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.

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"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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The outlook for the residential construction sector has turned even bleaker, with new ABS figures showing a 7.8% drop to 10,771 dwelling approvals in February.
For the year to February, building approvals are down 15.2%, with the figures showing the lowest number of residential approvals since May 2009.
A Reuters poll had been forecasting a 0.3% increase in building approvals over March, while other forecasts had gone as high as a 2% increase.
Commenting on the approval figures, Westpac says that for the RBA, “the weakness apparent in housing approvals since mid-2011 has so far drawn relatively little comment”.
“The soft Feb data and weakness in other aspects of the housing market and the domestic picture more generally may be seeing some reassessment though, of both momentum and the impetus coming from recent policy easing,” the bank says.
“The January to February data tends to be more heavily affected by seasonal adjustment problems due to the market low season.
“The state detail suggests there may be some problems here with NSW slumping 40% in Feb after a 36% surge in Jan– conversely Queensland surged 13% for the month after falling 20% in January," Westpac says.
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Source: HIA
HIA chief economist, Dr Harley Dale says it has warned for some time of the risk that new homebuilding activity will again plumb the depths experienced around the GFC.
"Building approvals are signalling that this outcome is unfolding in 2012," he says.
“Today’s building approvals outcome is, quite frankly, woeful, even allowing for New South Wales virtually driving the entire fall.
"It is difficult to be positive about the short term prospects for new housing when a 7.8% decline in building approvals in February 2012 takes them to their lowest level since March 2009.
"Furthermore, the level of approvals over the three months to February implies annual housing starts hitting a level lower than the GFC trough of 2008/09,” he says.
<personname>Peter Jones</personname>, chief economist at Master Builders Australia, says further RBA action is needed because  last year’s interest rate cuts "have failed to lift residential building".
"The current level of dwelling approvals is running at 130,000 (annualised), way below what’s needed to even provide for population growth let alone to begin to eat into the housing shortage estimated by the government’s own Housing Supply Council at more than 200,000 dwellings.
“Master Builders’ latest national survey for the March quarter reveals builder sentiment has turned even gloomier, with disappointing sales and weak display centre traffic and enquiries across residential and non-residential building," Jones says.
Former Gillard government economic adviser Stephen Koukoulas tweeted that the RBA needed to “wake up” following the “massively negative” building approvals figures on top of negative manufacturing data and neutral inflation.
“Let’s see what RBA does! They cut unexpectedly twice last year &amp; while they need a hurry up, let’s wait a second,” tweeted Koukoulas.
 
CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian told AAP the February result was lower than expected, but followed a known trend.
"It's a very volatile reading, but if you look at the numbers, it shows that the housing sector is not showing any sign of strong gains," he says.
Savanth says problems in the residential construction sector are being compounded by potential homebuyers “focusing on existing housing” and not adding to the “new housing segment of the market, which is keeping developers hesitant in committing to new projects".
In the long run he says strengths in other areas of housing will provide support including low rental vacancies, with “rental yields driving property price growth over the next couple of years”.
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February building approvals down 7.8% as residential construction outlook weakens: ABS

