<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/smith-by-valli-collingwood-224-228-smith-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Smith Collingwood</a> is a new boutique apartment development bringing a refined, design-led approach to one of Melbourne’s most established inner-city neighbourhoods.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pandolfini-architects">Pandolfini Architects</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/lisa-buxton-interiors">Lisa Buxton</a>, Smith by Valli sits on iconic Smith Street and comprises just 22 residences tailored toward owner-occupiers seeking a more considered style of apartment living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367540]

The design of Smith focuses on a north-facing orientation across all residences, a relatively uncommon feature in dense inner-Melbourne settings. Each apartment has been planned to maximise natural light and outlook, alongside a material palette defined by warm tones, custom joinery, and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances.

The development comprises a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with pricing currently ranging from just under $1 million to around $4.85 million for the premium penthouse-level residences, reflecting growing demand for luxury owner-occupier product in Melbourne’s inner urban market.

Residents will also have access to a private rooftop garden designed as an elevated retreat above the city, &nbsp;featuring curated landscaping, veggie boxes, intimate seating areas and spaces for relaxed gatherings. Sustainability has also been integrated into the project through a 7-star energy rating and two secure bicycle facilities for every residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367529]

Smith by Valli sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most established retail and hospitality strips, within walking distance of venues such as Falco Bakery, Carnation Canteen and Alimentari, alongside parks and everyday services. With a Walk Score of 99, the location reinforces the project’s positioning toward buyers prioritising walkability and access over car dependency.

With only a limited number of residences, Smith reflects growing demand for smaller, highly curated apartment developments that prioritise design quality, liveability, and connection to neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140747]

Joel Robinson

Smith by Valli delivers a refined collection of luxury residences to Melbourne’s inner north

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>’s 640 Bourke Street stands as a testament to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s ability to bridge its storied past with a bold vision for the future.&nbsp;

Rising above the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley building, the development reflects a broader shift toward adaptive reuse in the city, where historical assets are retained and reinterpreted as part of new residential development.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> incorporates the Eliza Tinsley building as its foundation, housing a grand gallery and lobby space that serve as both a functional and symbolic centrepiece. The heritage façade informs the tower’s design, creating a connection between Melbourne’s past and its contemporary skyline.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365684]

Above this historic base, the 68-storey tower will deliver just over 600 residences, a notable reduction from earlier schemes, reflecting a deliberate move toward larger-format apartments and a stronger owner-occupier focus.

Unlike traditional CBD developments that prioritised investor stock, 640 Bourke Street has been repositioned to respond to changing buyer expectations.

"The discussion was all around making 640 Bourke Street the best residence to live in, to be much more focused on the people in the building rather than people looking at the building," Marsland explained.&nbsp;

This shift is evident in the development’s interiors, which emphasise practical luxury with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;

“What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Lauren Sheldon, Far East Consortium’s Director of Sales and Marketing, said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365687]

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang added, "We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."&nbsp;

Amenities spanning more than 3,000 sqm across multiple levels further reinforce this focus on resident experience. These include a pool, gym, co-working areas, and a range of hospitality-inspired spaces such as a whisky lounge, library, and private dining rooms, many drawing reference from traditional bathhouses and Melbourne’s laneway culture.

"We wanted to make both the pool and the gym area to be absolutely destinational, and when you traverse across to these spaces, there is a gentle familiarity to the beautiful notions of the hammams and the Roman baths, a gentle nod to history," Chang noted.

At street level, the project contributes to the ongoing transformation of the western CBD, with upgrades to Langs Lane and the introduction of retail, hospitality, and gallery spaces designed to activate the precinct and strengthen its connection to the surrounding city fabric.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

The location places residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and the Docklands waterfront, positioning the development within a rapidly evolving inner-city neighbourhood.

"We believe it's the best site left in the city of Melbourne," Craig Williams, Executive Director at Far East Consortium, said.&nbsp;

640 Bourke Street is Far East Consortium’s 14th building in Melbourne’s western CBD.

"A very elegant designed building. It's going to be a Melbourne statement for many, many years to come."

One-bedroom apartments are priced from around $640,000, with 640 Bourke Street targeting completion in 2029.

Renders shown are Artist's Impressions correct as of May 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Heritage-led design anchors Far East Consortium’s 640 Bourke St, Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD Group</a> has set a new residential price record in Queensland with the $30 million sale of the penthouse at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-burleigh-88-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">ONE Burleigh</a> development in Burleigh Heads.

The sale equates to around $37,500 per sqm.

The two-level, 800 sqm penthouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five car spaces, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was acquired by a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur, highlighting continued demand for ultra-premium beachfront product.

Selling agent Freddie Tehle of PRD Burleigh Heads said the result reflects tightening supply of high-quality, large-format apartments in Burleigh.

“There’s very limited opportunity to secure this level of scale and absolute beachfront position in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Burleigh Heads</a>,” Tehle said.

