<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVG5ChLHf7E?si=D9hQRGCBuzlSQBqK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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GUSET OBSERVATION
Glossy Black-Cockatoos used to be common on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island until possums started eating their eggs and chicks. After volunteers helped protect nest hollows and erect safe nest boxes, the population more than doubled.
But how do you measure such success? How do you compare cockatoo nest protection with any other investment in conservation?
Unfortunately, we have few ways to compare and track the different efforts many people may be making to help conserve our natural treasures.
That’s why a group of us from a dozen Australian universities along with scientists and private researchers around the world have created <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13220">metrics of progress</a> for both our understanding of how to manage threats of different intensity, and how well that management has been implemented. We also provide guidance on what still needs doing before a threat no longer needs active management.
For the first time, we looked at every threatened bird in Australia to see how well – or not – they are managed. Hopefully, we can use this to avoid compounding our disastrous <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/13/a-national-disgrace-australias-extinction-crisis-is-unfolding-in-plain-sight">recent track record</a> of extinctions in Australia.
The state of Australian birds
What we did differently was collect the same data across different species, which meant we could compare conservation efforts across all bids.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/246799/original/file-20181122-182062-zfg4ry.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/246799/original/file-20181122-182062-zfg4ry.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The mallee emu-wren is unique to Australia and endangered due to habitat loss. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/128578170@N06/24288853338/in/photolist-D1jHTq-4b9JJc" target="_blank">Nik Borrow/Flickr</a>
When we applied these metrics to Australia’s 238 threatened bird species, the results were both encouraging and daunting. The good news is that we understand how to reduce the impact of about 52% of the threats – although of course that means we know little about how to deal with the other 48%.
But the situation is decidedly worse when we consider how effectively we are putting that research into practice. Only 43% of threats are being managed in any way at all – and just a third of the worst threats – and we are achieving good outcomes for just 20%.
But at least we now know where we are. We can celebrate what we have accomplished, appreciate how much needs doing, and direct our efforts where they will have the greatest benefit.
The threats to our birds
Introduced mammals, particularly <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320717302719" target="_blank">cats</a>, have been (and continue to be) a significant threat to Australian birds. Although we have successfully eradicated feral animals on many islands, saving many species, they remain a grave threat on the mainland.
The effect of climate change is becoming the top priority threat for the future. About half of all threatened birds are likely to be affected by increases in drought, fire, heat or sea level. Given the policy prevarication at a global level, targeted research is essential if birds are to be helped to cope.
By looking at multiple species, we can also identify what helps successful conservation. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/emr.12335" target="_blank">Monitoring</a>, for instance, has a big impact on threat alleviation – better monitored species receive more attention.
There is also – unsurprisingly – a strong connection between knowledge of how to manage a threat and successful application of that knowledge. Often policy people want instant action, but our work suggests that action before knowledge will squander money.
Where to from here?
So what can we use this analysis for? One use is helping species <a href="http://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news/no-surprises-no-regrets-identifying-australias-most-imperilled-animal-species" target="_blank">close to extinction</a>.
Using the same approach for multiple species groups, it is apparent that, while birds and mammals are in a parlous state, the most threatened fish are far worse off. We can also identify some clear priorities for action.
Finally, we must acknowledge this work emerged not from a government research grant, but from a non-government organisation (NGO). BirdLife Australia needed an overview of the country’s performance with threatened birds and was able to draw on the volunteered skills of biologists and mathematicians from around the country, and then the world.
Indeed, one of the future projects will be using the new assessment tool to see just how much of the conservation action around the country is being driven by volunteers, from the many people who contributed their knowledge and skills to this paper through to those keeping glossy black-cockatoo chicks safe on Kangaroo Island.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/107432/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;">
Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Alienor Chauvenet, Lecturer, Griffith University
April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland
Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne
David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
Elisa Bayraktarov, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland
Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University; Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland
Ian Leiper, Geospatial Scientist, Charles Darwin University
James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland
Jim Radford, Principal Research Fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University
John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University
Les Christidis, Professor, Southern Cross University
Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland
Molly K Grace, Postdoctoral Fellow in Zoology, University of Oxford
Paul McDonald, Associate professor, University of New England
Sarah Legge, Associate Professor, Australian National 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/for-the-first-time-weve-looked-at-every-threatened-bird-in-australia-side-by-side-107432" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

For the first time we’ve looked at every threatened bird in Australia side-by-side

