Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<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/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

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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It’s like going to a Gold Class cinema and having it all to yourself – plus you can pause the movie while you get another Coke and popcorn top-up. A simple TV just doesn’t suffice for a lot of home owners these days. Many enthusiasts will buy a large LED TV and an expensive sound system, which is great, but even that isn’t enough for some cinephiles. Many houses now come with home theatre rooms – rooms dedicated to the ultimate audio-visual experience.
The most opulent of offerings include banks of tiered oversized reclining chairs, giant projector screens, overhead lighting like a night sky and cinema-style furnishings. Watching a movie in a room like these really is an immersive experience, in every sense of the word.
This green room in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-109501446">this Bellevue Hill home</a> looks very different to the others we’ve seen, but the owners still couldn’t resist the traditional red chairs. It ranks as the 10th best cinema Property Observer has spotted in the past year or so. Just out the door of the cinema and you’ll have access to the home’s 700-bottle wine cellar. Grab a bottle on your way from the cinema to the heated pool. It was recently sold by Michael Finger of Ray White Double Bay.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/hometheatre10.jpg">
For a countdown on Australia's top 20 home cinemas worthy of Academy recognition – 20 through 11 click here. 
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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Popcorn and property: 10th place in Australia's top 20 best home cinemas 

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Brookfield Residential has unveiled its approved 70-storey Sydney residential tower proposal for its Sydney Water Board site. The $211 million project will be Australia’s most slender tower and will allow almost all of the 420 apartments to have access to direct northern sun and views.
It will also be the tallest residential tower in the Sydney skyline at 240 metres, beating off Meriton's 230-metre tall World Tower, which dates back to 2004. The new tower will appear considerably taller as it is built further up a ridge than World Tower. There are five office towers that are taller than World Tower.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/kaanfinch1.jpg">
The 115 Bathurst Street/339 Pitt Street mixed-use project is on a 4,000-square-metre site, with a retail and commercial podium, which incorporates the adaptive reuse of its eight-storey heritage listed 1930s Pitt Street building.
Brookfield, which bought the site for $140 million in 2007, has had the project listed for sale through Colliers agent Vince Kernahan and Jon Chomley. Stage 1 development approval has been granted for the design concept by Kann Finch, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/article/Kannfinch-design-Sydneys-super-slim-and-tallest-tower/534738.aspx?utm_source=20120718&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletters">Architecture and Design.</a>
The previous Brookfield images showed its building envelope (pictured below).
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/brookfield.jpg"> 
For more about Sydney's present and future, download our free eBook<a target="_blank" href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-sydney-embracing-the-world-of-tomorrow"> Sydney: Embracing the world of tomorrow</a>
 
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Brookfield secure approval for slimline Sydney tower development to be city’s tallest residential high rise

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Lend Lease’s timber tower development Forté in Docklands has continued its dramatic rise to the sky as builders start work on the sixth floor. Property Observer has continued its photographic survey for a week six update.
<img alt="_mg_5047" src="/images/stories/2012/07/july13forte/_mg_5047.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Construction began just six weeks ago, and the development is due to be finished in October.
<img alt="_mg_5012" src="/images/stories/2012/07/july13forte/_mg_5012.jpg" width="470" height="313">
The $11 million building will be Australia’s first timber high-rise building. Set on an elevated concrete podium, the building will rise to 10 levels and is being built with prefabricated wooden panels made from cross-laminated timber and will feature 23 apartments.
<img alt="_mg_5007" src="/images/stories/2012/07/july13forte/_mg_5007.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Two weeks ago, work had just started on the fourth floor.
<img alt="_mg_5036" src="/images/stories/2012/07/july13forte/_mg_5036.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Cranes have been lifting large prefabricated panels into place.
Forté is taking part in the annual Open House Melbourne event on Sunday, July 29. This is a free event that offers Melburnians a chance to discover the wealth of architecture, history and design nestled around the city.
Date: 29 July 2012 Time: 10am – 4pm Location: 825 Bourke Street, Docklands
For more information, visit <a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/" target="_blank">www.openhousemelbourne.org</a>
<img alt="_mg_5042" src="/images/stories/2012/07/july13forte/_mg_5042.jpg" width="470" height="313">
<img alt="fortesite3" src="/images/stories/2012/06/fortesite3.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Forté's progress as of June 8
 
