Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

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 Peninsula residential development site at Monterey Keys on the northern Gold Coast has been listed for receivership sale.
The current listing is 32,994 square metres of waterfront land in a gated community, which potentially consists of up to 62 individual titled lots.
CBRE Gold Coast managing director Mark Witheriff said the sale campaign is expected to generate interest from domestic house and land developers.
“The sale could provide an opportunity for the incoming owner to either sell down the individual waterfront lots or develop a themed waterfront community on the remaining land and super lot,” Witheriff says.
The Peninsula is located on the natural waterway of Saltwater Creek, offering views to Hope Island Resort from its Helensvale location.
Offers close on December 1.
Stefan Dopking and Quentin J. Olde of Taylor Woodings were appointed as receivers and managers of Kabale, the site’s owner, in June 2011.
The Monterey Keys residential estate was launched in 1992, initially comprising 1,100 lots on a 182-hectare riverfront site on the northern Gold Coast.
The site was purchased in a vacant state in 1998 for $12 million by Kabale Holdings, a company associated with the Dalley family, with a view to the development of an integrated residential resort.
It was a canal housing project with an estimated $300 million completion value.
In 1989 when Kabale went through a period of reconstruction the estate lay dormant, with sales beginning in late 1992 averaging 10 to 15 blocks a month for the first two years. The dry lots were fetching around $70,000 and the wet lost $130,000.
Most recently the developer was selling wet blocks from $495,000, which were re-priced over recent times down to $395,000.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Last plot of Gold Coast's Monterey Keys up for receivership sale

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Lachlan Murdoch, the Channel Ten boss, has not yet confirmed the 2012 return of The Renovators series after its ratings failure. 
He has noted some of the sponsors of the $25 million series were keen for its return, “with reset expectations”.
“If we bring it back it will be in a different format and with different expectations,” Murdoch says.
Ratings for Channel Ten's The Renovators did not come close to the similar Channel 9 show The Block.
The ratings of The Renovators finale topped 1.26 million across the five cities, its best result since its 1.25 million August debut.
Some 56% of the $725,000 average nightly audience over the past three months were women.
The series was created by the television production house Shine Australia. The Renovators finale was October 12.
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a target="_blank" href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a>
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The Renovators will not return in same format, and possibly not at all: Lachlan Murdoch

