National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

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Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

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]

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

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.

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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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Current seemingly high rates of home ownership in Australia are masking a long-term problem of serious housing inequality between older and younger generations and between wealthier and poorer households, new AHURI research reveals.
The research, ‘Australian home ownership: past reflections, future directions’, undertaken for AHURI by researchers from Swinburne University of Technology examines the growth of home ownership and its tenure dominance in Australia after the Second World War, together with its fading, most notably for younger households (ages 25–44) over the last four decades.
While Australia’s overall home ownership rate appears to have held up well—it was 68 per cent in 1976 and 67 per cent in 2016—the rate is projected to decline to around 63 per cent for all households by 2040, and to 51 per cent for households in the 25–55 age bracket, down from 60 per cent in 1981.
‘A housing system in which one half—predominantly older homeowners—acquires wealth and the other half—generally younger renters—doesn’t, is a recipe for long-term social problems’ says lead researcher Professor Terry Burke of the Swinburne University of Technology.
The research suggests that while no single policy failure, single political decision or single market or state failure has eroded the ability to achieve the ownership dream, the change has come from complex shifts throughout the entire institutional environment.
While weakening affordability has been an important factor in this erosion, other factors should not be neglected including an increase in casualised employment, a financial and tax environment favouring rental investors, the emergence of new housing products largely designed for rental living, the inability of housing supply to match population and household growth, and the financialisaton of housing.
‘Broadly, Australia now has an institutional environment which no longer supports ownership as it did in the past,’ says Professor Burke. ‘This means the housing system will become more inequitable irrespective of what incremental housing policy reforms are made. Given this, we have to rethink what sort of housing system is appropriate for Australia’s future.’
‘Either we embrace fundamental and broad-based reforms to rebuild ownership or we accept a retreat from its historical dominance, moving to a system which has more balance between rental and ownership—what we can call a dual tenure system.’
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Falling house prices unlikely to increase home ownership: AHURI

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Increasing sales volumes and moderating prices indicate buyers are seeing ‘fair value’ in Melbourne’s land market compared to runaway price growth in the established market, according to RPM Real Estate Group's latest Residential Market Review.
RPM, Victoria’s biggest land sales agency found in their Q4 report that not only are first home buyers seeing better value in Melbourne’s house and land market given moderating prices (while values in established housing continue to rise), but investors too.
Investors were the missing ingredient throughout most of last year, but RPM’s Q4 report reveals investors are seeing increasing opportunity in Melbourne’s greenfield market.
RPM saw a jump from a share of 24% of all purchases to 37% in the December quarter.<a class="btn modal-button" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/administrator/index.php?option=com_media&amp;view=images&amp;tmpl=component&amp;e_name=jform_articletext&amp;asset=150862&amp;author=38130" title="Image" rel="{handler: 'iframe', size: {x: 800, y: 500}}"> </a>
For the December quarter total lot sales increased 17 per cent to 3,185 lots from the previous quarter.
November recorded the eighth straight month of sales growth.
Click <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/2/24/RPM%20housing%20data.JPG" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/2/24/RPM%20housing%20data.JPG" alt="">
(Source: RPM Real Estate Group) 
In the December quarter, other dwelling approvals jumped 78 per cent to 7,284 from the September quarter and 21 per cent compared to the same period a year ago (albeit it came off a record low).
The most substantial increase occurred in apartments, which rose 149 per cent over the quarter and 69 per cent from December 2018, although this sector is coming off a long term low.
The improved December quarter results have helped ease the rolling annual falls, with the townhouse market down 24 per cent and the apartment market down 18 per cent over the past year when compared to the same period a year earlier.
In the development site market, the quarter marked a pronounced turnaround resulting from pent up demand from developers and landowners who held back their properties for most of 2019 until they saw more stable market conditions where their values could again be supported.
Stockland’s acquisition of a large-scale site in Donnybrook Rd for more than $100 million signified a big deal by a big player, and gave other local developers confidence to invest, resulting in deal flows in the back half of the year in excess of $350 million.
In the inner and mid-ring apartment and townhouse market, Mr Kelly said while tentative positive approval numbers provide cautious optimism, the mismatch between supply and demand is still a key challenge.
“New project activity going through the pipeline is vital given once supply is absorbed there will need to be readily available stock to meet demand, otherwise a shortage will occur, putting pressure on vacancy rates, rents and prices overall,” he said.
Melbourne’s median lot price declined 2.1 per cent to $308,900, partly due to a reasonable amount of unsold or overhang stock on the market.
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First homer buyers and investors jumping on Melbourne land market opportunities: RPM Real Estate