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Australians love a home project and are spending more on renovations each year, so as the trend continues towards renovating – rather than upgrading, to adapt to the softer property market, borrowers really need to maximise any money they outlay to ensure those funds are put to good use.
Borrowers need to be savvy about exactly how they spend their money on renovating, so there is a genuine financial advantage to their decision to retain and improve their existing property, rather than move on.
There's no point deciding to go ahead with a renovation unless you have weighed up all the benefits of renovating over upgrading.
Your analysis should include determining whether you really are comfortable and ready to give up not just the property, but all the other reasons you live there – including familiar infrastructure such as local schools and transport links, not to mention friends and neighbours.
That's the more emotional side of the equation. But then you also need to be realistic and crunch numbers on all the possible outcomes of buying and selling in the current market.
In the end, if you do finally decide that renovating is the better option for you, you need to be careful about how you spend your money by developing a blueprint to follow, based on finely costed, definitive plans.
One of the main issues that will determine how you spend your budget will be the primary reason you are renovating – i.e. is it to on-sell; improve rental yields; or improve your lifestyle?
There is generally less emotional attachment to renovating an investment property than one you will have to live in, but ensuring you have improved the property in both functionality and value – without over-capitalising on your spend – should always be the prime objective.
Then it will come down to whether the renovations are mainly cosmetic or structural.
If the renovations are largely cosmetic, there is a lot less to consider. It's when you get into the structural type that you really have to do your homework by ensuring that any additions are in character with surrounding dwellings and that it will add to the resale value, among other things.
For larger projects, despite the reasons for renovating, the planning should still come down to considering 12 key points:
<ol start="1">
<li>
START WITH A LIST: Make a list of everything you want to do, not just in one room, but around the rest of your home too, then prioritise that list. This will allow you to decide whether you can stage the renovation, or whether you're better off to do it all in one block of work. Once this is done, you can seek more detailed advice from architects, draftspeople and builders. </li>
<li>
SET THE BUDGET: Work out how much you actually have to spend and ensure if you are borrowing the funds to do this they are firstly approved and that you're comfortable with the additional financial responsibility you will be taking on. Also, if you are significantly changing a layout or adding floor space, ensure your plans comply with any council regulations and allow sufficient time and money for any plans to be drawn up, submitted and approved. </li>
<li>
OBTAIN COMPETITIVE QUOTES: Obtain at least three quotes from reputable builders and tradesmen and ensure the quotes compare like for like. And then, even when the quotes are accepted and contracts are finalised, ensure you have a contingency budget. Speaking to others who have project managed renovations beforehand will be a wise investment of your time. </li>
<li>
THE DIY FACTOR: Despite the popularity of home renovation programs, very few have the skill and experience to do everything themselves. Sure, you can save some money by putting your own sweat into it, but ensure any specialist jobs are carried out by licensed tradespeople. </li>
<li>
INSURANCE: Ask about insurance for each tradesperson as anyone working on your property needs it. Otherwise the liability may rest with you. </li>
<li>
KEY AREAS OF THE HOUSE: Any buyer routinely pays close attention to the state of bathrooms and kitchens, mainly because they're high-traffic areas. As a result, these rooms can justifiably take up a significant portion of your budget, as long as you don't go overboard with costly appliances that won't be appreciated within the context of the rest of the property. </li>
<li>
POOLS: Swimming pools may seem like a luxury but won't always increase the resale value of your home, particularly if it overcrowds the rest of your outdoor area. Balance out your own need for a pool, rather than just installing one because you think it's a property must-have. </li>
<li>
GARAGES: A garage can add considerably to a home's value, as can any off-street parking facility, particularly in high-density, metropolitan areas. So whether you're renovating an investment property or your own property, the addition of a car space is usually a wise one. </li>
<li>
ADDING BEDROOMS: This will also generally add to a property's value, particularly if the property is in a family-friendly area. However, there's no point creating a bedroom for the sake of it, if it's so small it's more likely to be used as a utility room. Buyers can readily see through this. </li>
<li>
PAINTING can make or break a renovation. Good paintwork can instantly lift the overall quality of a house as can the level of preparation that goes into the job. Don't underestimate the power of the paint – it can transform even the drabbest of homes. </li>
<li>
COLOURS AND FINISHES: Keep your overall look co-ordinated and simple in taste, particularly if you're looking to sell in the near future. A consistent, muted style that flows from room to room is safer than something that's too niche and stands out for all the wrong reasons. </li>
<li>
LANDSCAPING: The indoor/outdoor room is now a popular part of the Australian lifestyle, so allow for a percentage of your overall budget to be spent on landscaping so you can complement the work you've carried out inside the house. Even if your budget is modest, basic greenery and clean, functional outside areas will only improve a property's appeal.</li>
</ol>
Lisa Montgomery is the CEO of the non-bank lender <a target="_blank" href="https://www.resi.com.au/">Resi Mortgage Corporation</a>
 
 
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Twelve key points to consider before you start home renovations