“Buyers are increasingly seeking apartments that genuinely replace a standalone home, and this penthouse delivers that with its size, privacy, and direct ocean frontage.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323057]

The sale comes as construction progresses on ONE Burleigh, a boutique development of 17 full-floor residences at 88 The Esplanade, scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Developed by MAYD Group and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mas-architecture-studio">MAS Architecture</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/sici-design">Sici Design</a>, the project has been positioned as a collection of house-sized beachfront apartments, each occupying an entire floor with around 381 sqm of internal and external living space.

When construction commenced, MAYD director Todd Mould pointed to the long-term resilience of premium coastal real estate as a key driver behind the project.

“Real estate, particularly at the premium end, remains one of the most resilient and proven long-term investment avenues,” Mould said.

“Our ambition is that anyone who buys a MAYD-built product can genuinely feel the care, craftsmanship and commitment we bring to every detail.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323055]

Each residence has been configured with four bedrooms, multiple living zones, a private office, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. Interiors draw on a restrained material palette, including travertine stone, timber joinery, and integrated premium appliances.

Interior designer Sici Design said the approach was to reflect the project’s coastal setting through both materiality and spatial planning.

“ONE Burleigh is our vision of luxury living, designed to bring the essence of Burleigh Heads' vibrant coastal beauty into an unparalleled residential experience.”

Residents will have access to a suite of wellness-focused amenities, including pools, sauna facilities, and dedicated relaxation spaces, reflecting a broader shift toward lifestyle-driven apartment design on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323052]

The project occupies a southern Esplanade site with uninterrupted beachfront frontage, an increasingly rare offering in Burleigh Heads, free from the Norfolk Pines that line much of the coastline and often limit direct ocean outlook.

Mould said the design intent was to balance that outlook with a sense of retreat.

“Living at ONE Burleigh is about how your day naturally unfolds, morning light across the ocean, coffee on the balcony, and being in Burleigh but elevated above the noise.”

The result further reinforces Burleigh Heads’ emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held and supply-constrained beachfront markets, where boutique, owner-occupier-focused developments are increasingly setting new price benchmarks.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146358]

MAYD Group sets Queensland record with $30 million penthouse sale at ONE Burleigh in Burleigh Heads

Apartment developers in the Gold Coast are finding new, creative ways to differentiate themselves from competing projects, as new supply starts to flow through up and down the Coast.

Developer BIG Projects brought in the renowned Sydney-based design studio YSG Studio to craft the interiors for The Frederick, BIG Projects' new Mermaid Beach project and YSG Studio's first move into the multi-residential development space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5346]

It was a strategic move for BIG Projects to bring in a Sydney eye to the development.

“Our role is to give our design partners the space and freedom to explore,” says Matt Barrett, Director of BIG Projects.

“We wanted YSG Studio to capture the essence of Nobby’s, to design a building that embraces life, light and connection, while creating a genuine sense of place.”

There are only 39 apartments in The Frederick, including a striking beach house, just 100 metres from the booming Nobby Beach precinct.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5347]

Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio, says their vision&nbsp;for The Frederick "reinvents coastal living."

“Nobby’s has such an iconic energy, it’s one of those rare pockets of the Gold Coast where the community, the beach, and the streets all feel connected,” Ghoniem says.

"Responding to the neighbouring coastline, soothing curves add a relaxing regional overlay, while unique detailing really sets it apart. It’s a place that feels lived in from the moment you step inside.”

A standout feature of The Frederick is its rooftop terrace, an uncommon inclusion for a boutique, low-rise building, where amenity is typically concentrated at ground level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5360]

Positioned to capture panoramic views from the hinterland to the ocean, the rooftop has been designed as a series of intimate zones. It includes a pool, sauna, sun decks, workspaces and dedicated entertaining areas.

“The rooftop was conceived as a collection of spaces where residents can unwind and connect, an extension of the Nobby’s lifestyle,” Barrett says.

Architecture for the project was led by Plus Studio, with landscape design by LDG Landscape Architecture.

SRQ Projects Director Nick Clydsdale, who is handling sales at The Frederick, says the majority of enquiry is coming from South East QLD and Victorian buyers who have been actively searching between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach for some time.

"They’ve reviewed a number of projects, however this one has stood out for its unique detailing and compelling design,"&nbsp;Clydsdale says.

Site demolition is slated for this month, with construction commencing soon after. BIG Projects is targeting a late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110588]

Sydney’s YSG Studio makes Gold Coast multi-residential debut with BIG Projects at The Frederick

Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;

Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;

The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;

Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" />

Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;

Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;

The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;

ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" />

For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;

“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.

"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.

“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."

Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.