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Stockland has spent about $105 million for a house and land site in the Donnybrook precinct in Melbourne’s north.
Stockland chief executive of communities, Andrew Whitson, said the acquisition extended the company’s long-term presence in the northern growth corridor of Melbourne, one of the fastest expanding in Australia.
“The northern corridor will play a key role in the future economic and employment growth of Melbourne, and is expected to be home to over 260,000 people over the next 30 years.”
<a href="https://www.bigginscottland.com.au/975-donnybrook-road-vic-donnybrook-4998958/" target="_blank">It is an 89.5 hectare land parcel </a>one kilometre east of the train station, some 30 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD.
Stockland could expect about 1400 new homes, along with a school.
It is within the approved Donnybrook Woodstock Precinct structure plan.
Some of Australia’s largest developers including Mirvac, Stockland, Satterley &amp; Dennis family have nearby holdings.
The 975 Donnybrook Road holding is about five kms from Stockland's 1100 hectare Lockerbie sheep station, Kalkallo purchase in 2010 which is now emerging as Cloverton, Melbourne’s largest master-planned community, set to have 11,000 dwellings.
 
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Stockland spend $105 million on Donnybrook house and land site

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The businessman John Gillett has decided to sell three redundant blocks of the Taj on Swan site <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/residential/taj-on-swan-owners-set-to-lose-more-than-5m-as-peppermint-grove-site-sells-20180807-h13mps">he bought last year for $17 million</a> in Peppermint Grove.
It was bought from former fertiliser entrepreneur Pankaj Oswal and his wife Radhika.
Gillett and his wife Jocelyn have applied to the WA Planning Commission to split their 6580 square metre superblock.
They have sought three blocks - 765 square metres, 875 square metres and 1104 square metres.
The abandoned home building block of flamboyant billionaire tycoons, Pankaj and Radhika Oswal was sold earlier this year.
Marketed as "the most famous block in Australia" the <a id="LPlnk998012" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-wa-peppermint+grove-202042586" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">2 Bay View Road site</a> was sold through Ray White agent Vivien Yap in conjuction with Sotheby's agent Graham Bowie. 
The now demolished mansion with Swan River views sat unfinished after the Oswals quit Australia in 2010 amid a dispute with bankers about the wind up and sale of their fertiliser business.
The Oswal family had controlled WA's $700 million Burrup Fertilisers gas-processing plant.
The Oswals paid $22.7 million in 2007 when it was bought from developer Warren Anderson then starting construction a year later on a "two-storey, Indian-infused luxury residence".
"The Gillett family is optimistic that the rarity of blocks in this superb location, plus a gradually improving property market, means that the land will be attractive to buyers," a spokesman for Gillett told Nine Entertainment.
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WA Planning Commission asked to further subdivide Taj on Swan, Peppermint Grove residential housing site