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A demand for affordable and housing is driving a continuing drop in median lot sizes across Melbourne’s greenfield market.
The median lot size has dropped from 514 square metres in 2009 to 405 square metres in 2017, according to data cited by AVID Property Group.
The developers are looking to capitalise on the demand with its recently released Orbit Homes Tempo Living collection at Bloomdale, a masterplanned community in Diggers Rest.
<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/2018/11/22/Tempo%20Living%20-%20Madrid%20Facade%20low%20res.jpg" alt="">
AVID Property Group Senior Development Manager Chris Monahan said the group was seeing the benefits of partnering with builders such as Orbit Homes to produce smaller, smarter and affordable homes.
“The Tempo Living homes are a well-designed and well-priced product, which offer a unique opportunity for buyers to snap up some of the best-located blocks in Bloomdale’s masterplanned community,” Monahan said.
“Following its success in Bloomdale in early 2017, the Tempo Living collection offers three- bedroom house and land packages, priced from $442,340, all within 45 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD.”
Orbit Homes Sales and Marketing Director Paul Millson said smart design and functionality can go a long way in making homes on smaller blocks feel spacious.
“We have a dedicated team working on the functionality and layout of our Tempo Living designsto ensure we maximise the use of space, open planning and low maintenance living to meetconsumer’s accommodation needs,” Millson said.
“As the dream of quarter-acre blocks fades into the past, people are seeing the value of living within an existing community.
“These homes may have a smaller yard, but we ensure the lots are integrated into well located communities like Bloomdale with surrounding parks, amenity, open space and infrastructure.”
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Smaller, smarter and affordable homes the focus of new release at Bloomdale

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A one-day auction resulted in the sale of 22 homesites at the new Epiq masterplanned community in Lennox Head.
At the October 27 auction, lots between 640 square metres and 1074 square metres were sold from $400,000 to $595,000 for a combined $10,675,000.
Elders Real Estate Lennox Head principal Michael King said the result demonstrated the strong demand for coastal property in northern New South Wales.
"Land supply in the coastal corridor between Tweed Heads and Ballina is drying up, and at the same time the $4 billion program to upgrade the motorway connecting to this region is encouraging more people to consider living and working here," he said.
"The 22 lots that went under the hammer were among the best on offer in the Epiq Lennox Head community, many with ocean views and within proximity to a recently approved $30 million Woolworths-anchored neighbourhood shopping centre which is expected to be completed by mid 2020.
"Most of the purchasers who secured an Ocean Ridge homesite were intending owner-occupiers from Lennox Head, Ballina and surrounding areas, which indicates that locals understood the limited supply and opportunity on offer. 
"We also had half a dozen purchasers at the auction who had previously purchased in Epiq and were looking to re-invest.
"Individual homesites sold for up to $80,000 above reserve as purchasers pushed for their preferred lot, with titles expected to be available by April 2019 so most buyers are able to occupy their homes by Christmas next year."
Clarence Property Managing Director Peter Fahey said Epiq Lennox Head had achieved a one-day sellout for the majority of its previous land stages, with more than $83 million in property sold to date at the community.
"Stages one, two and three, comprising a total 260 homesites, also sold in one day under a ballot system, with names drawn out of a barrel to provide equal opportunity for registered purchasers to secure their preferred lot at market price," he said.
"For Ocean Ridge we opted for an auction-style event due to the limited number of premium lots available and the strong demand for seaside homesites close to amenities like parks, shopping centres and schools.
"The success of Ocean Ridge has prompted us to considering releasing another small stage of premium homesites with ocean views in the coming months for those who missed out in the recent auction."
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Lennox Head community Epiq sells 22 homesites in one-day auction