"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;

ALTA Property to deliver $200 million Queens Road apartment tower

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
People’s quality of life, their health and their comfort can suffer when living in poor-quality housing. It can also impose high ongoing costs of maintenance, repairs, heating and cooling. And these problems are more likely to affect low-income households, as <a href="http://www.shelternsw.org.au/uploads/1/2/1/3/121320015/poor_quality_housing_report_2019.pdf" target="_blank">our report</a> for Shelter NSW shows. In it, we review the evidence on housing quality problems and consider ways to resolve these, especially for low-income households.
There is extensive evidence of the impacts of poor-quality housing on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27712557" target="_blank">physical health</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1257572/" target="_blank">mental wellbeing</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10942447" target="_blank">comfort</a>. For example, poor design and maintenance can lead to the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb03859.x" target="_blank">build-up of mould</a>.
These negative impacts vary by income groups and tenure. From the recently completed <a href="https://dataverse.ada.edu.au/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.26193/RDMRD3" target="_blank">Australian Housing Conditions Dataset</a> we know, for example, that renters on very low incomes (the bottom fifth of households for gross income, about $20,000 a year) are most likely to have unmet repair needs. They also have a harder time staying comfortable during winter and summer, as the table below shows.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/276912/original/file-20190529-181266-12d6trt.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/276912/original/file-20190529-181266-12d6trt.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="https://dataverse.ada.edu.au/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.26193/RDMRD3" target="_blank">Source: Australian Housing Conditions Dataset</a>, Author provided
What are the reasons for poor-quality housing?
There are several underlying reasons for substandard housing.
Properties may enter the rental market after years in owner-occupation with no formal checks on their state of repair.
Another problem is some private renters do not assert – <a href="https://rentingfair.org.au/need-to-know" target="_blank">or feel unable to assert</a> – their legal right to habitable premises in a reasonable state of repair and upkeep. This is often because of the insecurity of their leases and lack of affordable alternative housing.
Another issue is “split incentives” – landlords decline to upgrade properties because they would not receive any benefit themselves.
There are also problems in public housing. Disinvestment by governments has both reduced the supply of housing and caused a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/148" target="_blank">backlog of maintenance for much of the remaining stock of dwellings</a>.
Housing quality is covered by myriad regulatory regimes. Lately, governments have been focused on questions of <a href="https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/" target="_blank">how best to regulate construction of new buildings</a>. Less attention is given to the ongoing use of existing buildings.
Recent state and national reviews have highlighted problems in the certification of building design and construction, and in the public agencies that oversee the certifiers. Some state governments have begun to respond. The New South Wales government, for instance, is moving to consolidate the regulation of construction practitioners under a new <a href="/news/nsw-government-to-appoint-building-commissioner-following-industry-reform-report">building commissioner</a>.
We spoke to a range of housing sector stakeholders and the theme from the recent reviews that most struck a chord was inadequate policy governance. There was no comprehensive overview or oversight of the issues of housing quality. As a result, some important issues escape policymakers’ attention.
Many stakeholders indicated that the current focus on problems in new buildings is an example of this. Although that’s plainly an issue in need of attention, other problems in existing buildings and more fundamental solutions are being overlooked – such as increasing social and affordable housing supply.
So what are the solutions?
<ul>
<li>Empowering tenants and regulators</li>
</ul>
One way in which the quality of existing housing is regulated is through tenancy laws. This will become more important as rental housing becomes an <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673037.2017.1301400" target="_blank">increasingly common option, particularly for the long term</a>.
Recently, some state governments have amended tenancy laws to specify <a href="https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/housing/renting/beginning-tenancy/minimum-standards" target="_blank">“minimum standards” for rental housing</a>. Our research participants supported these moves, but said security of tenure also had to be improved to protect renters when they assert their rights. The onus of legal enforcement could also be shifted from tenants to regulators.
<ul>
<li>Mandating improvements to overcome the split incentive problem</li>
</ul>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://apo.org.au/node/178481" target="_blank">split incentive problem for housing quality</a> means some landlords are reluctant to pay for upgrades – such as insulation or other energy-efficient features – where tenants are the beneficiaries. As a result, renters, especially those on low incomes, are likely to be <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/159" target="_blank">living in housing of lower standards or quality</a>.
A potential solution is for governments to take the minimum standards approach and legislate energy efficiency and other improvements as mandatory. This is <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-private-rented-property-minimum-standard-landlord-guidance-documents" target="_blank">already commonplace overseas</a>.
One of our workshop participants observed that “energy poverty” was another way of framing the policy issue that had proved compelling in overseas jurisdictions. While this framing had not had the same impact in Australia, <a href="https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/EEC-Survey-online-FINAL-.pdf" target="_blank">this may be changing</a>.
<ul>
<li>Improving transparency of housing standards</li>
</ul>
Social housing providers have a role in leading by example. Increased investment in social housing could contribute to improved quality across the housing system.
To this end, social housing landlords – particularly state and territory public housing authorities – need to be more accountable to tenants and the general public. Transparent reporting on property conditions, maintenance and tenant satisfaction, led by the social housing sector, can and should be rolled out as standard practice across the sector.
To do this, however, <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-to-reboot-affordable-housing-funding-not-scrap-it-72861" target="_blank">enough funding must be provided</a> to reverse <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/may/17/national-obscenity-australias-story-of-housing-boom-and-homelessness" target="_blank">decades-long underfunding</a> in the sector.
Collectively, these options can deliver more equitable housing outcomes, not only to low-income households but to all. The challenge lies in having the political and industry will to act on them.
Edgar Liu, Senior Research Fellow at City Futures Research Centre, UNSW
Chris Martin, Research Fellow, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW
Hazel Easthope, Associate Professor, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW
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/chilly-house-mouldy-rooms-heres-how-to-improve-low-income-renters-access-to-decent-housing-116749" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Chilly house? Mouldy rooms? Here’s how to improve low-income renters’ access to decent housing