<img alt="fortejune3" src="/images/stories/2012/06/fortejune3.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Forté's progress as of June 29
 
<img alt="_mg_5006" src="/images/stories/2012/07/july13forte/_mg_5006.jpg" width="470" height="313">
Forté's progress as of July 13
{module Would you buy an apartment in a timber building?} 
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Lend Lease's timber residential high rise Forté reaches for the treetops six weeks on

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The Victorian Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, recently announced an urban expansion for Melbourne: 5,958 hectares of new suburbs and transport corridors. But he didn’t mention the implicit costs of changing land use; in particular, he didn’t discuss where Melbourne will get its fresh food.

This is a concern if the government assumes that population growth can be accommodated as it has in the past, by developers speculating on adjacent farm land to create new low-density “affordable” suburban housing estates, dependent on cars for access to services. Often, this process ignores the forest for the trees – loss of fresh food production from the peri-urban region in a death by a thousand cuts.

Indeed, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ecoinnovationlab.com/reportssubmissions/144-inquiry-into-agribusiness-in-outer-suburban-melbourne">Larsen</a> suggests in citing Simms: Nothing reveals the thin veneer of civilisation like a threat to its food or fuel supply, or the cracks in society like a major climate-related disaster. A cocktail of all three will give cold sweats to the most hardened emergency planner.

Planning for food is not <a target="_blank" href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Food-sensitive-planning-urban-design-full-report.pdf">explicitly included in</a> the Victorian Planning and Environment Act (1987) or the new State Planning Policy Framework (introduced on 21 September 2010, Amendment VC 71).

One of the areas most affected by a shift from agriculture to housing will be the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/">City of Casey</a>. Councillor Amanda Stapledon from Casey Council recently said the Bunyip food belt (an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/food/national-food-plan/submissions-received/bunyip-food-belt">area in the southeast of Melbourne</a> that stretches across four municipalities), must be protected from housing developments. This area supports 2,000 local jobs and generates in the vicinity of $400 million of food production.

According to the Casey Weekly, in 2007, 7% of Casey Shire residents – about 16,000 households – were “food insecure”, defined as not having access to enough food for an active, healthy life. This figure is above the state average of 6%. A <a target="_blank" href="https://apo.org.au/research/unsettling-suburbia-new-landscape-oil-and-mortgage-vulnerability-australian-cities">VAMPIRE</a> (vulnerability assessment for mortgage, petroleum and inflation risks and expenses) index shows a significant number of working families in Casey are at high risk of experiencing the health impacts of chronic food insecurity over the next decade.

The process of “consultation” for this State Planning Policy Framework rode roughshod over food-producing councils like Casey: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/plansandpolicies/planningformelbourne/planninghistory/deliveringmelbournesnewestsustainablecommunities">Delivering Melbourne’s Newest Sustainable Communities</a> does not consider the issue of food security for Melbourne nor the loss of gross agriculture industry <a target="_blank" href="https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/doclib/document20Jul2009-160515.pdf?saveAs=Minutes_of_Special_Council_Meeting_-_14_July_2009_v20Jul09.pdf">worth approximately</a> $20-30 million per year and 550 direct jobs in Casey. So, does this announcement mean that Melbourne residents are at increased risk of going hungry or paying more for fresh food?

Short answer – no.

In stark contrast to <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.edu.au/paving-our-market-gardens-choosing-suburbs-over-food-4419">Sydney’s situation</a>, I suggest there are two main reasons why Melbourne is much better placed for coping with the sometimes unintended consequences of urban expansion.

First, the Victorian government has opened its ears to considerations of food security.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/">VicHealth</a> has championed fresh food production and access in the outer urban areas as a high priority in planning. Some 80% of the 79 councils in Victoria have municipal public health plans as prescribed under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (which superseded the Health Act 1958). Fresh food is regarded as an integral pillar of such local government plans for community health and well-being.