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GUEST OBSERVATION
On average, renovating a home generates far more waste than building a new one from scratch.
This waste goes straight to landfill, damaging the environment. It also hurts your budget: first you have to pay for demolition, then the new materials, and then disposal of leftover building products.
By keeping waste in mind from the start and following some simple guidelines, you can reduce the waste created by your home renovation.
1. It starts with the design
Waste is often treated as inevitable, factored into a building budget with no serious attempt to reduce it.
By raising the issue early with your architect, designer or builder, they can make decisions at the design stage that reduce waste later. Often the designers and architects don’t see their decisions contributing to waste – or rather, they don’t really think about it.
During my research on reducing construction waste, I asked one architect what he thought happens to the waste generated. He laughed with a glint in his eyes and said, “I think it disappears into pixie dust!”
One simple early decision that dramatically reduces waste is designing with material sizes in mind. If you have a ceiling height that does not match the plasterboard sheet, you end up with a tiny little strip that has to be cut out of a full sheet. In the case of bricks, not matching the ceiling height is even more wasteful.
Obviously not all materials will work together at their standard sizes (and you need to fit your renovation to the existing house). But sensitive design can make intelligent trade-offs, reducing overall waste.
When I asked architects why they don’t design zero-waste buildings more often, they said clients don’t ask for it. Make it part of your brief, and ask the architect how they can save money by using the materials efficiently.
2. Get your builder involved early
If you’re using an architect for your renovation, it’s common to have very little collaboration between them and the builder. Any errors or issues are usually spotted after construction has begun, requiring expensive and wasteful rework.
Instead, ask your architect and builder to collaborate on a waste management plan. Such integrated approaches have worked well in Australia and the United States.
This means clients, engineers and builders are collaborating, rather than taking adversarial roles. For such contracts to work, it’s important to involve all parties early in the project, and to encourage cooperation.
The briefing stage is an opportunity for architects, quantity surveyors and builders to work together to identify a waste minimisation target.
3. Whatever you do, don’t change your mind
One the biggest contributions to waste on sites is late design changes. Client-led design changes are identified in all literature as having far-reaching implications on waste.
These are mostly due to owners changing their mind once something is built. Reworking any part of a building due to design changes can account for as much as 50% of the cost overrun, as well as causing delays and generating waste.
The early work with your design and construction team outlined in the first steps gives you the chance to make sure you’re committed to your original design. Skimping in the planning stage can end up costing you far more in the long run.
4. Deconstruction, not demolition
Ask your builder not to demolish the building, but to deconstruct it. Deconstruction means taking a building apart and recovering materials for recycling and reuse. This provides opportunities for sorting materials on site.
Salvaged materials can be resold to the community or reused in the renovations. It greatly reduces the tip fees which are usually higher for mixed waste (typical from demolition process) and lower for sorted waste.
Of course this takes more time and has an additional cost. Therefore you do have to balance the cost of deconstruction against the savings.
Denmark, which recycles 86% of its construction waste, has made it mandatory for all government buildings to undergo selective demolition and sorting of construction waste. A good place to start in Australia is your state environment department, which may have guidelines on what is involved.
5. Choose materials carefully
Good-quality materials last longer, reducing maintenance later. Choosing manufacturers that use minimal packaging also reduces waste (be careful here to check the difference between “minimal” and “inadequate” packaging, as the latter can mean your material breaks).
Reusing materials from your renovation may also be an option (you will need to discuss this with architect and builder at the beginning of the project). Finally, using materials with recycled content is a great option, and boosts our recycling industry.
In March 2017 the Housing Industry Association released data suggesting the Australian residential building industry will increasingly become more dependent on renovation work rather than new construction,
If you’re renovating your home, making efficiency and low waste a priority helps cut costs and reduce landfill.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103942/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;">
Deepika Mathur, Researcher in sustainable architecture, Charles Darwin 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/five-ways-to-reduce-waste-and-save-money-on-your-home-renovation-103942" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Five ways to save money and reduce waste on your home renovation

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Sydney has been a hot spot for renovators over the past several years which is largely due to high demand levels, low interest rates and record capital growth in underlying value levels, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
"While we have seen this renovation trend booming across most property types and locations throughout Sydney, we are now starting to see some property types, price points and locations reacting differently to the changing markets and property cycle," HTW suggested. 
It appears that renovation and construction have been on the rise over the past year or two within inner Sydney. Generally additions or extensive renovations are more popular on the inner eastern side of town (Darlinghurst, Paddington, Surry Hills), often with significant architectural prowess.
"As inner Sydney is an expensive area, renovations or additions would be more appealing to some than the costs and hassle of moving," the report suggested. 
On the inner western side of town, whilst renovations and additions are still common around the very inner areas (Newtown, Camperdown, Glebe, Chippendale) as you get further out to Leichhardt, Lilyfield and Strathfield, knockdown and rebuilds are more common due to larger blocks, fewer heritage restrictions and better accessibility (from a materials perspective).
HTW noted that Darlinghurst has seen quite a few well renovated homes sell recently. Darlinghurst neighbours the superior suburbs of Paddington to the east and Potts Point to the north, with inferior Woolloomooloo to the north-west and slightly inferior Surry Hills to the south.
A recent example of a well renovated home is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/4-thomson-st-darlinghurst-nsw-2010" target="_blank"> 4 Thomson Street, Darlinghurst</a> (pictured below) which sold in original condition for $1.4 million in July 2015 and after being fully renovated, sold again for more than double in June 2018 for $2.9 million. While this represents a very strong increase, it needs to be noted that this time period also had the benefit of record capital growth regardless of renovations.
<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/2018/10/2/darlinghurst%20before.jpg" alt="">
 4 Thomson Street, Darlinghurst (before)
<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/2018/10/2/darlinghurt%20after.jpg" alt="">
 4 Thomson Street, Darlinghurst (after)
In the inner city, some of the easiest ways to add value would be to utilise rear lane access for parking or add an attic level bedroom or en-suite. Wide terraces or detached dwellings (where available) are preferred. Given that these areas are quite expensive, a typical buy-in price point could be something similar to<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-terrace-nsw-darlinghurst-127936406" target="_blank"> 43 Craigend Street, Darlinghurst </a>(pictured below)<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-terrace-nsw-darlinghurst-127936406" target="_blank"> </a>which sold for $1.85 million in May 2018.
<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/2018/10/2/43%20craigend%20st%201.jpg" alt="">
This is an original terrace in close proximity to a busy road. Many areas of inner city Sydney are heritage conservation precincts, meaning that the façade is not able to be altered and most additions are required to be unobtrusive.
Some of the suburban community facilities and infrastructure helping drive construction in these established areas include the light rail construction in the CBD/Surry Hills, gentrification of Kings Cross and surrounding areas and proximity to the CBD which generally facilitates good work and family life balance.
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Inner Sydney renovations on the rise: HTW