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“It’s on! 7 O’Block weeknights!’ is what is being shouted at us everywhere in the media lately – bus shelters, TV ads, radio, magazines, online banners, etc, all working in unison to present to Australia the rollercoaster adventure that is DIY renovation, in the form of a competitive reality TV program. Yes folks, The Block, the hugely successful Nine Network TV series, now in its 10th year, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/father-daughter-and-mother-son-teams-in-channel-9-s-upcoming-the-block-2012/2012032954015">is back</a>, and as always, “bigger than ever”. As a full-time media industry professional myself, though, it prompted me to have a think about how much the mainstream media presents property investment and renovation-for-profit strategies as entertainment. So I felt it necessary to share with the community the reality of these “reality” shows as being what they are: very, well, unrealistic!
Let me first start by affirming one thing: I really enjoy The Block and shows similar to it; they are great entertainment programs, and I do enjoy the thrill of watching them. You know, identifying my favourite (and of course, least favourite!) contenders in the beginning, then following them through the series and seeing how far they get. As a professional property investor, however, I treat these shows as just that: entertainment. Professional investors understand that these shows glamorise the industry, and we know that the industry reality is nothing like what these shows present to us.
To be honest I really believe that most of the Australian public understand this as well. Yet there are still some perceptions that property investment is “not as hard as they make it out to be”, and this is the most concerning part. Not because I think that these people will fail if they try, I just think that when they hit that first wall or that first (of many) “no” answers, they’ll give up, because “on TV they didn’t have these kind of problems; I must be doing it wrong”.  It is the opportunist in me that thinks sometimes, “If I had the cash and more TV industry clout, I’d propose my own idea for a property investment show to the studios!”
But then I think that my show would probably not be very entertaining, and it is entertainment that sells. It is sensationalist headlines that get viewers. No, my show would be pretty boring actually. It would just involve scene after scene of someone sitting at an office desk using Google for many days, weeks, months on end, and maybe also a notepad, calculator, and a phone call or two (just to spice things up). Because, that’s what you’re doing 90% of the time as an investor: number-crunching, cost analysis, Google searches for information, and calls, calls, calls and emails, emails, emails. The other 10% is the stuff that they show on the televisions shows – the shopping around, inspecting places, maybe buying some curtain fabric and granite benchtops and touring apartments and houses. Sounds like fun, huh? Well, by the way, it’s not likely that these property tours would include the terraces of Toorak, or the penthouses of Potts Point. It’s more likely you’d be looking at the old apartments of Arncliffe, and the duplexes of Dandenong. Not exactly captivating TV viewing, is it?
Comparatively more sinister than the entertainment format though, is the sensationalist mainstream media. You know the most guilty of guilty suspects to which I refer to here: Today Tonight, A Current Affair, and (increasingly more recently) the 7pm show on Network Ten. These programs are all about presenting the flavour of the month when it comes to property, and yes, that generally involves taking whatever alarmist/sensationalist news headline they can find, then knocking up the “drama” of it a couple more notches, and presenting that point of view as “investigative journalism”. 
I’d actually feel more comfortable if these pre-made (and often shelved until they require a “time-filler: on a light news day) sensationalist stories quoted zero credible sources/statistics/accrued trending data. That way, I’d feel hopeful that the greater Australian population wouldn’t buy into these “property stories”. But unfortunately, they usually end up finding just one perspective/source (which often is merely one individual’s conversational opinion with no hard data to back it up) and run with this perspective (providing it is the most extreme perspective available, that is). Usually they pick the most dramatic or condemning perspective and present that as “just how the property market is”. Worse still, these stories are interweaved and mixed with the “dodgy plumber” template; whereby there must always be a ‘bad guy’ being chased down a hallway with a shoulder-mounted camera.
So where should one turn to turn for video content about the investment property “game” that is more constructive, trustworthy, and reliable? I’ve made a list of great sources of video content that I’d recommend. Sure, some aren’t so “entertaining: (read: they drone on a bit), and others aren’t even from Australia, but I think if you like information provided in a video format, here are some great sources:

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">1) YouTube. Specifically, mini-series, or “vignettes” as they call them (usually a three- to five-minute snippet of video, as part of a five- to 10-part series). Some great names to Google are Australian Property Investment magazine’s Nhan Nguyen, who has a great series. Also Michael Yardney and Lousie Bedford did a series together that offers some great insights. Other names to help get you started would be Margaret Lomas (In Her Shoes series), and Catherine Cashmore and Peter Bozinoski from Property Observer.