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New Breeze at Bardia, a planned community developed by the Dahua Group in Sydney’s South West, has now sold 1,000 land parcels. 
Dahua Group purchased the 89-hectare land parcel from Landcom in 2015 and started selling land in the $1 billion New Breeze masterplanned community in April 2016. 
"New Breeze at Bardia is our first major project in Sydney’s South West," said the CEO at Dahua Group NSW and Queensland, Eric Li. 
"We expect to finish selling land in this community by mid next year. Purchasers have appreciated the lifestyle that has been created as well as the aesthetics that surround the community including the 40-hectare green corridor."
New Breeze will comprise 1264 new homes with a in a variety of sizes and price ranges. 
The development will also include parks and playgrounds, a sports oval, bike and cycle paths.  
“This is a meticulously designed development centred around an expansive green corridor with great parks, BBQ areas and walking and cycling trails, all within close proximity to schools, shopping facilities and major transport infrastructure," he said.
There have been land lots ranging from 201 square metres to 1962 square metres and homes which have appealed to a broad cross section of purchasers, Stephen Bambury, the sales manager said,  
New Breeze at Bardia is eight kilometres from Liverpool’s CBD and 49 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD. 
Liverpool Westfield, Casula Mall and Crossroad Homemaker Centre are all within a 10 kilometre drive. Twelve public and private schools including Macquarie Fields High School and William Carey Christian School are also within a 10 kilometre drive. 
Land lot are priced from $319,900. 
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wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Dahua Group's New Breeze at Bardia reaches 1,000 land parcel sales 

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Demand for residential land around Sydney has soared over the last six months, according to independent valuer and advisor m3property.
They say the reduced cost of debt, easier access to finance, smaller lots, and apartment market woes have been behind a noticeable pick up in demand for Sydney residential land in the last six months.
There was also a marginal price increase in the six months to June.
M3property's latest market report, Sydney Land Market Recovery, found land take-up had increased dramatically since the Federal election.
Jennifer Williams, national director of research, at m3property, said while take-up rates for land had averaged zero to two lot sales per month over the period September 2018 to May 2019, post-election take-up had accelerated to three to four lots per month and, in Sydney’s growth regions, six to eight lots per month according to proximity to railway stations.
"The take-up rate has accelerated markedly since May and there are a number of factors at play, not the least being the typical pre-election market paralysis and an election campaign characterised by much debate about housing issues including negative gearing and affordability," Williams said.
"Since the election APRA’s removal of the 7 per cent serviceability cap on residential home loans and the fall in the official cash rate from 1.5 per cent to 0.75 per cent have aided the borrowing power of most applicants.
Williams suggested smaller, and more affordable, lot sizes of 250 to 300 sqqm – lot sizes averaged 454 sqm at June 2019 - pent up demand, and an increase in the median Sydney house price, had also been drivers of a general market uptick, which had seen a modest land price rise over the first half of 2019 of 0.94 per cent.
Associate director residential development at m3property Ben Toole said negative apartment market publicity had also been behind some owner-occupiers’ decisions around a new preference for houses as a safer alternative.
"The cladding and construction flaws issues have been major negatives for the apartment market and not surprisingly those issues have affected consumer sentiment around what is, for most people, the biggest investment they will ever make.
"I have no doubt the apartment market will recover but for now it is one of a number of factors behind a significant resurgence in the take-up of land in Sydney,’’ Toole added.   
He said while the rate of take-up had been highest for land in close proximity (two kms) of existing railway stations, the rate of sales was also dependent on developer reputation, the size of the subdivision, choice of lots and the stage of subdivision development.
Toole said there was still room for growth – take-up rates remain below levels reached in 2016 and 2017 – and particularly in areas where infrastructure was at the most advanced levels.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/27/Sydney%20land%20values.jpg" alt="">
"The North West Growth Region has seen greater demand than the South West due to established transport services, including the introduction of the new Northwest Sydney Metro, while areas such as Box Hill, Schofields (Pictured top, the <a href="/news/clear-skies-ahead-for-akuna-vista-development-at-schofields-aerodrome">Akuna Vista development</a>) and Marsden Park have seen higher sales rates and higher prices due to both a greater number of estates and more completed estates.
"While overall price points in the South West are slightly lower than the North West, areas such as Leppington and Austral are achieving higher price points due to the Leppington railway line,’’ Toole said.
The report found Greater Sydney was likely to see an undersupply of dwellings over the next five years based on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s forecast of the completion of 191,550 dwellings over the five years from 2018/19 to 2022/23.
The numbers equate to 38,300 homes per year, a significant 22 per cent rise on the previous five years when 157,250 new homes were completed, but less than the required 39,600 houses per year should the average household size in greater Sydney remain at the same level as the last Census, Jennifer Williams said.
"If the 198,030 additional houses are required, as an extrapolation of the Census data suggests, then Greater Sydney is likely to see an undersupply of dwellings over the next five years. 
"This is likely to result in a continued reduction of lot sizes in the Sydney region and increased lot prices over the five-year outlook,’’ Williams said.
 