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We are often asked about the impact of maintenance and capital improvements on direct residential property returns. More specifically, what are the annual performance leakages attributable to these costs? Today’s column will try and shed some analytical light on this murky subject. 
As an aside, I will not examine how the same issues afflict the far smaller “commercial property” sector – there is less than $300 billion of commercial, industrial and retail real estate compared with circa $3.6 trillion of housing – which nevertheless assumes far higher weights in institutional investor portfolios to the latter’s detriment. 
The very poor performance reported by Australian super funds in recent years has been in part driven by unnecessarily high exposures to risky listed property trusts (or REITs) and unlisted commercial property. As but one illustration, my first chart below compares the performance of Australian houses (capital growth plus 50% of gross rents to control for costs), which is the red line, with the ASX/LPT Accumulation Index, which captures all REITs and is denoted by the blue line.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/oct251.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/oct251thumb.gif"></a>
For some reason, Australian super funds have loaded up on the blue line but completely overlooked the red one. Go figure. And which of these two lines gives more pause in relation to the perennially emotive “bubble trouble” question? We read so much crap about “house price bubbles”, but almost never hear about the far bigger bubbles that one finds in commercial property prices. The hard data suggests that the real “irrational exuberance” was attributable to institutional investors, like super funds, chasing too much commercial, as opposed to residential, property. 
Commercial property advocates try to dismiss the highly liquid “market pricing” afforded by the ASX LPT index and point to the much lower volatility (risk) numbers that derive from indices that purport to track “unlisted” portfolios of commercial real estate. The problem with these measures is that they are heavily influenced by “non-market” human valuations that typically ignore distressed sales (i.e., those properties selling at discounts during times of crisis) and thus artificially smooth returns. That’s akin to saying, “We are going to remove all the really badly performing companies listed on the ASX because they are distressed.” 
But enough venting. Let’s return to my central task today: quantifying the impact of capex and maintenance on residential property returns (the results are similar for commercial property). Some house price proxies, such as “median price” or “stratified median price” indices – of the kind reported by APM and the ABS – make no attempt to control for the bias induced by capital improvements (viz., renovations) and the other maintenance required to preserve the value of the underlying assets included in the index to mitigate depreciation. 
The repeat-sales indices reported by Residex are probably hampered by similar problems: rather than plucking the median or middle sales observation every quarter, Residex only looks at homes for which it can find both a purchase and sale, and then measures buy-and-hold returns via a regression-based index. This approach has the obvious drawback of excluding all newly built homes. Another problem is that over the average owner’s holding period of seven to eight years, many will carry out some structural improvements in order to boost the value they extract from that asset, and/or to offset the effects of the inexorable depreciation of the dwelling. 
Standard repeat-sales indices do not directly deal with this problem, and are therefore biased measures of house price changes over time. In the academic research literature, there are a number of modifications one can make to the basic repeat-sales methods used by the likes of Case-Shiller in the <country-region><place>US</place></country-region> to statistically control for non-linear changes in a dwelling’s value, which, it is assumed, arise as a function of capex (or depreciation in the absence of capex). But these are inherently imperfect. 
Unfortunately, we cannot know exactly what Residex does because, unusually for a supplier of house price indices, it has historically refused to provide specific details on the methodology it uses. 
Within Rismark’s library of house price index products, we privately produce all of the known techniques, including adjusted repeat-sales models that control for the abovementioned biases. 
By far the best, and most direct, way to address the problems induced by capex on time-series measures of housing costs is through the use of “hedonic” indices. These benchmarks are RP Data-Rismark’s preferred tools for evaluating changes in housing costs over time, and have become the gold standard for the RBA and most banks. 
Critically, a hedonic index explicitly controls for the exact attributes of all the homes included in the index, ranging from their precise location, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, the property’s type and land size, whether it has a garage or pool, and its view, among other things. 
As a filter in RP Data and Rismark’s data processing method, we also insist on being able to confirm the specific attributes of all homes within six months of the sales data that is used in the index. In this way, we know that the characteristics that the index relies upon – such as number of bedrooms, bathrooms, land size, etc – are up-to-date. 
Hedonic indices are designed to very explicitly compare like with like. They effectively take the highly heterogeneous “apples and oranges” that are the homes that transact over time, and normalise them such that we can identify the true underlying rates of capital growth attributable to regions, cities and the national market. 
This brings me back to my original question about the return leakages deriving from both high-value structural capital investments (i.e., development application-approved renovations), and other lower value, or non-DA approved, maintenance. 
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
In what follows, I will try and quantify these for you. It is important to bear in mind that these costs need to be weighed against the asset’s total returns: that is, both capital growth and normal or imputed rental incomes. They should not be deducted exclusively from one or the other. 
The ABS reports two measures of the value of alterations and additions (A and A) on a quarterly basis. The first is the Construction Work Done Series and leverages off the ABS’s Building Activity Survey. The Building Activity Survey (BAS) supplies estimates of the value of work done on alterations and additions with an approval value of $10,000 or more as collected via DAs submitted to Australian councils. 
In the ABS National Accounts a second, far broader measure of residential A and A is published. In particular, the National Accounts upwardly adjusts the BAS estimates to reflect the fact that a substantial amount of alterations and additions activity is not covered in the BAS survey (eg, work under $10,000, and work not done with permits). The National Accounts also boost the BAS A and A by an “undercoverage adjustment” to control for some reporting biases (eg, DAs tend to be undervalued). 
Our previous correspondence with the ABS suggested that the overall National Accounts adjustment factor, which varies on a state-by-state basis, is between four and five times. 
In the chart below we show the <personname>sma</personname>ller BAS estimate of A and A as a share of the value of the total private residential housing stock since 1986. This is calculated by multiplying the number of private dwellings each quarter with RP Data-Rimark’s measure of the all regions, all property types median dwelling price. Since 1986 the average BAS A and A has been 0.26% per annum. Click to enlarge
 