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Home owners are always on the lookout for ways to increase the value of their homes, and 2018 has been a big one for the renovation industry, says a new survey.
According to the annual Houzz &amp; Home Australia survey 57% of home owners on the platform are planning to renovate their home.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/4/renovation%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge:</a>
<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/2018/10/4/renovation%201.jpg" alt="">
In 2017, over 50% of home owners renovated their homes at a median spend of $25,000.
Repeat home buyers invested the most in home renovations at a median spend of $30,000.
More than a quarter of renovating home owners tackling kitchens (26%), the top target for interior renovation, with a median spend of $20,000 for a large kitchen (more than 10 square metres).
Living/family rooms, bedrooms, master bathrooms and laundries (24, 18, 18 and 17% respectively) followed on the priority list.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/4/renovation%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge:</a>
<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/2018/10/4/renovation%202.jpg" alt="">
Houzz principal economist Nino Sitchinava said the survey results were a strong signal for the industry.
"All of the evidence from our research points to 2018 likely being another robust year for the home improvement industry,” says Sitchinava.
“Recent buyers and long-term homeowners alike are keen on investing in major projects like kitchens and bathrooms and they’re validated by the value these projects have brought to their homes."
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/4/renovation%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge:</a> <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/2018/10/4/renovation%203.jpg" alt="">
The report’s other conclusions include:
<ul>
<li>More Deliberate Planning and Budgeting: Over the past two years, homeowners have become more deliberate in planning and budgeting for renovations and were seven percent more likely to set a budget in 2017 than in 2015 (74 and 67%, respectively).</li>
<li>Plumbing and Electrical Top System Upgrades: Homeowners prioritised plumbing and electrical over any other system during renovations (32 and 31%, respectively). First-time home buyers are twice as likely to upgrade electrical systems during renovations as long-term homeowners (52 versus 25%, respectively).</li>
<li>Home Professionals in High Demand: Over nine in 10 renovating homeowners chose to hire a home professional for renovation needs (92%). Repeat home buyers are the most likely to seek professional assistance (94%), followed by long-term homeowners and first-time home buyers 89 and 88%, respectively). </li>
</ul>
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Home owners continue to look for renovation benefits

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A new list of masterplanned community sales has been released, with Stockland placing three times in the top five.
The National Land Survey by Research4 reports on vacant land sales in new residential communities around Australia.
Stockland’s Aura community on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast claimed first place with 746 sales in the past year.
Stockland Elara in Sydney’s north-west was the second most popular community with 674 sales in the 2017-18 year, while Stockland Highlands in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor ranked fourth with 632 sales.
Andrew Whitson, Group Executive and CEO, Stockland Communities, said it was an outstanding result for the company.
“Our closest competitor achieved a market share of 5 per cent in the June quarter, highlighting our strong national position in the creation of masterplanned communities,” he said.
“We have a long track record for delivering many of Australia’s best new communities and a clear vision for meeting the future housing needs of Australian families.
“These latest national land survey figures confirm that our focus on liveability, affordability and the owner occupier market has made Stockland the first choice for home buyers in masterplanned communities.”
Whitson said is currently sell over 75% of its product to owner occupiers and over 50% to first home buyers.
AT Aura, more than 20,000 new homes will be created on the 24 square kilometre site over the next 30 years. 
Other products in the company’s development pipeline include the Highlands community in Victoria  and the Elara community in Sydney.
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Stockland's Aura project records the most masterplanned community sales in Australia 