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North West and South West Sydney lead pick up in residential land demand

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Around the world, the vast majority of people are flocking to cities not to dwell in their centres but to live in the new suburbs expanding their outer limits.
Reflecting this, from 2000 to 2015, the <a href="https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2017/goal-11/" target="_blank">expansion of urbanised land worldwide outpaced urban population growth</a>. The result is <a href="https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2017/" target="_blank">unprecedented urban sprawl</a>.
Expansive suburbs of single-family, freestanding housing are ubiquitous in countries such as Australia, the US and the UK. Most Australians still <a href="https://theconversation.com/becoming-more-urban-attitudes-to-medium-density-living-are-changing-in-sydney-and-melbourne-84693" target="_blank">aspire to own a large detached house</a> in the suburbs.
Public resistance to so-called infill development is unlikely to be overcome without a major change in how cities approach urban densification. We <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030296001" target="_blank">advocate greenspace-oriented development</a>, or GOD, which provides substantial, public green spaces to serve surrounding higher-density neighbourhoods.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299805/original/file-20191101-187907-jwuiia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299805/original/file-20191101-187907-jwuiia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Greenspace-oriented development correlates urban densification with significant, upgraded public green spaces. Author provided
We love our leafy suburbs
The “Australian dream” of owning your own home is often automatically associated with a detached house on a block of land. It’s seen as a mark of having “made it”.
For instance, a <a href="http://www.dhw.wa.gov.au/News/Pages/hwc.aspx" target="_blank">study in Perth</a> found that, if they had the money, 79% of people would prefer a separate dwelling and 13% a semi-detached option. Only 7% preferred flats, units or apartments.
Evidently, the suburban dream runs deep in the Australian cultural psyche. Australia is not alone in this. As a result of widespread preference for suburban living, globally we are not in the age of urbanisation but rather the age of suburbanisation.
Despite the enduring popularity of suburban life, several emerging crises threaten its dominance. These include the <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-protect-fresh-food-supplies-here-are-the-key-steps-to-secure-city-foodbowls-114085" target="_blank">destruction of agriculturally productive</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/squandering-riches-can-perth-realise-the-value-of-its-biodiversity-63933" target="_blank">biodiverse land</a> around expanding cities, <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-city-workers-average-commute-has-blown-out-to-66-minutes-a-day-how-does-yours-compare-120598" target="_blank">ballooning commuting times</a> and service and public transport <a href="https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2019/08/australian-infrastructure-expensive/" target="_blank">infrastructure costs</a>, and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/private-renters-are-doing-it-tough-in-outer-suburbs-of-sydney-and-melbourne-120427" target="_blank">concentration of socio-economic vulnerabilities</a> in outer suburbs. These areas also <a href="https://theconversation.com/living-liveable-this-is-what-residents-have-to-say-about-life-on-the-urban-fringe-111339" target="_blank">have poorer access</a> to jobs.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299804/original/file-20191101-187938-1d9yuix.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
The problems of sprawl: contractors clear once biodiverse land on the edge of Perth for a new suburb. Author provided. Photo courtesy of Donna Broun, Richard Weller
Why infill efforts are failing
To limit urban sprawl, the emphasis in most cities worldwide is on increasing urban density. In pursuit of infill development, planning strategies have focused mostly on <a href="http://www.tod.org/" target="_blank">transit-oriented development</a>. This approach focuses on higher-density development around public transport nodes and corridors.
Despite the widespread adoption of this ideology in Australia, many cities are <a href="https://dusp.mit.edu/publication/infinite-suburbia" target="_blank">not achieving</a> their <a href="https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/products/made-in-australia-the-future-of-australian-cities" target="_blank">infill targets</a>. In part, this is because transit-oriented development strategies suggest an “<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1745-5871.2006.00374.x" target="_blank">inflexible, over-neat vision</a>” of cities at odds with their “increasing geographical complexity”.