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">2) Get your property industry news from online industry news niche sites. This one just makes sense. Sure, some of the biggest news websites such as NineMSN, SMH/Age, News.com.au etc have property sections, but these sections are really quite generalist and don’t cater as much to the investor mindset. Instead, go to specialist websites like Australian Property Investor magazine online, Your Investment Property magazine online, Property Observer, and even Domain.com.au and Realestate.com.au. You’ll find video content that is specific to investment context within these.

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">3) Blog communities are also an excellent source for opinion. Sure, they are merely conjecture and the amalgamation/debate of many individuals (most usually with quite strong opinions!), but these communities are, more often than not, made up of the kind of person who, well, if you’re an aspirational investor, would want to be and emulate. Plus, the ones worth their salt (like me) will always present things as their opinion, or their own commentary, on what is trending in the market. They will never try to claim their opinion is an elaborate intensive study (unless of course they are willing to do the due diligence of research and hard data), so their opinions can usually be well-considered if many individuals in these communities all concur on similar topics.

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">4) There are indeed some TV programs that are not all bad. The UK’s Property Ladder, hosted by Sarah Beeney, is excellent because it shows the due diligence that renovators apply before selecting a property, details the works and itemised costs, the selling process, and then actual profit margins and time/energy taken. Selling Houses Australia also has some great episodes, though it does conform to a more entertainment format. And last of all, regular segments in various reputable news program sources (Sky News Business has some great regular reporters with segments, as does ABC and SBS more infrequently). Even the commercial networks offer programs with some property insight sections, such as Network Ten’s The Circle.

5) Also emerging in the investment property media space are webinars. Whilst not strictly “video” driven, they are quite interactive and visual, and on the rise in Australian media property sites. Worth a look.

Regardless of whether your investment strategy is buy-and-hold, renovate-for-profit (aka “flipping” a property, then moving on to the next one), renovate-and-hold, owner-occupy-and-invest, or even <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/the-pros-and-cons-of-buying-your-first-property-as-an-investment-and-continuing-to-rent/2012031153777">rent-and-invest</a>; at the end of the day, you are an investor. And a darned capable one at that. So get out there, keep an ear to the wall and a foot in the door (so to speak, of course), and consume media made with investor in mind, not just owner-occupiers. Find strength in others around you in the community – these are your comrades. And, after a hard day’s’ work, don’t forget to switch on to your favourite renovation entertainment program to relax.

Cameron McEvoy is a property investor and maintains a blog, <a target="_blank" href="https://propertyspectator.blogspot.com.au/">Property Spectator.</a>
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No matter what it looks like on The Block, property investment is not glamorous