VicHealth and Deakin University have also set up the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.foodalliance.org.au/">Food Alliance</a>, an organisation that investigates and makes evidence-based recommendations to government on the food system for Victorians.

The Victorian Liberal-Nationals coalition created a policy portfolio under the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. There is, therefore, the purposeful addition of food production to the planning considerations of councils in Melbourne and the state government. This situation makes for a more sophisticated, systemic analysis and practice of planning urban expansion in response to population growth, beyond the immediate, ultimately flawed, economic framework.

Second, the planning process has responded to these concerns. In 2010, the Victorian Parliament expanded planning beyond considering just the economic framework when it went through an Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Development Committee and Inquiry and settled on the principles for setting Melbourne’s urban growth boundary. The outcomes of the inquiry are reflected in the minster’s <a target="_blank" href="https://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/drawing-the-line-around-our-city-20120614-20ccq">recent announcement</a> of land to be released for housing in the “interface municipalities” of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges.

Planning processes covering a wider range of factors – bio-physical, social and economic – were scrutinised for a specific cartographical/geographical sub-set of the city of Melbourne. The economics of real estate development are not sufficiently sophisticated to deliver optimum outcomes for new communities at a variety of interconnected scales. Including food in the planning equation brings in the need to plan for local jobs, water use, transportation and fuel costs, and social disadvantage such as going hungry or having a poor diet.

The implication is that the Victorian state government has led a planning initiative focusing on two things: the local jobs, personal networks, community values and distribution of fresh food to people in the vicinity of production; and the importance of fresh food supply for all of Melbourne’s residents into the future.

That is, in order to protect the future access for all Melbourne residents to the immediate and cascading benefits of fresh food, planning had to occur at a local, distributed level in order for these benefits to be accomplished. Add to that the realisation that population growth is a key long-term driver more important than short term economic cycles in planning and the Victorian state government is developing a more robust or resilient path to at least minimise hunger and malnutrition and cope with inevitable population growth out to 2050. It’s certainly a path more robust, systemic and sophisticated than the problematic path for Sydney.
Jonathan Sobels is a lecturer in human geography at <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/" target="_blank">Flinders University.</a>
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.edu.au/" target="_blank">The Conversation.</a>
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Australian capital city new property development at the cost of farm land – death by a thousand cuts: Jonathan Sobels

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Melburnians may have double the reason to either love or loathe the city skyline in a few years’ time, with the site for a proposed sister skyscraper to the post-modern Eureka Tower listed for sale.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/skyscraper2.jpg">
Source: <a href="https://skyscrapercity.com/" target="_blank">Skyscrapercity.com</a>
The 2,642-square-metre site at 70 Southbank Boulevard is directly across the road from the Eureka Tower and has been listed with a $25 million price tag.
It is being sold via an international public expressions of interest campaign managed by CBRE’s Mark Wizel and Joshua Rutman closing on August 8.
The proposed 226-metre, 72-storey tower is designed by Nonda Katsalidis of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C1CHKB_en-GBAU429AU429&amp;sugexp=chrome,mod=2&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=2011101351927" target="_blank">Fender Katsalidis</a> architects, who also designed <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/onwards-and-upwards-in-kuala-lumpur-for-fender-katsalidis-after-eureka-moment/2011101651945" target="_blank">the controversial Eureka Tower.</a>
It will be quite a bit shorter than the Eureka Tower, which has 92 floors and is 300 metres high.
The $400 million design incorporates a gold strip rising up above to the very top, complementing the shiny gold cap on top of the Eureka Tower.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/skyscraper3.jpg">
The site is owned by Katsalidis and Adrian Valmorbida from the Valmorbida family, who have put it up for sale almost a year after receiving a planning permit for the tower.
They had to battle with the City of Melbourne to gain approval for the building, which is set to feature 532 apartments, six levels of office space, a fresh food market and ground-floor retail.
“Eureka Tower, which 70 Southbank Boulevard, has been replicated on from an architectural perspective is well known as part of the fabric of life in central Melbourne,” says Katsalidis.
“We wanted to re-create elements of what we had achieved at Eureka and apply it to 70 Southbank Boulevard. It’s a brilliantly located site with a huge variety of optional uses and tremendous potential for a developer to shape Melbourne’s skyline with their own brush."
The site is the former head office of international explosives and fertilising giant Incitec Pivot and is currently in use as office accommodation.
Wizel says significant interest is expected from both local andoff shore developers “that recognise the difficulty in obtaining large corner sites that provided potential for apartment projects with substantial vistas in all directions”.
The site is bounded by City Road, Southbank Boulevard and Fawkner Street and has 150 metres of street frontage.
“Early developer interest has centred around this site housing the next major residential project on the edge of the Melbourne CBD,” says Wizel.
“Sites of this size in the luxury precinct of Southbank are not readily available for acquisition and, as a result, we are anticipating strong interest from local and overseas buyers, with a particularly high level of enquiry expected from Singaporean, Malaysian and mainland Chinese developers, all of whom will be attracted by the site’s proximity to the Crown Casino complex, Melbourne’s arts and cultural precinct as well as Southgate and the sporting precinct of the MCG, Rod Laver Arena and AAMI Stadium.”
Wizel says Asian developers have invested $450 million in Melbourne development opportunities over the past 18 months “in order to diversify into a proven residential market that is sought after by owner occupiers, investors and tenants”.
Rutman says it is rare for a site that has the potential for Nonda Katsalidis-designed, permit-approved residential tower to come to the market for public competition.
Katsalidis says the partners are putting the property up for sale to allow them to “go in different directions”.
“I know that both our firm Fender Katsalidis and the project managers Stralliance would be happy to remain involved in some capacity in the project moving forward, as we believe it will be Melbourne’s next iconic residential tower,” says Katsalidis.
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Site for Eureka’s more golden sister tower in Melbourne’s Southbank listed with $25 million price tag