Much of the infill that has been achieved is through indiscriminate and opportunistic subdivision of individual suburban lots by “mum and dad” investors. This “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07293682.2016.1245201" target="_blank">background infill</a>” fails to achieve infill targets, does not reduce car use, erodes urban forests, and aggravates local communities. This has led to community resistance (the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Not-in-My-Backyard-Phenomenon" target="_blank">NIMBY</a> factor) and what one council official referred to as a “<a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/city-limits-why-australias-cities-are-broken-and-how-we-can-fix-them/" target="_blank">public sullenness</a>”.
Higher density with a green focus
The principles of transit-oriented development are well established and valid. However, we <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030296001" target="_blank">contend</a> that we need a complementary strategy, greenspace-oriented development, for achieving infill development. This approach would correlate urban densification with substantial, upgraded public green spaces or parks that are relatively well served by public transport.
Greenspace-oriented development builds upon the now well-recognised <a href="https://theconversation.com/higher-density-cities-need-greening-to-stay-healthy-and-liveable-75840" target="_blank">array of benefits</a> of green spaces for urban dwellers. Most importantly, it underpins approaches to making our cities more sustainable and liveable.
Australian suburbs do generally contain a reasonable number of parks. But these are typically underdesigned and underused. Many parks offer minimal amenity, often little more than large stretches of irrigated lawn and a scattering of trees.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299807/original/file-20191101-102207-1w2nlod.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299807/original/file-20191101-102207-1w2nlod.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Before and after: in greenspace-oriented development, density and natural amenity are interwoven. Images courtesy of Robert Cameron. Author provided
We suggest redesigning parks to increase the naturalness, ecological function and diversity of active and passive recreational uses, which in turn can support higher-density urban areas. Indeed, it should increase the value of neighbouring real estate. With rezoning, this should enable greater local densification that is both commercially viable for developers and more attractive for residents.
Residents would then have an incentive to support well-designed infill development. When completed, each of these upgraded parks operates as a multifunctional, communal “backyard” for residents of a surrounding higher-density urban precinct.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299806/original/file-20191101-102182-1ncjsyg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299806/original/file-20191101-102182-1ncjsyg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Before and after: parks become multifunctional communal ‘backyards’ for people living at a higher density around the park. Author provided
The lure of suburbia clearly remains strong for people around the world. If planners are to deal with the problems of sprawl, they need to increase urban density in a way that resonates with the leafy green qualities of suburbia that most people desire (at very least in Australia).
Transit-oriented development ideology relies on a false presumption that residents will trade the benefits of nature for the benefits of urbanity. We require a new vision of urban densification that responds to the urban, societal and ecological challenges of the 21st century and aligns with people’s preference for suburban living near nature.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126204/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Julian Bolleter, Deputy Director, Australian Urban Design Research Centre, University of Western Australia.
Cristina E. Ramalho, Research fellow, University of Western Australia.<a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-western-australia-1067" target="_blank"></a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/god-save-us-greenspace-oriented-development-could-make-higher-density-attractive-126204" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Greenspace-oriented development could make higher density attractive