<a href="/images/stories/oct252.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/oct252thumb.gif"></a>
In the next figure we move to the more comprehensive A and A proxy reported in the National Accounts. Consistent with our prior correspondence, this total A and A estimate is on average 4.95 times larger than the BAS result (see the penultimate figure below). That is, the ABS believes that all forms of dwelling maintenance and capital investments, excluding the construction of new buildings, amount to about 1.26% per annum. Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/oct253.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/oct253thumb.gif"></a>
<a href="/images/stories/oct254.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/oct254thumb.gif"></a>
A useful sanity test of these A and A estimates is to look at the value of depreciation as a share of the housing stock. In its National Accounts, the ABS spends considerable time computing the annual value of the depreciation of the private residential dwelling stock owned by individuals. In the final figure we have taken this depreciation proxy and divided it by the same estimate of the total housing stock value used above.
<a href="/images/stories/oct255.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/oct255thumb.gif"></a>
Unsurprisingly, depreciation, which averaged 1.2% per annum between 1986 and 2011, is almost exactly the same as average capital expenditure. In fact, it also tapers off during the 2000s, just as capex appeared to do. And it reconciles almost perfectly with the ABS’s estimate of the average dwelling life of 88 years. 
To summarise, this analysis suggests that the total value of maintenance and A and A as a share of the value of the dwelling stock is around 1.2% per annum (rounded down), all else being equal.
Christopher Joye is a leading financial economist. The above article is not investment advice.
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How much value renovating adds to your home

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Kevin McCloud, the star of the increasingly popular TV series Grand Designs, fronted the decor home show Grand Designs Australia Live in Sydney today.
Crowds hovered as the cult television star cashed in on his international acclaim.
"I'm just a whinging Pom," he suggested, then spoke on what made great, rather than grand designs.
Judging unusual housing projects, Grand Designs first screened in Britain in 1999, airing in Australia on the LifeStyle Channel six years later, then on ABC1 a year later.
Earlier this month its 11th season premiered in the UK. Naturally the couple involved in the transformation of a derelict mill cottage in Northumberland, Stefan Lepkowski and Annia Shabowska, who began work in 2006, had a £250,000 budget, which was completely inadequate.
The series reportedly rates better in Australia than on Channel 4 in Britain.
McCloud told an Australian audience earlier this week that the biggest mistake people made renovating or building a home was "not planning enough" and "failure to work with good professionals."
McCloud said technology was making the home simpler, not more complicated.
McCloud admits his own house is typicall messy and says the kitchen is the centre of the home.
The exhibition space is filled with stalls highlighting interiors and home decor ideas for non-televised home grand designs.
It follows recent exhibitions that take place annually in London and Birmingham.
Grand Designs Australia Live will take place in Melbourne in September 2012.
While in Australia McCloud will catch up with one of his two brothers, who lives in northern NSW.
The show continues until Sunday. 
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Kevin McCloud talks grand designs in Sydney

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As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.Mistake #1 – Getting emotionally involved
Many homeowners undertake a home renovation for emotional reasons. Very often they fall ‘in love’ with the property. This emotional issue applies to both home owners and investors. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when undertaking a home renovation is to overcapitalise their property. 
Mistake #2 – Failing to understand the meaning of overcapitalisation
According to the Royal Australian Institute of Architects; many homeowners are paying thousands of dollars only to devalue their homes. One of the ways they do this is by overcapitalising which means to improve a property beyond its resale value. Overcapitalisation means you spend too much money on the property and are not be able to recoup these monies if you decide to sell it. A simple example would be if a homeowner spends $150,000 on home renovations and then decides to sell the property. The homeowner may find that the value of the property has only increased by $75,000 meaning that they have effectively lost $75,000 through the renovations. In effect, they have over-capitalised the property by $75,000. 
Mistake #3 – Not doing your homework on comparable market pricing
Unfortunately, it is important to recognise that most suburbs have a median sale price and an upper sale threshold specific to your suburb. Even different streets in your suburb have different price thresholds; that’s because your neighbour’s houses and the general streetscape have considerable influence on the value of homes in your street. Before renovating it is important to consider the housing styles, demographics of your suburb, and sale prices achieved of other homes in the area that have recently sold.
Mistake #4 – Under-estimating all of the costs involved in building
This is one of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when renovating their homes. Homeowners typically under-estimate the costs involved in building. Such as; demolition costs, professional fees, contingencies for variations, foundation changes due to soil conditions, fit-out and landscaping, kitchens and bathrooms, escalation of building costs and delay and acceleration costs to finish the project on time. 
Mistake #5 – Poor selection of a builder
Property owners who decide to employ a builder to undertake home extensions also encounter problems because they have not undertaken sufficient research on the experience of the builder, and their past record in undertaking renovations. Especially their “variation claims” history, often Builders locks unsuspecting homeowners into building contracts which cost homeowners thousands in variation costs. Another common mistake is to let the Builder provide the design, and therefore restrict the homeowner from getting competitive quotations upon the Builders design. 
 