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In the last few weeks I completed a dual-occupancy project in Muswellbrook, a town in the Hunter Region of NSW.  This project took two years from the time that I found the land to the time that we had both four-bedroom houses tenanted at a record high of $500 per week. Sounds like a long time for a dual occupancy, but time was on our side.
We were able to buy into a subdivision in a prestigious estate before the land was registered. This is not a game for everyone as often registration can get pushed out, and in this case that’s exactly what happened, but patience prevailed.
It didn’t matter about the delay, we were literally buying land off the plan and in the time that my client exchanged contracts (on a minimum deposit as negotiated as one of our terms) to the time that he settled on the land, it had increased in value by about $30,000.  This is unusual, but we had been able to buy in early, get a great deal and get the pick of the sites in this release.
We negotiated an awesome price of just $142,000 for a 1,066-square-metre block of land, which represented a 15% discount off the original asking price. What’s more, this land developer ended up naming the street after me.  That was totally unexpected, and I was honoured.  Perhaps now this street will see more strong growth because of its name!
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/chiverscct.jpg">
So, while we were waiting for the land to register, we didn’t sit around twiddling our thumbs, we were busy producing a concept plan. I wanted two large four-bedroom houses, as my research had told me that was what the mainstream market was looking for. It meant we’d appeal to both families and contract companies who looked for houses they could put three to four men into while seeing out their contract, usually to the mines.
We commissioned two builders to tender on the project. As we got closer to registration and the civil works were completed in this part of the estate, which means the infrastructure such as roads, guttering and footpaths were built and the lots were finished being sculpted, we then ordered our detailed or contour survey.   This is required before you can finalise plans.  We were well into the design phase by now.  As registration approached, the development application (DA) plans were completed, a builder engaged and we had out ducks lined up, ready to lodge the DA with the council as soon as the registration took place.
Council approval took just five weeks, and we had our construction certificate plans finalised and lodged within another few weeks. Before we knew it we were under construction.  But was this good timing?  As we started building it just happened to be at the time NSW had one of its wettest years in history!  Our builder rallied, completing the project well within the 26-week contract period and we had Christmas during this time.
So the longest waiting period was the time between securing the land on a low deposit, which meant holding costs were minimal yet capital growth took place on the land.
As we neared building completion, we interviewed agents and negotiated a discounted management fee for our client, appointed the agent, discussed the rent we wanted to achieve and then stood back while they did what they do best which was to achieve a record high rent for us. It’s important you mange this part of your development closely, as the one time you have to attract the highest rent is when your properties are brand new.  Property Bloom was able to save our client thousands of dollars by negotiating the terms of management.
Here are the high level results of this development in a nutshell:
<ul>
<li>
Equity created: $158,000 </li>
<li>
Gross yield: 8.3%</li>
<li>
Depreciation in year one: $22,242</li>
</ul>
This is an awesome example of a successful development as several factors came into play.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/07/chivers2.jpg">
On first impressions a project may seem to take too long, but when you drill down to the detail it’s often not until you finalise the timeline of a project and reflect on what happened over the entire project that you can see the real results.  In this case, time really was on our side as the price for land increased during the registration period and this combined with a speedy approval and build phase and a strengthening rental market meant our client benefited in more ways than one.
Jo Chivers is director of <a title="Property Bloom" href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
Victorian readers who want to learn more about buying a dream land package should <a target="_blank" href="/news">sign up for our free short course.</a>
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The two-year timeline from buying land to renting out two completed brand-new homes