<html><body>
Cbus Property has secured a second commercial office project in Brisbane’s CBD in a deal with local developer, Nielson Properties, to develop its 205 North Quay and adjacent 30 Herschel Street properties.
The partners will combine the two properties to create a 3,000 square metre riverfront corner site, with plans to develop it into a circa $600 million A-grade commercial building.
Savills agents Anthony Ott and John McDonald negotiated the transaction.
The new development, to be known as 205 North Quay, presents a landmark opportunity for Cbus Property to bookend its successful 1 William Street, Brisbane commercial project, tenanted by Queensland Government and recently awarded Property Council of Australia’s 2019 Queensland Development of the Year.
205 North Quay will add 50,000 square metres of net lettable area to the Brisbane CBD office market and responds directly to the emergence of the North Quarter precinct which has received record infrastructure investment.
“205 North Quay is a major riverfront CBD site, ideally located to capitalise on the major infrastructure projects nearby such as the recently announced Roma Street Station, Brisbane Metro, Cross River Rail and Brisbane Live,” said Adrian Pozzo, CEO of Cbus Property.
“The economic outlook for Brisbane is strong, with positive employment growth forecast to continue and Queensland’s economic growth also anticipated to continue to outperform the Australian average.
“We will look to build on these strong economic foundations and our past success with 1 William Street, to deliver a premium and future-focused commercial tower for Brisbane’s CBD in collaboration with our partner, Nielson Properties.”
Located in Brisbane’s prime commercial district, the 205 North Quay development will play a significant role in the continued regeneration of the burgeoning North Quarter precinct, which will now also include Mirvac’s 80 Ann Street tower to be tenanted by Suncorp, Shayher Group’s 300 George Street project and the recently completed W Hotel on George Street.
“We are proud to partner with Cbus Property on this landmark riverfront commercial project,” says Ross Nielson, Founder and Managing Director of Nielson Properties.
“As a local Brisbane developer, we’re excited to be a part of the evolution of the North Quarter as it becomes a vibrant hub bolstered by outstanding connectivity to Brisbane’s CBD and premium infrastructure and amenity.”
The tower is expected to be complete by 2023.
</body></html>

Cbus Property locks in $600 million North Quay, Brisbane office project

<html><body>
The office market in Geelong, south west of Melbourne, is approaching its peak, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White.
The market kicked in to gear early last year when the offices of insurer TAC sold for a region record $115 million (pictured above).
It was sold by Impact Investment Group, who set a record when they paid $95.8 million in 2014.
The six level trophy asset was bought by Centuria Property Funds Limited.
Herron Todd White now believe the office market in Geelong is approaching the peak, along with Brisbane and Sydney.
To enlarge the National Office Property Clock, click here.
<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/2019/6/5/Geelong1.jpg" alt="">
The Brougham Street offices of the Transport Accident Commission are located on a 5475 sqm waterfront site.
The record setting sale bred confidence.
Following the sale, a <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-geelong-502580650" target="_blank">Ryrie Street office block</a> sold for $40 million through Savills.
It was sold fully leased to the likes of the State Government and a number of ASX listed and growth industries.
The confidence didn't just breed sales success.
Savills negotiated the lease of a 13,200 sqm Malop Street office to WorkSafe Victoria who moved their head office to the site.
The 14 level A grade office building was only completed in December 2017 having been developed by Quintessential Equity. 
Earlier this year the former Target Head Office at <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/12-14-thompsons-road-geelong-vic-3220-2014720216" target="_blank">12-14 Thompsons Road in North Geelong</a> (pictured below) sold for $10.6 million.
<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/2019/6/5/Target1.jpg" alt="">
It included a large land holding of around 38,000 sqm.
The property has been earmarked for a mixed-use rezone and sold with vacant possession.
Geelong has a number of offices in prime locations currently for sale.
An office block at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-geelong-503199098" target="_blank">49 Mercer Street</a> (pictured below), just one road back from the harbour, has been listed for sale.
<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/2019/6/5/Mercer1.jpg" alt="">
Set on 240 sqm in the Western Wedge zone, the current fitout has six office spaces across its two levels. 
It is currently tenanted by the Australian Red Cross and last traded for $335,000 in 2004. It was last advertised for rent at $55,000 per annum in 2016.
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Geelong offices approaching the peak of market: HTW national office clock