Mistake #6 – Doing it DIY to save money
Some people also make the mistake of trying to undertake home renovations themselves. This can prove costly in time and is financially unwise because a poor standard of work will only devalue the property. Character homes, in particular, require a higher standard of renovation work and you may need to carefully select tradesmen with past experience in this area to ensure that the work is properly completed. If you decide on a major renovation don’t cut corners doing it yourself. There is no such thing as a cheap renovation. Ultimately, it will impact on the resale value of the property or you will spend more funds at a later date to fix the original faulty work. Always seek competent, professional advice and trades people before undertaking a major renovation.
 
 
Mistake #7 – Failing to stick to a budget
A common problem is that home renovators do not operate with a strict budget and are unable to complete planned renovations because of a lack of money. This mistake results in homeowners financially overextending themselves through a lack of financial planning. The “Catch 22” is that renovators often can’t then sell their ‘half completed’ renovation and end up in severe financial hardship. 
Mistake #8 – Poor functional design layout and design
A very common problem is that home renovators end up spending too much on a poor functional layout because of the limitations of the existing building. In many cases the homeowner would have been better off, to have demolished the existing house and start all over again. Another common problem is where the style of the renovation is inconsistent with the rest of the house; you’ll often see houses for sale with a modern extension that clash with the rest of the house which is still stuck in the 1970’s. These properties are “lemons” on the market and typically homeowners lose money on these renovations.  
Mistake #9 – Spending money on the wrong things
If you are living in $100,000 house you will not get a good return on an investment in a $35,000 bathroom. Swimming pools are a good example of additions to a property that often doesn’t add value. Many buyers do not want the work, expense, and potential for accidents that come with a pool. The general rule is that you should not spend more than 25 per cent of the value of your home on home improvement renovations. 
Mistake #10 – Underestimating the disruption to your lifestyle
Undergoing a major renovation and living through it, is often overlooked by most home owners. The disruption to your lifestyle, the mess, the noise and restrictions is something that should not be discounted. If you are having major renovation (especially if you are a family with young children) consider moving out and renting elsewhere during the construction phase. 
Before you make the decision to renovate or buy a new house, carefully ask yourself the following questions: 
1. Decide what it is you are looking for in a final result and ask yourself if it will be cheaper to buy a different home or to renovate your old one. 
2. What is the average selling price of homes in your area? 
3. Will renovations alter the appearance of your home so that it appears out of place in the neighbourhood? Check the styles of other homes in the area. Keep in mind it might be a better idea to match or keep in step with the styles of other homes in the area. A poor design could devalue your home by thousands of dollars. 
4. How much will renovations cost compared to what you paid for your home. What is the expected increase in value as a result of the renovations? Will the renovations actually cause your home to lose value?
The decision to buy a new home or to renovate is not one to be taken lightly. It is recommended that you think through every aspect of the project prior to getting started. Seek the advice of a local professional architect/building designer as well as a real estate professional if necessary to determine how the proposed renovations will affect the value of your home. 
Gary Pemmelaar is a co-principal of <a href="https://www.rhglenelg.com.au/" target="_blank">Raine &amp; Horne Glenelg</a>. Gary is a civil engineer and hold a builder's licence in SA. He has considerable experience in both property develoment and renovations.
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/" target="_blank">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a> 
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Top 10 mistakes home renovators make

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With all the renovation shows on television there’s currently a lot of interest in buy, renovate and sell projects.  Here’s a real example of why would-be renovators should consider a buy, renovate and hold strategy rather than choosing to sell off their asset.
 
Property summary:
 
Location: <a href="/news">Cremorne</a>, Sydney
Property type: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment 
A three bedroom apartment was purchased in <city><place>Sydney</place></city>’s <place><placename>North</placename><placetype>Shore</placetype></place> in original condition. The property boasted <place><placename>Sydney</placename><placename>Harbour</placename></place> views from the kitchen, lounge and dining rooms. 
The apartment was gutted with walls removed between the kitchen and dining and lounge rooms. This opened up the living space and increased the natural light in the apartment. A false ceiling and down lighting were added to the kitchen to define the space. 
Both bathrooms were gutted and redone from scratch. A brand new kitchen was installed complete with a washer/dryer in a cupboard, allowing the tenants to do their laundry without leaving the apartment. The renovation was completed with new paint, blinds and light fittings over a six week period. 
The numbers:
<ul>
<li>Purchase price: $805,000</li>
<li>Post renovation value: $1,025,000</li>
<li>Total added equity: $220,000</li>
<li>Renovation costs: $101,500 (includes project management fees and holding costs)</li>
<li>Manufactured equity: $118,500</li>
<li>Pre renovation rent: Estimated $675 per week (owner-occupied at time of purchase)</li>
<li>Post renovation rent: $850 per week</li>
</ul>
After renovation the owner had the option to hold onto the property as an investment or sell the property and pocket any profit.  Both options are examined below using the figures from this real example.
 
