so do a lot of travelling up and down the highway and out west and having easy access to the M1 is a real plus for me,” Fursey says.
“I’ve lived in Ormeau before and really like the area, so when it came to buying here I found Sovereign Estate ticked all the boxes as far as home types on offer, quality of build, and of course location.
“There are other options in the area, but I found them too far from the motorway and Choice Homes have really gone above and beyond through their purchasing process.”
For more information, <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/sovereign-estate" target="_blank">click here</a>.
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Sovereign Estate in Ormeau nears sell out in less than 12 months

<html><body>
The Melbourne based chippies and half brothers, Tim, 32, and Mat, 27, (pictured above) thought they had the upper hand in the 2019 series of House Rules.
But they failed losing just by two points to Victorian dance teachers Pete, 32, and Courtney, 31. The judge Laurence Llewelyn Bowen awarded them a 10 for their final renovation, taking Pete and Courtney to a score of 29/30 from the judges while Melbourne brothers Tim and Mat received 27 points. 
Three teams battled it out in the House Rules 2019 Grand Final challenge after facing off in a seven day luxury loft challenge.
South Australia’s Lisa and Andy finished in third spot on 26 points.
From day one the chippies duo reckoned they have the requisite "background in carpentry and building, along with being able to visualise things before they are put together".
They had Tim’s family home, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-thornbury-128700662" target="_blank">a 1950s weatherboard cottage in Thornbury</a> (pictured below) that’s never been seriously renovated, get the makeover.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/26/thorn.jpg" alt="">
It cost $972,000 last July, having been held in the same family for over 50 years.
The charming double-fronted home, marketed by Nelson Alexander as having a well-maintained interior, comprises an entry foyer, three large bedrooms, central living room leading through to an updated kitchen and meals area.
There's a separate laundry, store room and verandah that overlooks a large rear yard offering plenty of scope and opportunity to expand on the 352 square metre block.
It had been listed with a $900,000 to $990,000 price guide.
This year, the six teams on House Rules weren't just renovating, but required to innovate.
The six teams renovated and styling each other's homes, with the aim of taking out the top prize of $250,000 in the seventh series of the reality renovation show hosted by Joanna Griggs.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/26/lisa-andy.jpg" alt=""> 
Lisa and Andy 
SA couple Lisa and Andy had been together for 11 years before they got hitched. 
Newlyweds, Lisa, 30, and Andy, 32 have previously renovated a home. The fireman and flight attendant live in Adelaide.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/26/mikaela-eliza.jpg" alt="">
Mikaela and Eliza
Not so WA renovation rookies, Mikaela, 24, and Eliza, 21, the surfie sisters who have both been ranked among the top 100 female surfers in the world. Their family home is in the Margaret River region.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/26/pete-courtney%201.jpg" alt="">
Pete and Courtney 
Victorian dance teachers Pete, 32, and Courtney, 31, come with one of the biggest houses the show has ever seen. 
The pair, who live in a huge brown-brick '80s mega-mansion, are no strangers to renovations, having once flipped a three-bedroom apartment in two weeks. They live in the foothills of Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges at Ferntree Gully.
During the finale the Melbourne parents revealed their baby plans.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/26/shayn-carly%201.jpg" alt="">
Shayn and Carly
Sunshine Coast couple Shayn, 33 and Carly, 31 says their family is fast outgrowing the house. 
Civil engineer Shayn, who has worked as a chippie and construction supervisor, and wife Carly actually call it their three-bedroom double-brick "prison".
"It's a small rectangular box with bars on the windows, security screens all over the place and not much light," Shayn says.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/26/katie-alex%201.jpg" alt="">
Katie and Alex
The married NSW-based couple Katie and Alex have a little cottage built in the 1880s in NSW’s Southern Tablelands having moved there from the ACT. 
The stay-at-home mum, and midwife, Katie, 29, and Federal Police officer Alex, 32, desire a working kitchen and a master bedroom that doesn't leak at their Gundaroo home.
 