<html><body>
The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, frequently named in the top 10 best luxury resorts in Australia, has been listed for sale for the first time with around $50 million hopes.
Opened in 2005, the owner-operated eco-resort is being offered by billionaire retail giant Gerry Harvey, the executive chairman of Harvey Norman.
Harvey told The Weekend Australian that he believes it's worth between $40 million and $50 million.
“It’s one of our trophy assets like Magic Millions,” Harvey said, calling the asset a 'burden'.
The Broken Head Road property bordering Suffolk Park has 92 suites, a one-hatted restaurant, infinity swimming pool, tennis court, gym, lobby retail shop and a day spa.
It sits in 18 hectare of subtropical rainforest with beachfront access.
<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/2019/6/5/Byron2.jpg" alt="">
CBRE Hotels are marketing the property, having sold the nearby Byron Beach House Hotel for $70 million, the largest pub transaction in Australian history. 
CBRE Hotels agents Wayne Bunz and Andrew Jackson are conducting the international expressions of interest campaign for The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa.
Bunz said that he expected a high level of interest due to the calibre of the property and the high barriers to entry for new accommodation offerings presented by environmental protection laws in the Byron Bay area.
“Acquiring a land parcel and gaining the necessary approvals to build this type of asset in Byron Bay is notoriously difficult, and approvals of this nature may never again be repeated in the area, making this a very exclusive opportunity,” said Mr Bunz.
“After several high-profile clients approached us to find a location in Byron Bay, CBRE Hotels submitted off-market expressions of interest for the Byron at Byron, and subsequently convinced the vendors to take it to a public marketing campaign.” 
  
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Retail billionaire Gerry Harvey lists The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa with $50 million hopes

<html><body>
Private investor Mintus has added another retail asset to its property portfolio, by purchasing the West Gosford Shopping Centre.
The established neighbourhood centre, anchored by Coles/ Liquorland, was sold for $23 million by ISPT/ Coles.
The single level neighbourhood centre at 269-299 Brisbane Water Drive, West Gosford sits on a 17,559sqm site with a Gross Lettable Area of 9,249sqm.
The centre includes a well performing Coles and Liquorland supported by a number of specialty tenants.   
The property was sold off market by Steven Lerche and Andrew Palmer of Savills Australia.
Saville noted the centre is strategically located at the intersection of the Central Coast Highway and Brisbane Water Drive and has significant value add potential.
“This was a rare opportunity to undertake a refurbishment/ redevelopment of a strategically located shopping centre on the Central Coast of NSW," according to Steve Lerche, National Director, Retail Investments at Savills Australia.
“The Central Coast is a thriving and growing catchment and this property is situated at the bottom of the Gosford escarpment and is the first major shopping centre in the region” he said.  
The centre has convenient on grade parking for 210 cars and town planning is Zoned “B2 Local Centre” under the “Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014” with a FSR: 1:1 Height Limit: 11.5 metres.
According to Andrew Palmer, Associate Director, Retail Investments at Savills Australia, Gosford is the third largest urban hub in NSW, strategically located 70kms north of Sydney and 95kms south of Newcastle. 
“The Central Coast is a major population growth area of NSW with a current population estimated at 337,765, AND IS expected to grow to 414,615 by 2036 (over 21% increase). There is also a large trade area catchment population with 16,000 in the MTA” he continued.  
The Gosford City Centre Masterplan 2031 plans to revitalise the city centre and sustainably managing projected growth. 
It aims to help achieve a residential target of an additional 10,000 residents and 6,000 new jobs by 2031.
According to Ben Stewart, Director, Retail and Residential at Mintus West Gosford represents a "fantastic opportunity" for Mintus to redevelop and reinvigorate the precinct to reflect current retail trends and position the asset for strong future growth. 
“We look forward to working with Coles, Council and the public to provide a convenient neighbourhood centre that suits the local area”. 
The Central Coast Council area’s Gross Regional Product was $13.72 billion in the year ending June 2017, growing 1.6% since the previous year. 
The Gosford City population as at 2018 is estimated at 173,593 and is forecast to grow to 189,195 by 2036.
 
</body></html>

Mintus snap up West Gosford Shopping Centre through Savills

<html><body>
The 123-year-old global real estate brand, Stanton Hillier Parker, has announced it will re-open its real estate arm in Australia.
It will be under the guidance of managing partner Eugene Evgenikos who said he was excited to re-launch a real estate brand with a global property legacy, almost 20 years since it was last seen in a real estate agency capacity in Australia. 
“We’ll be focussing on providing our clients with world-class service standards, expert advice and outstanding results underpinned by a passionate, highly-experienced management team,” said Mr Evgenikos, who was at Knight Frank in NSW metropolitan sales.  
“Leveraging our 123-year strong global property legacy, we’ll be creating truly invested partnerships that drive results and help our clients create a property legacy of their own.”  
Stanton Hillier Parker intends to offer commercial sales and transactions, capital markets advice, leasing, asset management, residential project marketing and valuations to private, institutional and government clients. 
The company has opened offices in the Sydney CBD and Mascot with a valuation office in Parramatta.
Stanton Hillier Parker is currently actively sourcing a new office in the Melbourne CBD. 
“Our unique proposition in the market is the opportunity to grow through an equity partnership model – in the same way as Stanton Hillier Parker’s major global real estate agency business started,” he confirmed.  
“Our brand pedigree and international recognition is a platform we will build on in Australia, and we look forward to announcing new offices and partnerships as we grow the platform.”
 new management, offering boutique property advisory services to a diversified range of clients Australia-wide. 
Stanton Hillier Parker was originally formed via the merger of Hillier Parker, first established in 1896 in the United Kingdom, and Stanton &amp; Sons Limited, established by Richard Stanton in Sydney in the late 1800s.  
The company has a rich heritage in Australia, having been responsible for the development of the Sydney suburbs of Rosebery and Haberfield. Richard Stanton was also the founder of the Real Estate Auctioneers and Agents’ Association of New South Wales.  
During the 1970s the company operated around the world, with businesses in Scotland, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.  
 