Renovate and hold:
The benefits of holding onto this property after renovation are twofold.  Firstly, the increased equity of $118,500 can be used as security to borrow against to buy another property or invest elsewhere. 
Secondly this renovate and hold strategy example resulted in an increased rental rate of $175 per week.  This rental increase ($9,100 per annum) more than covers the interest cost of the funds required to undertake the renovation ($101,500 x 7% = $7,105 per annum). In this example the renovation increased the return on investment both in capital value and cashflow. 
It’s important to note that under a buy and hold strategy the purchasing costs are apportioned over the period the property is held and are only realised upon the sale of the property.
 
Renovate and sell:
Most people who undertake a buy, renovate and sell project complete the transaction within a 12-month period.  Therefore they receive no tax concessions on the profit unlike the owner who chooses to hold the property for more than 12 months. 
Under this strategy, the owner must account for the buying and selling costs as the asset is being realised with the major expenses in this example totalling $65,971 as outlined below:
<ul>
<li>Marketing - $1,500 (web, signboard, floor plan, brochures) </li>
<li>Selling fees - $22,550 (2.2%)</li>
<li>Stamp duty - $41,921 </li>
</ul>
After costs the owner is left with a profit of $52,529 which is then taxed at their marginal tax rate resulting in a modest return for the work invested.
 
The final word:
The example above illustrates the difficulty in making a reasonable profit when undertaking a buy, renovate and sell project in comparison to the financial gain and flexibility provided under a buy, renovate and hold strategy. 
Patrick Bright is a real estate author and founder of Sydney-based buyer’s agency <a href="https://%20www.epspropertysearch.com.au" target="_blank">EPS Property Search</a>. Bright has purchased over $500 million worth of real estate for clients. His best-selling titles include The Insider’s Guide to Buying Real Estate, The Insider’s Guide to Saving Thousands at Auction and The Insider’s Guide to Profitable Property Investing.  
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a target="_blank" href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a> 
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After you renovate, sell or hold? A case study