</body></html>

Melbourne chippies Tim and Mat end up the House Rules 2019 runners up

<html><body>
Gold Coast home builder Choice Homes are marketing the remaining 12 lots of house and land packages in Wildwoods Grove, the Park Ridge estate in the booming South East Queensland land market.
The boutique subdivision of 47 large sized lots, off Chamber Flat Road, is part of the master planned 2,450 hectare Park Ridge community.
It will have schools, shops, health services and parks.
Wildwoods Grove, well placed near the planned Woolworths Shopping Centre, has 12 lots on offer, all over 400 sqm.
They are being targeted at young families, with yards big enough the kids can play in.
There are seven different types of home builds that Choice Homes are offering.
Brookfield, Brookfield SK, Brunswick, Florida, Ibiza, and The Opal all comprise four bedrooms, while Mapleton (pictured top) has five bedrooms.
Each home will have a double garage and a premium stone entry statement.
Wildwoods Grove is accessed off Chambers Flat Road has recently been upgraded to four lanes allowing quick access to the surrounding towns.
To find out more about Wildwoods Grove, <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/Wildwoods-grove" target="_blank">click here</a>.
</body></html>

Choice Homes house and land packages at Wildwoods Grove

<html><body>
Despite a slowdown in vacant land sales volume in 2018, the weighted average price for vacant land improved to $276,959, reflecting a 5% increase from the corresponding 2017 calendar year, according to latest Ray White's SEQ Vacant Land report.
Ray White Special Projects QLD agent Mark Creevey said the undersupplied development corridors including Brisbane City, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast witnessed the strongest price growth among the 10 local authorities from the year prior.
“The 2018 calendar year exhibited a clear slowdown in vacant land sales activity for the majority of the 10 local authorities that make up South East Queensland, with a total of 8,733 vacant lots sold, reflecting a 33.64% fall from the 2017 calendar year,” he said.
“The fall in sales activity is primarily considered a result of macro prudential regulation in the financial markets.
“This remains the single largest factor influencing the market at present, with buyers stifled by reduced borrowing capacity, resulting from lower gearing requirements and greater scrutiny over serviceability by banks.
“We expect price growth through major growth corridors to remain a trend into the second half of 2019, as a result of thinning supply, the recent Federal Election result, the relaxation of regulations applied by APRA to the lending institutions and recent interest rate cuts.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/9/seq%201%20.jpg" alt=""> Ray White Special Projects QLD Executive Director Tony Williams said quality land supply remained the key challenge for South East Queensland in the short-to-medium term, with 2018 lot approvals down 22.26% on the year prior.
“Notable reductions in future supply pipelines were observed for the Gold Coast, which saw lot approvals down 46%, Logan City down 47.55% and Moreton Bay seeing a drop of 33.95%,” he said.
“The Redland Bay region exhibited strong results across the board with an increase in vacant lot sales of 7.02%, while experiencing price growth of 14.10% for the year.
“Future supply again appears to be the key challenge to the continued growth for the region, with lot approvals down 37.75% for the year.
“Notwithstanding the recent reduction in land sales volumes, we’re confident in the general outlook for the land market in SEQ.
“Enquiry levels from locals and increasing numbers of interstate and even overseas groups are strong, with limited opportunities at present to acquire sites which offer scale, access to infrastructure, approvals or even a clear planning pathway to an approval.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/9/seq%202.jpg" alt="">
Ray White Special Projects QLD Executive Director Matthew Fritzsche said he anticipated a number of factors would continue to underpin the SEQ land market in the medium term.
“More affordable median land values between SEQ and southern markets still provides significant upside for southern buyers investing in SEQ,” he said.
“While continued population growth in SEQ is positive, it’s still well below peak numbers experienced in the early to mid-2000’s, highlighting the potential for further increases.
“Delivery and investment in major infrastructure projects such as Queen's Wharf, Cross River Rail, Brisbane Metro, Brisbane Live, Brisbane Airport second runway and the potential SEQ 2032 Olympic Bid, will be key factors.
Click <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/9/seq%203.jpg" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/9/seq%203.jpg" alt="">
 
</body></html>

Price growth in South East Queensland land market continues

<html><body>
Creating more quality green spaces closer to homes and increasing the tree canopy by planting one million trees in Greater Sydney by 2022 is a policy announced today by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
She said the first of the priorities is to increase the proportion of homes in towns and cities across NSW within a reasonable walking distance of quality green, open and public space. 
“Planting trees and creating new parks is just as important as building new roads, rail lines, schools and hospitals,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Green and public open spaces should be accessible to everyone across the State, no matter where they live.
“That is why, for the first time, I have made it a priority to make sure more people are within walking distance of quality public space.”
Ms Berejiklian joined Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes in Sydney’s South West to also announce planting one million trees across Greater Sydney by 2022 is another Premier’s Priority.
Mr Stokes said the program will contribute to the Government’s long-term target of planting five million trees by 2030.  
“We’re backing councils like Campbelltown City Council to increase the tree canopy cover across Sydney through funding and support,” Mr Stokes said. 
“More trees means more shade, cooler suburbs, more oxygen and a better urban environment for communities to enjoy.”
The plans announced are on top of the NSW Government’s decision to appoint a dedicated Minister for Public Spaces and the $340 million Open Spaces and Greener Sydney package.
</body></html>

Latest Building Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Building Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News