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Mirvac threw in in an extra $10,000 sweetener to attract first-home buyers to some of its offerings before the Victorian government’s first-home bonus expires tomorrow, June 30.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/tce1.jpg">
The latest release of homes in the master-planned <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/land/near-90-of-lots-sold-in-first-release-of-wantirna-south-project-harcrest/2012050154454">Harcrest</a> and Waverley Park developments, called Terrace Homes, come with a $10,000 Visa cash card.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/tce3.jpg">
The homes launched in early June, and about 30% are sold so far. Until tomorrow, first-home buyers who buy a property under $600,000 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/time-running-out-for-first-home-bonuses-and-stamp-duty-concessions/2012052854863" target="_blank">will be entitled to a $13,000 bonus from the Victorian governmnent. </a>From this Sunday, first-home buyers will be entitled to a 20% reduction in stamp duty on homes under $600,000. For a home costing $600,000, this equates to a stamp duty savings of $6,214, less than half what a first-home buyer would secure from the first-home bonus.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/tce5.jpg">
The three-bedroom Terrace Homes start from $505,000 and are aimed at the first-home buyer market.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/tce4.jpg">
“We understand many young couples and families are struggling to buy their first home, juggling things like rising utility bills, school fees and food costs. With the first-home owner grant coming to an end on 30 June, the Terrace Homes offer Mirvac’s signature quality finishes at an affordable price point, meaning more families are now able to buy their own home,” says Matthew Wallace, Mirvac CEO of masterplanned communities.
Harcrest is in the outer-Melbourne suburb of Wantirna South, about 30 kilometres east of Melbourne CBD, and Waverley Park is in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Mulgrave, about 25 kilometres from the CBD.
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Mirvac’s latest Victorian releases target first-home buyers with $10,000 sweetener in June

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Property development can be daunting so I’ve put together some FAQs to help address some of the important questions that will arise as you start your development.

This has been broken down to a three-part series:

<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/how-to-get-started-in-property-development-jo-chivers/2012061355113" target="_blank">Getting started </a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/land/mastering-the-design-planning-and-approval-stage-of-a-property-development-jo-chivers/2012062055209" target="_blank">Design, planning and approvals (as seen last Thursday)</a></li>
	<li>Construction Time</li>
</ol>
 

2. Construction Time 

“Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves.” Adrienne Clarkson

Construction time is the best part of developing property. Seeing that first sod turned and standing back as the excavator starts to form up your site is truly satisfying.  The groundbreaking, also known as cutting the site, marks a massive milestone in your development project. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22803]

There is so much work that needs to be completed before getting to this stage.  You’ve found a site, negotiated to purchase it, researched with the council and other authorities, run your feasibility, got your designs done, had your building quotes completed, prepared documentation and lodged your development application, perhaps battled with the council.  Then you’ve obtained your consent and engineering and construction certificate (CC) plans and the CC consent.  Once fully approved there are still more hoops to jump through and it’s off to your lender to get your finance organised and finally unconditional approval. 