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A new residential project, known as Third Avenue, is set to come to the inner south-western suburb of Adelaide, Everard Park.
The $15 million development from Arcadian Property comprises 27 new two and three-storey homes. 
Prices at the development, which is currently in planning assessment, will start from around $500,000 when released to the market next month, said Arcadian Property Chief Executive Officer Warwick Mittiga.
“Everard Park is one of the best kept secrets in Adelaide real estate,” said Mr Mittiga.
“Within walking distance to the popular shopping and café strips of Goodwood Road and King William Road, Everard Park is only 2km from the CBD and just 10 minutes from Glenelg beach. Yet despite its amazing location and quality established homes, it remains relatively unknown.
“So we’re really excited about Third Avenue, which is going to become one of the best addresses in the inner south-west. We have direct connection to Brownhill Creek, dedicated walking trails through Unley Council and are very close to some fantastic reserves and ovals too.
“The development itself is going to be exceptional. From exterior architecture to the interior design, every element has been carefully considered to maximise living standards for residents and promote the value of their home for many years to come.
“Indeed, while we could have pushed for a bit more density in the project, we specifically chose to reduce the number of new homes and create larger houses with an increased amount of private and public open space. This enables us to focus more on quality rather than quantity, and ultimately that’s what Third Avenue is all about.”
Construction of Third Avenue is expected to commence next year ahead of estimated completion in 2020.
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New $15m development Third Avenue coming to Adelaide's Everard Park

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Melbourne’s newest, masterplanned residential development by EIG Developments, Opalia, was last launched last Saturday.
The debut release, <a href="http://www.opalia.com.au" target="_blank">Eaglevale</a>, had 31 lots ranging in size from 231 square metres to 670 square metres.
EIG Developments’ CEO George Georgiou said that as of four days after release, 95% of lots has sold and that affordability is critical for families.
In launching the development, the City of Melton Mayor, Bob Turner, said that Melton is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia.
He said the the area combined urban and rural lifestyles within a comfortable commuting distance of Melbourne.
"Melton Council embraces the opportunity to work collaboratively with developers and, across all levels of government to deliver quality infrastructure and services for our growing community," Turner said.
"Opalia is truly a community where residents can come together, to gain a real sense of belonging and feel they are part of something special."
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Opalia's first release 95% sold out after four days

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The Future Melbourne Committee has unanimously endorsed plans for the first new urban park in the Hoddle Grid since City Square was developed in 1980.
The Market Street public park is adjacent to Cbus Property and ISPT’s <a href="/expert-insights/investing/collins-arch-melbourne-signs-up-third-law-firm-office-tenants">Collins Arch development at 447 Collins Street</a> in the CBD’s western grid.
The new park will introduce 1,900 square metres of open space.
Collins Arch is set for completion late next year.
The Market Street park in 2020.
The City of Melbourne will decide on a name for the park at a future date.
Cbus Property is developing the park which will then be handed back to City of Melbourne for public use and management.
<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/2018/9/19/Hoddle%202.jpg" alt="">
The new park will be connected to a further 1,750 square metres of publicly accessible and occupiable space within the Collins Arch development via a large amphitheater.
The total open space added to the block will be nearly 30 percent larger than the previous forecourt of <a href="/expert-insights/buying/cbus-secures-approval-for-its-447-collins-street-project">the National Mutual building</a> which was demolished despite its architectural merit.
It was among a handful of CBD buildings rejected by the state government for heritage protection as some regarded the 27-level building as a prime example of post-war International style. 
It is being designed by landscape architects Oculus, incorporating a collection of spaces, including a City Garden, Central Plaza, a Terrace and Northern Lawns.
Each space will create clear pedestrian connections via north-south links to public transport, the Northbank, as well as the broader precinct, including the Immigration Museum.
<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/2018/9/19/Hoddle%203.jpg" alt="">
The creation of the park will see the western side of Market Street repurposed into public space, while the eastern side will be transformed to include a new bike lane.
The remainder of Market Street will become a single lane carriageway for southbound traffic and kerbside parking.
The $1 billion plus mixed-use Collins Arch development will include 49,000 square metres of premium-grade office space, 940 square metres of ground floor retail and a <a href="/expert-insights/investing/collins-arch-to-feature-melbourne-s-first-w-hotel">five-star W Hotel</a>, as well as 184 luxury apartments.
Pictured below is the now demolished National Mutual Building
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/19/Arches.JPG" alt="">
(source: Victoria State Library)
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