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Channel 9 has been teasing audiences with brief insights into six of the contestant couples for the upcoming series The Block 2012.
Promos have gone been put up on the website.
<img src="/images/stories/blockposter.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">
Not all will get through into the final four who undertake the South Melbourne renovations.
<a target="_blank" href="https://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-block-2012-meet-larry-and-jessie-new-couple-for-2012/xgxdbx0">Larry and Jessie</a> are a father-daughter team. Jessie, a full-time student, originally planned to audition for The Block with her mother, Michelle. Tragically, Michelle died in a plane crash in March 2011. Through their grief they searched for ways to honour her memory and decided they would pursue one of her dreams together.
<a target="_blank" href="https://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-block-2012-meet-rana-and-brett-new-couple-for-2012/xwlxwc3">Rana and Brett</a> are a mother-son duo, the first time there’s been such a combination. Brett, a drainer and machine operator, is currently renovating the house that he bought three years ago, while Rana has renovated her last two homes, and on the loose after selling her homewares and fashion business.
<a target="_blank" href="https://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-block-2012-meet-dale-and-sophie-new-couple-for-2012/xm9ynwj">Dale and Sophie </a>are newlyweds. Sophie, a graphic designer turned primary school teacher, and Dale, a landscape gardener have had virtually no renovating experience.
<a target="_blank" href="https://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-block-2012-meet-brad-and-lara-new-couple-for-2012/xsk4ip7">Brad and Lara</a> are boyfriend/girlfriend from NSW having met five years ago in a pub near their home town of East Maitland.
<a target="_blank" href="https://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-block-2012-meet-dan-and-dani-new-couple-for-2012/xleq8kc">Dan and Dani </a>are boyfriend/girlfriend from Melbourne having met in the back of a Hummer. Dan, a carpenter, and Dani, a business analyst, recently purchased their own apartment in Richmond, just around the corner from the last top rating series of The Block.
<a target="_blank" href="https://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/the-block-2012-meet-brad-and-courtney-new-couple-for-2012/xw0m39w">Brad and Courtney</a> are boyfriend/girlfriend from WA. Courtney is a speech pathologist and Brad, a project manager for a commercial property company.
Brothers <a target="_blank" href="https://homes.ninemsn.com.au/theblock/video/?uuid=ee693e7e-af46-4c97-98e3-caf267413230">Andrew and Mike</a> have renovating experience, recently transforming two derelict homes in Sydney’s Bondi.
Newlyweds<a target="_blank" href="https://homes.ninemsn.com.au/theblock/couples/brendan-and-michelle/"> Brendan and Michelle</a>, both 22, are the youngest couple.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/its-back-to-bondi-for-the-block-home-renovation-realty-series-after-they-sell-south-melbourne/2012033054098">The next season of The Block is set to return to Bondi</a>.
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Father-daughter and mother-son teams in Channel 9's upcoming The Block 2012

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Missoni Home is set to create an iconic Manila residential tower.
<img src="/images/stories/acqua1.jpg">
The 52-level Acqua Livingstone tower will be the fourth building in Century Properties’ US$316 million (A$302 million) six-tower Aqua Private Residences project in the Philippine capital.
“Bold colours and energetic forms in the lobbies, hallways and elevators will be accentuated by equally arresting furniture,” says Century managing director Marco Antonio.
<img src="/images/stories/acqua2.jpg">
The multi-level amenity area called The Canopy is on the sky deck.
The Canopy’s lower level will have function rooms, a business centre, an indoor and outdoor gym, spa, a library and salon.
The upper level is social space with an amphitheatre, lounge, DJ booth and dance floor and pool bar.
<img src="/images/stories/acqua3.jpg">
An organic wire-mesh tree will climb into a mezzanine dining area, and floating lights, patterned surfaces and Missoni shapes, will decorate the landscape.
<img src="/images/stories/acqua4.jpg">
The tower will have 645 apartments ranging in size from 27 square metres to 140 square metres with price tags between US$82,000 and US$613,000 and penthouses for more than US$1million.
“Our brand is an experience of happiness, excitement, beauty, creativity, style and elegance. We are inspired by the seasons of nature and we play with colour because life is more beautiful with colour,” says Missoni’s Vittorio Missoni.
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Missoni to build 52-storey Manila tower with bold colours and shapes