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As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/fender-katsilidis-ever-changing-place-in-melbourne-s-skyline/2011101351927?source=flicker4" target="_blank">With the success of the Melbourne Terrace Apartments</a>, a newly established firm and several landmark buildings under its belt, the big-ticket commissions began rolling in for Fender Katsalidis.
<img src="/images/stories/richmondsilos.jpg">
There was the Richmond Silos (pictured above), converted from old grain silos and built in 1996, the Ian Potter centre (1998), the Republic Tower, HM@S Tower (pictured below) and Bendigo Art Gallery (1999), and New Quay at Docklands (2004).
<img src="/images/stories/hmas.jpg">
But one building would say more about the ambition of Fender Katsalidis than any other – a gleaming, gold-tipped pillar called the Eureka Tower, which at 92 storeys Nonda Katsalidis insists is “still the tallest building in the country”, despite that title officially belonging to Q1 on the Gold Coast. (To set the record straight, Katsalidis says the roof height of Q1 is 275 metres, Eureka’s is 297, he reckons Q1 cheated by adding a 45-metre spire on top, “but let’s not start that argument again!”.)
<img src="/images/stories/eurekafka.jpg">
Katsalidis says designing the Eureka Tower (pictured above), which turns five years old this month, was always about creating “an iconic, huge thing”, and the firm certainly achieved that.
When awarding Eureka Tower the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture in 2007, the jury said it “clearly demonstrates that commercial architecture can be about more than the ‘bottom line’ – it can contribute a broader value to the life and character of the city”.
And Eureka Tower’s bottom line is still doing just fine. According to end-of-financial-year reports for 2010 compiled by Harcourts City Residential, the average selling price for apartments in the Eureka Tower in 2010 was just under $1.047 million, up from $707,685 the previous year. The median sale price for Southbank apartments in 2010 was $602,900.
Katsalidis is coy about Eureka’s financial success. “It’s still the slickest-looking building in Melbourne,” he says. “It’s a very striking building; it’s used as the backdrop in the news and is a symbol for <city><place>Melbourne</place></city>.”
With Eureka under its belt and its stamp firmly placed on Melbourne, Fender Katsalidis set about looking for opportunities outside the city where the firm made their name.
<img src="/images/stories/monafka.jpg">
Katsalidis says his most recent highlight was designing entrepreneur David Walsh’s “adult <place>Disneyland</place>” MONA (the <place><placetype>Museum</placetype> of <placename>Old</placename></place> and New Art) in <city><place>Hobart (pictured above)</place></city>, carved into the sandstone cliffs of the <place><placename>Berriedale</placename><placetype>Peninsula</placetype></place>. Some have called it Katsalidis’ masterwork and it’s even been labelled the “Bilbao of the South” a reference to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim.
MONA aside, the majority of Fender Katsalidis’ work is still focused on creating new residential possibilities, with much of its work being on large planning projects, even designing entire cities.
<img src="/images/stories/fkakl.jpg">
In <city><place>Kuala Lumpur</place></city> the firm has designed luxury apartments near the <place><placename>Petronas</placename><placetype>Towers</placetype></place> and in the millionaire’s precinct of Taman Duta (pictured above). In Thailand the firm designed several luxury resorts in Phuket and on the east coast of Gibraltar, an entire residential estate on the waterfront.
In Dubai, the firm consulted on the much talked-about Palm Jebel Ali, a reclaimed island designed to resemble the fronds of a palm tree, which developer Nakheel still hopes will house more than 250,000 people by 2020 although construction on the development has stalled. The firm was involved in some of <city><place>Dubai</place></city>’s most ambitious projects, but most stalled or were abandoned when in the 2008 property crash, when house prices plummeted 64%.
Karl Fender, quoted in a 2009 article about the Dubai crash in The Age, said “Dubai was a place in a hurry. It was based on a hard-to-define marketplace, and built on a frenzy of speculation.”
Despite Dubai’s well-documented property crash, its initial boom gave Fender Katsalidis architects the chance to push their design skills and imagination to a new level.
Today, the firm hires nearly 100 staff, but Katsalidis says he and Fender are still personally involved in every project and they are still as ambitious as ever. Their reach is now global, but they still call Melbourne home and aren’t done there yet.
<img src="/images/stories/phoenix.jpg">
Not just happy to build the tallest skyscraper in Melbourne, now the pair want to design the slimmest. <city><place>Phoenix</place></city> 82 (pictured above)looks set to make quite an impact on <street><address>Flinders Street</address></street>, with a unique trail of blue light “snaking” down its side. The site is only 6.7 metres wide and 24.3 metres deep. The 28-storey building will rise 88.5 metres, with one apartment on each floor.
Maxx Apartments in St Kilda has just begun construction and will be a mixed-use development incorporating two commercial storeys and 11 residential. Apartment prices range from $387,000 to $640,000.
<img src="/images/stories/bendigoart.jpg">
Fender has also been invited back to the Bendigo Art Gallery (pictured above) to assist with a $7.55 million expansion it hopes will give it more room to host big-name exhibitions.
Fender, who over the years has called the Melbourne Terrace Apartments, the <place><placetype>Republic</placetype><placetype>Tower</placetype></place> and <city><place>Eureka</place></city> home, says he had no trouble believing high-rise living would take off in <city><place>Melbourne</place></city>. As an expat from 1975 to 1995 he lived in high-rise apartments in London, Hong Kong and Rome and his many years as a happy apartment dweller would help shape his strong belief that high-density living is not only the answer to burgeoning population growth, but that it can provide the same sense of community, even more, than the long sprawl of the outer suburbs, which he calls “anonymous” and a place where “every man is an island”.
Fender Katsalidis’ most ambitious, or at least tallest, building is still to come. Katsalidis is tight-lipped on details, but confirms the firm has been commissioned to design a 100-storey, 500-metre skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur in mid-2012. It will be the firm’s tallest yet and just scrape through to be the second tallest building in the world. Further proof perhaps that Fender Katsalidis’ rising ambition is far from satisfied.
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Onwards and upwards in Kuala Lumpur for Fender Katsalidis after Eureka moment