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The cost of land is one of the main components in determining the price of a new home, according to HIA Economist Angela Lillicrap.
The recent HIA-CoreLogic Residential Land Report provided updated information on sales activity in 46 markets across Australia, including the six state capital cities.
“While land prices have come down during 2019, over the last decade the price of new residential land per square metre in Sydney has doubled and more than doubled in Melbourne,” added Ms Lillicrap.
“A shortage of land is one of the factors that has driven home prices to increase over the past decade. The process of making land ‘shovel ready’ can often last a decade, therefore, responding to shortages cannot be met with increased supply in the short term. An adequate supply of land is required to avoid a deterioration in affordability.
“If the Australian dream of home ownership is to remain achievable, governments must work with industry to ensure that there is an appropriate supply of land. Improving the monitoring and reporting of the land supply pipeline will enable government and industry to make well informed decisions,” concluded Ms Lillicrap.
CoreLogic’s head of research, Tim Lawless, highlighted that land values had slumped across the most expensive markets over the past year. 
“The rate per square metre of vacant land in Sydney was down 12.6% over the 12 months ending June 2019 and Melbourne land prices were down 7.6%. 
Prices were also down in Adelaide (-12.0%) and Brisbane (-4.6%). 
Lower land prices should provide further support for housing affordability in these markets, however in Hobart and Perth land prices were higher.
“Hobart land prices have rocketed 20.3% higher over the year ending June reflecting tight supply against a backdrop of strong demand. 
"Despite the significant rise, Hobart is still showing the lowest median land price amongst the capital cities at $180,000 and the largest median land area at 624sqm.”
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Sydney vacant land rate per square metre down 12.6% annually: HIA

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In the past two decades there has been an unprecedented increase in the area of blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) plantations in southern Australia.
In southwest Victoria alone, some additional <a href="https://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/our-wildlife/koalas/koalas-in-blue-gum-plantations" target="_blank">80,000 hectares</a> of commercial blue gum have been planted.
This expansion has significantly increased the habitat available for koalas. In fact, my research, published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204619302257?utm_campaign=STMJ_75273_AUTH_SERV_PPUB&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_dgroup=Email1Publishing&amp;utm_acid=415453513&amp;SIS_ID=2363&amp;dgcid=STMJ_75273_AUTH_SERV_PPUB&amp;CMX_ID=&amp;utm_in=DM593500&amp;utm_source=AC_30" target="_blank">Landscape and Urban Planning</a>, has found there are more koalas in plantations than in surrounding native habitat.
More koalas may seem like a good thing, but perversely this could ultimately harm their welfare (and the welfare of other native animals and plants), and disrupt the plantation industry.
Plantations
Koalas are <a href="https://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/our-wildlife/koalas/koalas-in-blue-gum-plantations" target="_blank">protected in Victoria</a>, so when plantation managers harvest the mature trees they must have a permit and a koala management plan. These plans focus on locating koalas, ensuring that the trees koalas are sitting in at harvest are not felled, and post-harvest surveys to find any injured koalas.
However, these plans don’t consider where the koalas go after the plantation has been cut down, and what effects their movement has on the landscape and surrounding native vegetation.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298648/original/file-20191025-115721-1w9niyt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298648/original/file-20191025-115721-1w9niyt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A recently harvested blue gum plantation showing remnant trees left due to koalas. Author provided
To work out how factors such as plantation cover affect koala populations, my colleagues and I surveyed 72 sites across southwest Victoria. We found more koalas in plantations than in blocks of native vegetation or in native roadside vegetation.
We then spatially modelled koala numbers for the region, and found several high-priority areas for population management, as well as significant conservation habitat for koalas and other wildlife in the region that overlap with high koala population densities.
Our mapping predicted high koala numbers in the southeast, where there are important remnant bushland areas such as Kurtonitj Indigenous Protected Area and Mount Napier State Park. This highlights the importance of considering the overall landscape when establishing and harvesting plantations, and the arrangement of plantations near remnant forest.
Harvest rates in much of southwest Victoria are set to increase. This may result in increased koala numbers in the native vegetation surrounding harvested sites, which could then put pressure on food trees in remnant forests.
Local landholders are already seeing the effect of more koalas on native vegetation. Many trees on private land or beside roads are being stripped of leaves.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298649/original/file-20191025-115772-1k2prql.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298649/original/file-20191025-115772-1k2prql.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Canopy defoliation of remnant trees due to increased numbers of koalas in south-west Victoria. Author provided
More koalas are also likely to mean more injuries or other welfare issues. As plantations have a responsibility to avoid these, koala injuries could threaten the future of one of the main industries in this region. More than 4,000 people are <a href="http://inform.regionalaustralia.org.au/industry/agriculture-forestry-and-fisheries/item/green-triangle-plantation-timber-2011-and-beyond" target="_blank">directly employed</a> in the regional forestry industry, with a further 4,500 in associated service industries.
The bigger picture
To meet this challenge, we argue management plans need to consider the larger landscape. What native forest is near a plantation? Where are the koalas likely to go after the harvest? How might they affect other native species?
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298650/original/file-20191025-115739-ddg4fi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298650/original/file-20191025-115739-ddg4fi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A female koala being released in Bessiebelle, south-west Victoria, after undergoing a health check. Esther Wong, Author provided
Such plans could include some areas of plantations set aside for koala habitat, harvesting plans that consider adjacent habitat that koalas may move into, or increasing areas of native food trees. These would all benefit other wildlife in the area, as well as koalas.
Currently, there is something of a negative feedback loop in southwest Victoria. When plantations are established koalas move in and reproduce. When plantations are later harvested, the koalas move into surrounding areas. As a result, populations can rapidly increase in some areas, affecting native trees and creating welfare issues for the forest industry.
We have seen the devastating effects high density koala populations can have on native forests in places like <a href="https://theconversation.com/victorian-koalas-are-eating-themselves-out-of-house-and-home-38585" target="_blank">Cape Otway</a>, which saw mass starvation and widespread forest death in 2013 and 2014. Current state regulations could disrupt the forestry industry, especially with koala numbers increasing in plantations but with no plan to really manage koala numbers in southwest Victoria in sight.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125558/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Kita Ashman, PhD candidate in koala conservation, Deakin University.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-blinky-bill-effect-when-gum-trees-are-cut-down-where-do-the-koalas-go-125558" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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The Blinky Bill effect: when gum trees are cut down, where do the koalas go?