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Melbourne’s chic inner-city residential project The Garden House has collected the prestigious President’s Award at the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s National Awards in Perth.
<img src="/images/stories/tgh1.jpg">
The collaboration between Piccolo Developments, architect Woods Bagot and interior designer Hecker Guthrie produced a $50 million, 49-residence project that sold out within two weeks of its launch late last year for between $500,000 and $5 million per unit. Since then one apartment has been listed for resale for $975,000 but it was withdrawn. The same unit was relisted this month for $900,000 and remains available.
It is the second major award for the project, which recently won the Victorian chapter of the UDIA’s Medium-Density Development Award. The building was completed late last year.
<img src="/images/stories/tgh2.jpg">
On the corner of Queensberry and Rathdowne streets, Carlton, the building has a mix of townhouses and apartments across five levels – including three terraces with private courtyard – overlooking Carlton Gardens and the World Heritage-listed Exhibition Building.
According to Woods Bagot design director Nik Karalis, the aim was to create a property influenced by Renaissance palazzos and make great use of the character of Carlton and its tall trees.
<img src="/images/stories/tgh3.jpg">
The Garden House’s top floors are finished in zinc reflecting European attic architecture.
“The Royal Exhibition Building and adjoining Carlton Gardens set a beautiful 19th-century European backdrop for the project, which demanded attention to detail. Our approach to the design was to capture a slice of tree canopy into each apartment. The inspiration for the final form of the building was to preserve the important vistas,” Karalis says.
<img src="/images/stories/tgh4.jpg">
The Garden House is the flagship project for the Piccolo family, which is a mother-and-son team led by Mima Piccolo.
Michael Piccolo says that Carlton is an area rich in historical significance and deserves great Australian design talent.
<img src="/images/stories/tgh5.jpg">
“Our vision for The Garden House was to exceed our customers’ expectations and deliver a superior lifestyle experience,” says Michael.
The interiors produced by Hecker Guthrie have bespoke fixtures and curved walls, with no two residences the same.
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Melbourne’s chic The Garden House takes out UDIA President’s Award 

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The first Australian building designed by prize-winning American architect Frank Gehry has been approved with construction to start within months.
The 12-storey structure was designed for the University of Technology, Sydney.
Excavation of the Ultimo site near the ABC is under way.
<img src="/images/stories/gehry.jpg">
The $125 million tower for about 1,300 students and 300 academic staff is due for early 2014 completion.
The tower will be called the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, named after the Hunters Hill Australian-Chinese businessman and philanthropist who has donated $20 million to help build it.
The crumpled-looking 15,470 square metre building will be the university's new business school. Only two public submissions were received against the project during the public exhibition period last June, although the initial design was changed slightly to improve privacy in nearby apartments.
The tower will be built on a site now occupied by the former Dairy Farmers Milk Co-op warehouse building.
It will include parking for 177 bicycles and 20 cars, with onsite showers and lockers.
The new building will generate its own electricity with a gas-fired tri-generation plant, an initiative backed by the City of Sydney.
The new buildings are part of a UTS campus master plan, estimated to cost a total of $1 billion.
 
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Frank Gehry’s first Australian building approved for University of Technology, Sydney

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Port Coogee, the planned coastal community south of Perth, is one of Australia’s largest coastal renewal projects. And now the project set on 86 hectares of industrial wasteland has won recognition from the 2012 Urban Development Institutes of Australia (UDIA) National Awards for Excellence.
Australand landed the Best Residential Development along with the gong for Environmental Excellence for its Port Coogee Marina development, 23 kilometres south of the Perth CBD. The planned coastal community is one of Australia’s largest coastal renewal projects and set on 86 hectares of industrial wasteland.
Australand general manager Tony Perrin says the developer has been working hard to deliver what it promised the public with this sometimes controversial $2 billion project.
<img src="/images/stories/portcoogee1.jpg">
“We have attach a great deal of value to the environmental award because there was so much negative spin put on the site and what we planned for it particularly with the marina, which some sections of the public did not want,” he says
The ecological issues ranged from protecting seagrass beds through to ground water contamination and reducing toxins that hit the ocean.
“We managed and executed it responsibly, and the award is an affirmation of that,” Perrin says.
<img src="/images/stories/portcoogee2.jpg">
The marina will accommodate about 300 powerboats and sailing boats to a maximum of 20 metres. The first 60 boat pens were snapped up last year, and another 95 pens will be released this year.
The project will eventually have a residential community of about 5,000 people moving into it over the next 10 years. Since December 2006 more than 350 blocks of land have been sold from a starting price of $425,000. About 80 houses have been built, with another 45 underway. As demand increases 1,000 apartments will be built, and a large retail village with cafes and restaurants will be central to the site. It is tipped the project will create about 1,200 jobs locally.
<img src="/images/stories/portcoogee3.jpg">
The WA government first offered the site for redevelopment 18 years ago. Australand became involved 15 years ago. The zoning process swallowed the first decade, and the past five years has been dedicated to active development.
<img src="/images/stories/portcoogee4.jpg">
“It is incredibly encouraging to win the UDIA’s Best Residential Development nationally in such an early stage of the project. We perceive there is still a lot of work to be done to get the vision that we set out to create. I feel that the commercial areas in the centre of the project will represent that vision in years to come. The award is a recognition of the planning and the roundedness of the project, landscaping, streetscapes, roads and parks and the unique environments that exist in the project which integrates beach’s with parks and micro environments,” Perrin says.
Hardy plants and endemic species will landscape the site, and the streetscape, from lighting to lookout features and materials used, has been influenced by the industrial and marine history of the land. The partly exposed shipwreck of the Omeo has inspired the public art that will be part of the community.
 