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As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
Stand anywhere in the Melbourne <stockticker>CBD</stockticker> and it’s almost impossible for an upwards-glancing eye not to catch one of Fender Katsalidis Architects’ distinctive residential towers.
<img src="/images/stories/eurekafka.jpg">
There’s the gold-capped peak of Southbank’s Eureka Tower (pictured above), the rocket-like Republic Tower (pictured above) on the corner of Queen and La Trobe streets, the revolutionary Little Hero building and its Lego-style construction method in Russell Place, and just about all of New Quay in the Docklands, to name just a few.
<img src="/images/stories/republic.jpg">
Fender Katsalidis buildings are typically low-impact, high-density designs that aim to create a “vertical neighbourhood” for <stockticker>CBD</stockticker> dwellers.
Both Karl Fender and Nonda Katsalidis are public proponents of high-density living as opposed to the flat urban sprawl embraced by the baby boomers.
“You have to keep your mind open to new housing typologies that use less land, and in so doing give greater community facility,’’ Fender says. ‘‘Because the idea of just building houses cheek-by-jowl and going on forever is just not sustainable”. Although he does add: “You don’t have to go building Eurekas all over town”.
Most of FKA‘s apartments are designed to be relatively affordable, which ties in with the firm’s outspoken intention to convince the average buyer to embrace high-density living. Affordability, Fender says, is the key to encouraging buyers to choose an apartment over traditional house and land.
Apartments in the upcoming <street><address>Fulton Lane</address></street> development for example are being offered at a starting price of $365,000. The development is the first in Australia for Malaysian group SP Setia, which reported in June that 70% of Fulton Lane’s apartments had sold off the plan in just three days.
At <street><address>108 Flinders Street</address></street>, where construction has just commenced on a 12-storey development tucked in behind AC/DC Lane, a one-bedroom can be snapped up for $390,000. Developer Riverlea announced in August that 85% of 108’s apartments were sold before construction began in September.
While FKA’s main focus is on affordable high-density living, the firm does have its trophies. At time of writing, the Eureka Tower’s penthouse, which occupies the entire 84th floor of the building is on the market. It’s expected to fetch upwards of $13 million.
<img src="/images/stories/melbourneterrace.jpg">
Karl Fender and Nonda Katsalidis’ <city><place>Melbourne</place></city> footprint began with the Katsalidis solo project Melbourne Terrace Apartments (pictured above), just near the Queen Victoria Markets on <street><address>Franklin Street</address></street>. Opened in 1994, it was one of the first residential developments to come out of Jeff Kennett’s Postcode 3000 planning policy in the early ’90s, aimed at encouraging Melburnians to live in the <stockticker>CBD</stockticker>. The plan had its critics, – ‘‘where will people buy milk, Myer?’’ was a running joke – but they were ultimately proven wrong as Melbourne was put on a pedestal as an example of how to reinvigorate a city centre so it becomes not only a place of work, but also of entertainment, and for many, a place to live.
Considered an early test case for the ambitious Postcode 3000 strategy, Katsalidis’ Melbourne Terrace Apartments were lauded as a new model for medium- and high-rise living in the <stockticker>CBD</stockticker>. Its success would convince architects and planners that <stockticker>CBD</stockticker> living was not only possible, it had the potential to move <city><place>Melbourne</place></city> towards gaining the ‘‘most liveable city’’ badge it proudly wears now.
It also established Nonda Katsalidis as an architect to watch in <country-region><place>Australia</place></country-region>. In 1996, he would merge with Bob Nation and Karl Fender to create Nation Fender Katsalidis, which would go on to build some of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks.
On Monday we will look at the next step for Fender Katsilidis and its projects outside Victoria. 
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Fender Katsalidis' ever-changing place in Melbourne's skyline

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Whenever I have watched reality shows what resonates most with me is an obvious lack of due diligence. How can you have an advertising campaign that any other vendor in Australia would dream of only to see failure and disappointment on auction day?
The other problem is that in the vast majority of cases that I’ve seen the contestants have little to no experience with renovation yet by the end of the series they give the impression that they are master builders.
On top of that the general public gets the impression that they have cut corners given the shows focus on a tight renovation budget. This creates a no-win situation, which has been reflected in the sales evidence.
The contestants keep running down to the local hardware store (which is usually a sponsor) to buy appliances, where they would be paying full retail as against sourcing the products far more cheaply over the internet. With better planning in advance these appliances could be purchased much cheaper – although that does not fit in with the strict timing schedules of the shows.
The problems facing these shows are sourcing the right properties in the right locations. This is nearly impossible, especially given that they have to find multiple properties the fit the criteria. When they find a compromise more often than not they have paid too much acquiring the properties and the cost of renovations combine to deliver over-capitalised properties. It is then very difficult to make the money back at auction.
I don’t see a great future with these reality realty shows given they are not financially viable. It’s an expensive gamble if you are not an owner-builder who is developing the property to live in.
It is well-documented around the country that punting on real estate using that formula is a recipe for disaster – and they keep delivering this conclusive evidence, don’t they?
Robert Simeon is a director of <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM">Richardson  Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay </a>and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985. He has also been writing real-estate blog <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News">Virtual Realty News</a> since 2000. The RWM real estate model has sold in excess of $1 billion in database sales globally.
For expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a target="_blank" href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a> 
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robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Lack of experience, research and planning a problem with reno TV