The development process is like an iceberg.  Most of the work required in project managing your property development is done before you cut the site.  It’s all hidden below the surface.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32227]

So by the time your project comes out of the ground, you have done most of the work.   Inexperienced developers won’t understand this, but I know the sheer volume of hours required to get a project to the construction phase is phenomenal. 

When can I start construction? 

As soon as you have your DA – development application and CC – construction certificate –  consents and you have obtained an unconditional finance approval, your builder can start construction. 

What is the first process?

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94611]

Site clearing is required before you can start preparing your slab or footings. So ensure your builder has included vegetation and tree removal.  If you are demolishing an old house or building then ensure this is done before your builder is ready to start, as you do not want to hold up the process. 

How should I manage my builder? 

It’s important to have open communication with your builder from the start. Explain to him that you want to be involved and depending on your experience and time available let him know if you will be project managing the development or engaging a project manager. 

As project managers, we are in constant communication with our builder’s site or construction managers. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29921]

What does a project manager do and do I need one? 

A project manager can help you to fast track your development. A good project manager will: 

<ul>
<li>Save you money</li>
	<li>Save you time</li>
	<li>Minimize your risk</li>
	<li>Teach you how to manage your development</li>
	<li>Give you access to sites not on open market</li>
	<li>Professionally manage, record and report the process for you</li>
	<li>Share their local knowledge, experience, contacts, suppliers</li>
	<li>Allow you to keep your day job</li>
	<li>You can learn the process then perhaps feel more confident to manage our next project. </li>
</ul>
You could use a project manager if you are inexperienced or time poor or both. It’s a good idea to use a project manager if you want to learn the process of developing, you can have your hand held through the development and will be amazed by what you will learn by being guided through the process. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]

Main steps in the construction phase include (for typical slab &amp; brick construction):

<ol>
<li>
Site preparation This involves clearing of the site and pegging out of the site by the surveyor. Sometimes retaining walls will also be built at this stage if required.</li>
	<li>
Slab The plumber will need to lay plumbing that will be located beneath the slab of the development. This needs to be done before the slab can be formed up.  The slab piering is then completed as per the engineer’s specifications and plans and then the slab can be poured.  It’s very exciting to see the slabs go down.</li>
	<li>
Frames and roof trusses The frames are generally prepared before being delivered to site and can be erected very quickly with a day or so. It’s great to walk around the site once the frames are up and get a feel for each room.</li>
	<li>
Roof tiling of metal roofing Some builders prefer to complete the roof before starting the brickwork and other builders work the other way around. I’ve found predominately builders want to get the roof on as quickly as possible to protect the frames.</li>
	<li>
Brick work This stage really gives the development true structure, and you can feel the development making good progress when you see the brickwork completed.</li>
	<li>
Rough ins This involves the electrical and plumbing wiring and pipes to be installed before the internal linings to the frames.</li>
	<li>
Internal linings After the rough in is complete, the insulation will be installed into the wall and ceilings and then the plaster will start on lining the walls and ceilings. You really get a good sense of space within the dwellings at this stage.</li>
	<li>
Waterproofing and tiling The wet areas will be water-proofed in preparation for the tilers to start work, generally after or even during the timber mould out.</li>
	<li>
Timber mould out This stage involves the carpenters installing the skirting boards, architraves, door jams and doors and kitchens.</li>
	<li>
Lock up is when all external doors including garage doors are on.</li>
	<li>
P.C.  fit out. P.C. is a term for a prime cost item and includes tapware, bath, mirror, vanities and other accessories, which are installed at this stage.</li>
	<li>
Practical completion. This is the point in time when an inspection is conducted when builder is almost finished. You will walk through the development with the site manager and point out any items that still need attention. By this time it should only be touch ups and minor items requiring installation.</li>
	<li>
Handover This is when you are happy the construction has been completed to your satisfaction and to the plans and after paying the builder’s final invoice, keys will be handed over to you. </li>
</ol>
When can I lease out or sell my development?