 
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Australand’s controversial Port Coogee project wins top development gong at UDIA awards

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The Hermitage, a master-planned community in the brand-new Sydney suburb of Gledswood Hills, has attracted considerable buyer interest, with 28 of the first 59 lots in the first release sold just days after the project's official early March launch. Pre-sales began in early January.
<img src="/images/stories/hermitage.jpg"> 
Developer Sekisui House is behind the 260-hectare development, which is the Japanese company’s first Australian master-planned community.
The first release is called Hardy’s Rise and comprises lots ranging from 400 square metres to 700 square metres. Prices for the lots begin at $215,000, and house-and-land packages begin from $450,000.
Hardy’s Rise is named after visionary Australian architect, artist and author Hardy Wilson, born in Campbelltown.
In 1920 Hardy published an illustrated history of the local area called The Cowpasture Road, which featured Gledswood Homestead and its garden, which stimulated a revival of interest in the simpler forms of architecture of the early years of the colony.
Set on about 50 hectares, The Hermitage will include more than 10 kilometres of bike and walking paths. A 27-hole golf course is also proposed.
<img src="/images/stories/hermitage1.jpg">
The development is set to make use of the Japanese concept of “satoyama", which means the preservation of the environment while encouraging human interaction.
“The Hermitage features a central three kilometre green corridor that aims to attract an array of recreation activities, such as dog walking, cycling and weekend family barbecues,” says Craig D’Costa, Sekisui House senior development manager.
<img src="/images/stories/hermitage2.jpg"> 
Sekisui House’s other Australian projects in Sydney include The Waterfront at Wentworth Point and Central Park, in partnership with Frasers, in Chippendale.
Gledswood Hills is about 55 kilometres south-west of Sydney, and it is named for nearby convict-built mansion and winery The Gledswood Homestead and Winery.
“Gledswood Hills has been a welcomed addition to the south-west corridor, an area that is set to boom in the coming years. The Hermitage will be the focal point of this blossoming new suburb,” D’Costa says.
 
 
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Environmentally minded buyers snap up Sekisui's western Sydney project The Hermitage, perhaps drawn by satoyama

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Anecdotal evidence from the Housing Industry Association suggests that small renovation work is on the rise while the overall renovations market remains flat.
According to the HIA, 80% of the national renovation market consists of jobs valued at $10,000 or less.
Refinancing for the purpose of renovation declined by 7% in 2011, according to ABS statistics.
At the same time, David Hallett, general manager of, the building advisory service run by the Australian Institute of Architects, says there has been an increase in clients approaching architects about renovations.
He says the main request for any house renovation is always more space and creating an open-plan kitchen and integrated outdoor living space.
“The biggest trend in the last several years is the development of an outdoor living space; that's the top of the list of things to have in the home," Hallett told The Weekend Australian.
"(But) sometimes they want to put extra bedrooms in, which usually means another bathroom.”
According to Archicentre, moving is an expensive exercise and can cost up to $50,000 when loan fees, agent fees, removalist fees and stamp duty costs are included.
Another reason for considering renovating now is the availability of skilled labour.
According to Dale, skilled labour is greater now than at times when housing activity is more buoyant.
"That's a tick in the box [for a house renovation] straight away," he says.
For tips and tricks for getting the most out of your renovation and what costly mistakes to avoid, watch Property Observer’s free webinar: Renovating for Profit.
 
 
 
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