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Nevada, part of the Park Ridge masterplanned community in the booming Logan growth corridor south of Brisbane, has seen its first stage of house and land packages nearly all snapped up.
In just over 20 years, Logan’s population is predicted to grow more than 50 per cent to around 548,000 residents, according to Logan Office of Economic Development.
Local award-winning builder Choice Homes are <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/nevada" target="_blank">offering home packages</a> starting from $427,220, with just four of the 42 lots remaining in stage one.
Their <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.choicehomes.com.au/house/5835389" target="_blank">biggest home is the Torino</a> (pictured top), which comprises four bedrooms, two living rooms and two bathrooms across its two levels.
The Winchester is <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.choicehomes.com.au/house/3874268" target="_blank">another four bedroom, two bath home</a> but spread across one level (below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/15/Winchester%20Choice%20Homes.jpg" alt="">
Choice Homes also offer two three bedroom home styles, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.choicehomes.com.au/house/7191516" target="_blank">The Hindmarsh</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.choicehomes.com.au/house/7196968" target="_blank">The Ibis</a>.
Nevada is part of the wider 80-lot land development Park Ridge Estate, in the heart of the Park Ridge Master Planned area, a priority development zone.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/15/Choice%20Homes%20Nevada%201.jpg" alt="">
There will be a Woolworths shopping centre nearby, as well as a second neighbourhood shopping centre and the Logan Reserve State School.
The estate is 10 minutes to Logan Highway.
Logan has seen heavy investment in recent years, with more than $18 billion of publicly funded projects underway to support the growing population.
Earlier this year, a $1.2 billion agreement, the largest of its type by any government in Australia, was signed by local authorities and private developers to build essential infrastructure in Logan’s Priority Development Areas Yarrabilba and Greater Flagstone.
 
 
 
 
 
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