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As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
We recently looked at the new draft <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/tips-for-borrowing-through-your-diy-super-for-property-investment/2011101151890" target="_blank">ATO ruling surrounding borrowing via your self-managed super fund and property</a>. The rules are more lenient, but investors still need to be careful.
Understand the difference between repairs and improvements of geared property
 
Detail: Under last year’s amendments, superannuation law specifies that money borrowed by a SMSF under a limited recourse loan arrangement must only be used to buy and maintain an asset – not to improve it.
Draft ruling: An improvement of an asset, in contrast to a repair, will improve its efficiency and/or substantially increase its value. 
Crucially, a fund can use its own money to improve a property – provided those improvements are not so extensive so as create a new asset, according to the ruling. 
The draft ruling stresses that what the ATO regards as the difference between repairs and improvements for tax deductibility is not necessarily the same as its interpretation in relation to SMSF gearing. Meg Heffron, co-principal of specialist SMSF administrator Heffron and a former member of the Cooper superannuation review, says the draft ruling shows the ATO will take a “fairly liberal view” about the difference between a repair and an improvement. 
The draft ruling states that a repair may include restoration to an asset’s former appearance or condition – without changing its character. 
“These issues will always be a matter of degree,” comments Heffron, “but the ATO clearly envisages quite a wide range of activities which might incidentally add to the value of the property falling into the repairs category. 
“This is obviously highly beneficial to funds that have borrowed to acquire real property.” 
Case studies from draft ruling: A SMSF borrows to buy a house with broken windows. Not surprisingly, the ATO would treat the replacement of the windows as a repair, not an improvement. Therefore, the new windows could be financed under a borrowing arrangement.
SMSF trustees renovate a rundown house immediately following its purchase. Under the draft ruling, the ATO would treat renovations that improve the efficiency of the asset and substantially increase its value as an improvement. This means that the renovations could not be financed under the loan arrangement. 
A SMSF renovates a property and adds a bathroom. Property investors, of course, commonly undertake such projects. The ATO would regard the addition of the bathroom as an improvement.
A kitchen is restored following a fire that damages the stove, benches and walls. Under the draft ruling, the ATO would regard the kitchen’s restoration as a repair. But if the kitchen is extended at the same time, the extension would be treated as an improvement. 
A SMSF adds a swimming pool or garage to a geared property. The ATO would view the changes as improvements, which could not be financed under a borrowing arrangement. 
Understand what improvements create a new asset 
 
Detail: A basic challenge for property investors is whether proposed improvements to a geared property are so extensive as to effectively create a new asset. 
Under superannuation law, a fund cannot even use its own cash, let alone borrowed money, to finance improvements to a geared asset that lead to the creation of a new asset. The fund would have to wait until the gearing expired before using its own money to pay for such improvements. 
Drafting ruling: “The ATO has previously taken the view that improving a property will necessarily trigger the replacement of one asset, the unimproved one, with a new asset,” says Heffron. 
“The ruling takes a far more liberal position,” she says, “and indicates that in the ATO’s view, not all improvements will necessarily result in a replacement asset.” 
The draft ruling gives the ATO’s opinion that an improvement that fundamentally changes the character of an asset amounts to the creation of a new asset. 
Case studies from draft ruling: A SMSF owns a geared house and land. The house is then demolished and replaced with three strata units. New assets would be created. 
A SMSF owns a geared house and land. The land is rezoned and the house converted into commercial premises. Again, a new asset would be created. 
A fire destroys a fund-owned, four-bedroom house. The fund uses the insurance payout to build a replacement four-bedroom house. The fundamental character of the property has not changed. The proceeds of an insurance payout could finance the replacement.
For more on self-managed super and property, download our e-book.
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