</body></html>

Stanton Hillier Parker relaunches Australian real estate arm after two-decade absence

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION 
Millennials are less likely to own a home than previous generations were at the same age.<a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/sold-home-sale-real-estate-sign-168053771?src=MyyBDZW8tOfFl2Au5es9xg-1-2"> </a>
It used to be that everyone wanted to buy a home, seeking pleasure and security, as well as the potential for future wealth.
But younger Americans are buying homes far less often than their elders’ generations did, and that puts a large sector of the U.S. economy at risk.
<a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/96221/homeownership_and_the_american_dream_0.pdf" target="_blank">Millennial home ownership levels</a> are dramatically lower than the those of previous generations at a similar age. In 1985, 45.5% of 25- to 34-year-olds owned homes in the U.S. By 2015, this had fallen about 25%.
Since the housing industry currently accounts for <a href="https://www.nahb.org/en/research/housing-economics/housings-economic-impact/housings-contribution-to-gross-domestic-product-gdp.aspx" target="_blank">15% to 18% of the nation’s gross domestic product</a>, any change in established behaviour could have substantial consequences on the larger economy.
<a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBUYZnsAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Researchers like me</a> who are interested in the future of the U.S. economy are faced with some difficult questions about how millennials’ behaviour is changing the housing market.
My recent research suggests that both increases and decreases in home prices can be directly tied to where millennials choose to live. If a long-term behavioural change is afoot, and this generation continues not to buy homes, it will very directly impact GDP.
Homeownership
Research has shown that younger generations <a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/regional-economist/second-quarter-2018/accounting-age-financial-health-millennials" target="_blank">lag behind</a> previous generations in terms of milestones like homeownership and marriage.
One of the assets that set previous generations apart is home equity. In 2001, Gen-Xers held an average of US$130,000 in assets, compared to millennials in 2016 that held almost 31% less.
However, assets attributed to home equity are subject to the whims of the housing market. Just ask anyone <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-guide-to-the-financial-crisis--10-years-later/2018/09/10/114b76ba-af10-11e8-a20b-5f4f84429666_story" target="_blank">still underwater</a> on a home purchased before the financial crisis.
And home equity isn’t just vulnerable to large-scale economic upheavals. In fact, it’s constantly fluctuating.
Age and cost
I analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey from about 800 of the most populous counties in the U.S., or about 85% of the population, in a study that has not yet been published. The data show a rather disconcerting trend.
If no one ever moved from one county to another, almost all counties would gradually grow older in terms of average age.
However, the migration of primarily younger individuals has caused an escalation in this ageing shift. Some areas are ageing much more quickly than expected. In those areas, home prices have been vulnerable to long-term declines.
In other words, the trend of rising or falling home values follows patterns of migration in the U.S.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Omibc/1/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
From 2010 to 2016, counties with ageing populations were about 50% more likely to have experienced a decline in home values than those counties that were becoming “younger.” Not surprisingly, counties that were becoming younger were often experiencing increases in both populations and in the prices of homes.
Two areas that provide an illustration of this are key to the oil and gas industry: the Midland-Odessa area of Texas and Ward County, North Dakota. Both areas have experienced not only a net decrease in the age of residents, but also a net increase in population.
This is far from a rural phenomenon. In Allegheny County, the Pennsylvania county that’s home to Pittsburgh, a similar increase in population has also decreased the average age of its residents.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/lGbVg/1/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
The cost of a home
Millennials’ migration to particular counties has fuelled <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/downloadable-docs/marketpulse/the-marketpulse-vol-8-issue-4-april-2019-screen-041719.pdf" target="_blank">speculative real estate transactions</a>.
In 2018, such transactions are reaching levels just below the pre-crisis highs, accounting for almost 11% of all homes sold last year. The prices are inflated by buyers looking to “flip” houses. This forces younger buyers to compete with the professionals, pushing them out of the markets they are migrating to.
Younger buyers are further frustrated by the cost of what economists refer to as frictions. Frictions include <a href="https://www.realtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RT_0618News.pdf" target="_blank">commissions that average 5% to 6%</a> of the purchase price, myriad inspection and appraisal fees, as well as mortgage and title insurance. All of this runs counter to the transparency and ease of access many millennials have become used to in the modern world.
Since the younger generation is <a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/96221/homeownership_and_the_american_dream_0.pdf" target="_blank">better educated</a>, one might expect significant wage increases to counter some of these frictions. But recent graduates between the ages of 22 and 27 <a href="https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market/college-labor-market_wages" target="_blank">earn about 2% less</a> than their predecessors did in 1990.
If <a href="https://www.multpl.com/case-shiller-home-price-index-inflation-adjusted" target="_blank">home prices</a> had also stayed relatively flat, this likely wouldn’t be an issue. However, from 2000 to the present, average home prices have increased by about 3.8% annually, though this varies dramatically from county to county.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3A5rK/2/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
As urban areas continue to attract more new residents, many young people may need to reassess the true value that home ownership offers. Meanwhile, older generations are likely just becoming aware of the impact of millennial migration on the American dream. If you live in an area that is ageing faster than the natural rate, the probability of your home value decreasing is very real.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/115830/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;">
Jimmie Lenz, Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance, University of South Carolina
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/how-millennials-are-affecting-the-price-of-your-home-115830" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