Once handover is completed and you have received the occupation certificates from the council or your private certifier, you can lease the dwellings out.  If you are building more than one dwelling then you may also be subdividing, so you cannot sell the individual dwellings before you have subdivision approval. They may be sold subject to approval or registration of the subdivision. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7633]

Seeing your development emerge from the dust and dirt and slowly take shape until it resembles exactly what you have planned is one of the most exciting and satisfying moments you could experience as a property developer.

As I see Property Bloom projects come to completion, it really makes me feel like we’ve achieved an amazing thing for our clients; manufactured equity, provided education, created strong yields and most of all helped them fast-track their portfolios and plan for their future.  It is such a wonderful feeling to step back and look at what’s been created and understand the needs that have been met for our clients and for the local communities we develop in. Seeing the dwellings tenanted or sold and lived in by families that will get to enjoy the fruits of your labour is what it’s all about.

Jo Chivers is director of <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/" target="_blank" title="Property Bloom">Property Bloom</a>, which manages property development.
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The 13 steps in the construction phase of building a new home

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It’s been nine years since the four units on Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach, were auctioned in the madness of Channel 9's then brand-new reality TV show The Block.
But when the 2003 winner’s two-bedroom apartment (pictured below) was up for rent recently barely anyone acknowledged it. The Channel 9 logo with its nine dots still sits high on its front facade.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/bondi2003.jpg">
It was for rent at $720 a week, adjusted slightly downwards from its initial $750 asking rental.
It's seemingly been rented, althrough Allie Ward at Ray White Unlimited declined to comment.
At $720 a week it reflects a 4.99% rental yield.
The Roscoe Street apartment had been previously vacant in 2007 when $595 a week was sought, reflecting a 3.95% rental yield.
The neighbouring ground-floor flat (pictured below) – designed by "The Boys", Gavin Atkins and Waz Sonin, was available at $750 a week in 2010.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/06/june27block2003]}
The blockbuster auction in August 2003 had The Block's winning unit sold for $751,000 after its renovation by Adam Thorn and Fiona Mills.
It’s the only one in the block of four yet to sell a second time.
All the other buyers lost money for their investments, before or after costs were taken into account.
The contestants Fiona and Adam were $256,000 richer as they took the $100,000 winner's bonus – plus all the profits above the reserve of $595,000.
Fiona and Adam set up their new renovation business, Design and Everything, which they scrapped as it was too hard to work together and live together. Fiona now does laser hair removal and Adam works at Freedom Kitchens as a designer.
They continue to dream of one day owning a home on Sydney's seafront.
Gavin and Warren Sonin also went onto a career in design, with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.designerboys.com.au/home">DesignerBoys</a>. They have furnished and styled over 750 properties.
Then hosted by Jamie Durie, The Block was the brainchild of David Barbour and Julian Cress who are still running the show.
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Nine years after the TV cameras turned off, Bondi’s original Block units hit the rental market with hardly a credit

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The latest edition of the international magazine Monocle has praised the upcoming “sophisticated” “uber-green” Frasers-Sekisui House Central Park complex.
“Central Park, a mixed-use district of vertical gardens, shopping and residential buildings in the heart of downtown,…  [is] lending credence to Sydney’s claim to be the southern hemisphere’s most cosmopolitan city."
Despite the selective praise Sydney eased from seventh to eighth place on Monocle’s list of the world's 25 most liveable cities.
It was 12th place in the 2010 list.
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There was a critical comment of the inner city, with the magazine saying Sydney needed a convenient, safer cycling network linking central Sydney and surrounding suburbs that would make cycling a "viable alternative."
The Quality of Life Survey devised by Monocle magazine ranks cities on liveability and lovability – an index that gives more weight to creative and efficient solutions than other measures.
Finnish capital Helsinki come out on top last year, but this year it was Zurich as number one, then Helsinki, Copenhagen, Vienna and Munich.
Melbourne is still ranked above Sydney in sixth spot, because of its unique charm and vibrant arts community, albeit down one spot from fifth in 2011, as it “needs to sort out its traffic congestion.”
Lend Lease’s Convesso Concavo is pinpointed by the magazine as a key residential development.
For more on <a target="_blank" href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-sydney-embracing-the-world-of-tomorrow">Sydney and the shape it will take in the future, download our free eBook.</a>
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