How millennials are affecting the price of your home: Jimmie Lenz

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Mining accounts for about half of Australia’s exports. In terms of ‘economic complexity’, the nation ranks 59th in the world, between Kazakhstan and Lebanon.
Three years ago, then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull went to an election spruiking the wonders of innovation. “There has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian,” government advertising had enthused in the months before.
But the public wasn’t enthused, and Turnbull’s government barely scraped back into office.
Since then innovation policy has spooked the political class. They see it as a vote loser, and a threat to jobs – mostly their own.
Consequently, innovation and industry policy has received the least attention just when the decline of investment in <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/worrying-trend-in-australian-research-and-development-20180705-p4zpnh" target="_blank">research and development</a> may matter most to our economic future.
<hr>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/274790/original/file-20190516-69182-gyqlpw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/274790/original/file-20190516-69182-gyqlpw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> The red bars show the average intensity of the member states of the OECD and the European Union. Data for Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, and South Africa is from 2015; data for Singapore is from 2014. <a class="source" href="https://www.oecd.org/sti/DataBrief_MSTI_2018.pdf" target="_blank">OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators Database</a>
<hr>
Here’s how we got to where we are.
<h2>A deafening, blinding boom</h2>
After the terms of trade downturn of the 1980s and the economic reforms of the 1990s, Australia enjoyed the biggest, unanticipated mining boom in our history, thanks to the rise of China. John Howard wanted us to be “relaxed and comfortable” and we were, at least while it lasted.
Increased commodity prices boosted our terms of trade, without any extra effort on our part. By contrast with <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/how-australia-got-left-behind-in-manufacturing-and-innovation/6163528" target="_blank">Norway</a>, which prepared for its post-oil future with a 76% resource rent tax and sovereign wealth fund, Australians enjoyed tax cuts and a spending splurge.
However, the underlying structural problem of our economy had not gone away. Measured by the research intensity of our exports, Australia’s “<a href="https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/rankings/country/eci/" target="_blank">economic complexity</a>” ranks at 59, between Kazakhstan and Lebanon.
This index compiled by MIT’s Observatory of Economic Complexity is topped by Japan, Switzerland and Germany. Our position in <a href="https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator" target="_blank">global innovation rankings</a> is no less dismal, especially when it comes to turning ideas into products.
While recent domestic growth has been driven by services, retail and construction, our future living standards will depend on how we pay our way in the world. This means identifying new, more sustainable sources of export income.
Of course, resources will still have a part to play, but not as unprocessed raw materials. For example, we have everything we need for renewable energy production, battery manufacture and hydrogen exports. And how could anyone contemplate continuation of the barbaric live animal trade?
The graphic below shows Australia’s export profile in 2017. Of US$244 billion in total exports, US$131 billion were mineral products.
<hr>
<iframe src="https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/visualize/embed/tree_map/hs92/export/aus/all/show/2017/?controls=false" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="550"></iframe>
<hr>
This rebalancing won’t happen automatically through the market. It will require <a href="https://www.afr.com/brand/chanticleer/no-need-for-any-more-innovation-reviews-20151203-gletj5" target="_blank">active intervention</a> to manage the post-mining boom transition to an inclusive and dynamic knowledge-based economy. And to reverse the slowdown in productivity growth associated with current wage stagnation.
<h2>Too obvious to ignore</h2>
During the boom, high prices for coal and iron ore masked Australia’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-would-it-take-to-raise-australian-productivity-growth-83505" target="_blank">deteriorating productivity performance</a>. Now mining no longer contributes to growth, the impact on our national income has become all too obvious.
That’s why it was so important to Malcolm Turnbull to reinvigorate the <a href="https://www.afr.com/leadership/innovation/malcolm-turnbulls-innovation-lovefest-20151210-glkiwk" target="_blank">national innovation and science agenda</a> with a focus on startups and business-university collaboration, after Tony Abbott’s $3 billion cuts to Labor’s programs.
And why it was then so disappointing he could not build on his agenda for an “ideas boom” to replace the mining boom.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sfCjdToaXwU?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" width="440" height="260"></iframe> Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull launches the National Innovation and Science Agenda in December 2015.
The Coalition government has cycled through three prime ministers and six industry ministers. It continues to cut science and innovation programs. Its latest budget “savings” included $4 billion from the Research and Development Tax Incentive scheme, $3.8 billion from the Education Investment Fund and $2.2 billion from higher education.
As a result, Australia’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/10/australias-spending-on-research-plummets-far-below-oecd-average" target="_blank">total spending on research and development</a> is now just 1.88% of GDP, from 2.11% five years ago. The government contribution (0.57%) is where it was in the 1980s. Meanwhile Japan and Sweden are committing more than 3%, and Korea and Israel more than 4%.
<h2>Small target strategies</h2>
For any mention of innovation and industry policy in the current election campaign, you have to look hard.
The Coalition has confined itself to some low-key announcements on a new space agency, defence innovation, genomics, food, marine science and manufacturing.
It has rejected or parked the recommendations of its own <a href="https://www.afr.com/news/economy/we-still-dont-have-a-joined-up-innovation-and-research-system-20180131-h0r12c" target="_blank">Innovation and Science Australia 2030 strategy</a>, including using any savings from winding back the R&amp;D Tax Incentive to promote high-growth export opportunities.
Labor has committed to a <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2019/05/170-boost-for-RD-Tax-Scheme" target="_blank">“collaboration premium”</a> to encourage business engagement with universities and the CSIRO as part of a restructured R&amp;D Tax Incentive (another key recommendation of the 2030 strategy).
However, it will also “bank” the Coalition’s savings to achieve its budget surplus. In this context, it will be all the more challenging for a new Labor government to achieve its R&amp;D target of 3% of GDP, given that this will require additional investment of at least $20 billion.
In addition, Labor has announced an “off-budget” $1 billion Manufacturing Future Fund and a series of initiatives on renewable technologies, biofabrication, food and fibre, artificial intelligence, blockchain, space, hydrogen, electric vehicles and “digital skills hubs”. In an important symbolic gesture, it has also promised to rescue CSIRO climate science.
These initiatives are clearly worthwhile, but do not restore the funding that has been lost, let alone increase it.
If new policy must be paid for, why not cut expenditure that actually impedes economic transition? The <a href="https://theconversation.com/estimating-the-cost-of-fuel-tax-credits-is-a-tricky-business-62777" target="_blank">diesel fuel tax rebate</a>, for example. This $6 billion scheme, whereby taxpayers subsidise fuel costs for the resources sector, is equivalent to almost half the entire annual budget outlay for research and innovation.
<h2>Weighing the costs</h2>
Most successful economies around the world use “knowledge foresights” to identify national priorities in areas of existing or potential competitive advantage. They have long-term, coherent <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-things-about-innovation-australia-can-learn-from-other-countries-50966" target="_blank">policy frameworks</a> for pursuing these priorities.
Australia’s next government will have a chance to devise such a framework, in cooperation with business, unions and research organisations. Of course, it will require substantial public as well as private investment. But we can no longer afford a “do nothing” approach.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116966/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;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/roy-green-3866" target="_blank">Roy Green</a>, Emeritus Professor &amp; UTS innovation adviser, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936" target="_blank">University of Technology Sydney</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/its-the-only-way-to-save-australia-from-a-deep-hole-but-innovation-policy-is-missing-in-action-116966" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Australian innovation policy is missing in action

<html><body>
 
Coles Group has sold its latest Kedron Centre for $34.24 million, setting a new record as the largest freestanding supermarket sale for Queensland.
Savills national director Peter Tyson negotiated the sale to a Melbourne based investor.
The sales tops the $30.25 million sale of the Coles Pacific Pines in 2017. Last year Coles Alderley sold for $30.2 million.
Savills agents Peter Tyson, Ben Parkinson and Steven Lerche fielded enquiry from local, interstate and offshore buying groups.
“The supermarket’s high-exposure location on the outbound side of Gympie Road, within seven kilometres north of the CBD was a valuable drawcard” Peter Tyson said.
“Coles Kedron’s highly convenient freestanding design differentiates it from larger, less-convenient surrounding shopping centres, ensuring it will remain attractive to shoppers in the long term.”
The 4,092 sqm complex was developed by Coles Group and opened in late 2017. They acquired and consolidated the site over an extended period of time.
It comprises three tenancies, a freestanding 3,915 square metre Coles Supermarket and Liquorland store, plus a Coles Express service station and a café tenancy. 
The centre was fully leased and provided long lease security with a weighted average lease expiry of 14.7 years, underpinned by a 15 year lease to Coles.
 
</body></html>

Kedron Coles sale sets record as the largest freestanding supermarket sale in Queensland

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd">

Latest Investing Insights

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News