A new 25-storey apartment tower proposed for Mercer Street would push Geelong’s western gateway skyline higher, with Morphy Birrell Property Group lodging plans for a project directly beside one of the city’s most significant heritage streetscapes.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">FK</a>-designed development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/65-67-mercer-street-geelong-vic-3220">65-67 Mercer Street</a> has now been referred to Victoria’s Planning Minister. The site sits opposite the Geelong rail corridor and immediately south of the heritage-listed St Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church and Ashby Hall precinct.

Rather than compete with the neighbouring ecclesiastical buildings, the proposal adopts a sculpted podium intended to reference the materiality and scale of the heritage context. Planning documents note the design draws cues from the “dark stone brick” church and surrounding masonry buildings, while the tower above transitions into a softer, curved form oriented toward Corio Bay and the Geelong waterfront.

<img alt="First look: Morphy Birrell Property Group targets 25-storey Geelong tower beside landmark church precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b797d10c-d4a6-47af-b8df-1aeaa3b382be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/public%20square.png?VersionId=QGIpcz1x1hKB6lQLl2iobyHqb6PS2Ztc" />

The development forms “Stage 5” of Morphy Birrell Property Group’s broader Mercer Street precinct strategy, following the completion of the 21-storey Miramar tower on Cavendish Street and several additional approved redevelopment stages nearby. Planning consultants Ratio said the proposal “represents an exemplary development outcome” aligned with the strategic ambitions for Central Geelong’s continued urban renewal.

The mixed-use project would replace an existing low-rise commercial building and surface parking area on the 3,320 sqm corner site. FK’s urban context report describes the proposal as a residential development comprising apartments, resident amenities, commercial space, and integrated landscaping positioned to maximise bay views and northern sunlight access.

Renders show a deeply articulated tower with curved balconies stepping above a lower masonry podium that frames a landscaped forecourt facing Mercer Street. The design intentionally preserves sightlines toward the adjacent church buildings, with the podium scaled to reinforce the heritage edge before the tower recedes upward.

<img alt="First look: Morphy Birrell Property Group targets 25-storey Geelong tower beside landmark church precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2bdca91e-66f7-4ac7-8baa-2f93bd5b564e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/geelong%20site.png?VersionId=QOhbino4ZgzKYw5dW3QE14E.2yq.Sv87" />

The planning report highlights the site’s strategic location within 400 metres of key Geelong destinations including Cunningham Pier, the Geelong Station precinct, Deakin University, and the convention centre. Bus services run directly along Mercer Street, while the Corio Bay foreshore sits around 100 metres north of the site.

The proposal arrives amid accelerating redevelopment across central Geelong, where planning policy continues to encourage higher-density housing close to transport infrastructure and the waterfront. Mercer Street in particular has emerged as a focal point for taller apartment development due to its proximity to Geelong Station, the bay, and major civic infrastructure.

Joel Robinson

Morphy Birrell Property Group targets 25-storey Geelong tower beside landmark church precinct

Development giant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hamton">Hamton</a> and joint venture partner Hostplus have revealed the next residential stage of their $3 billion Moonee Valley Park masterplan, lodging plans for 512 more apartments within the precinct on surplus racecourse land at 110 Wilson Street, Moonee Ponds.

The proposed development, dubbed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/trackside-house-110-wilson-street-moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Trackside Gardens</a>&nbsp;in the planning application, follows the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/first-look-exclusive-hamton-and-hostplus-reveal-sixth-stage-of-moonee-valley-park-masterplan">recent unveiling of the sixth-stage Cox Place Precinct</a> and continues the long-running transformation of the Moonee Valley Racecourse into one of Melbourne’s largest urban renewal projects.

Positioned on the north-eastern edge of the racecourse adjacent to CityLink, Trackside Gardens will comprise three residential buildings rising between 61.8 metres and 86.4 metres within a heavily landscaped precinct shaped by Hamton’s Nature Based Cities framework.

The project forms part of the broader Moonee Valley Park redevelopment being delivered by Hamton, Hostplus and the Moonee Valley Racing Club, which is reshaping the 40-hectare racecourse site into a mixed-use neighbourhood with housing, retail, commercial space, hotels, parkland and community infrastructure.

Trackside Gardens sits separately to the recently proposed Cox Place Precinct, a five-building stage comprising around 1,100 residences, two build-to-rent buildings, two build-to-sell towers, retail, office space, and a hotel overlooking the racetrack. Together, the projects continue to accelerate housing delivery across the precinct.

<img alt="First look: Hamton expands Moonee Valley Park masterplan with 512-home Trackside Gardens precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fc1941e-52d3-41c6-abc4-0f13fe8ae5ea" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/DA%20Edits%20%281%29.png?VersionId=7qwRHq5dcvXWNot2hNOgoQhN2GIWudNK" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a> with landscape architecture by Tract, Trackside Gardens has been conceived as a botanical-style residential precinct prioritising canopy planting, communal green space, and vertical landscaping.

“The architectural vision for the proposed development centres around buildings in a botanical park setting that champions the important role of nature,” the planning submission states.

“The proposal incorporates principles of biophilic design, with landscape and environmentally sustainable development influencing the ultimate design response of the buildings and prioritising the ground plane to ensure a high amenity for both occupants and visitors.”&nbsp;

Trackside Gardens will deliver 512 apartments across the three buildings, alongside 518 basement car spaces and 523 bicycle spaces. Around 20 per cent affordable housing is proposed across the broader North East Precinct, equating to around 158 dwellings.&nbsp;

The affordable housing component will be concentrated within the Wilson East building, while the remaining apartments are expected to be delivered as build-to-sell residences.

Trackside Gardens has been designed around Hamton’s Nature Based Cities initiative, founded by Executive Chair Paul Hameister OAM in partnership with the University of Melbourne, Urbis, Ark Resources and Tract. The initiative promotes integrating higher-density urban development with significant biodiversity, tree canopy and landscape outcomes.

<img alt="First look: Hamton expands Moonee Valley Park masterplan with 512-home Trackside Gardens precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="89353449-7b3c-42fd-8fd8-8bf64a5ef80f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_4.png?VersionId=X8jRt0P2L7fIWjLhfX6gPknXToXIBeLj" />

A comprehensive landscape strategy would introduce deep soil planting, vertical greening, communal gardens, and new pedestrian links throughout the site.

Planning documents state the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star Buildings rating, a 7.5-star average NatHERS rating, and “Exemplary” Nature Based Cities certification.&nbsp;

The proposal joins an expanding pipeline of approved and proposed buildings within Moonee Valley Park, including the recently launched Eveline apartments and the approved Grandstand North and South towers.

Hamton has increasingly focused on precinct-scale, nature-led communities across Melbourne’s middle-ring suburbs, with projects spanning Hawthorn, Kew, and Moonee Ponds.

Hampton unveils Trackside Gardens, latest stage of $3 billion Moonee Valley Park masterplan

The Paul Gedoun-led <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Group</a> has achieved another milestone in its $1 billion transformation of Rainbow Bay on the southern Gold Coast with the completion of the company’s third project in four years, the $160 million <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a> residences.

Delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a> and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker Architects</a>, Esprit buyers have now moved into the 94 apartments across two interconnected buildings at 217-227 Boundary Street.

The successful settlement of Esprit marks another astounding chapter in the S&amp;S story, which launched its highly successful Flow apartments three years ago and created its own ultra-luxury branded fingerprint on an area craving new luxury residences.

Most early purchasers have secured gains of well over $1 million since the project launched in 2021.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102921 project_image_fid=172129]

S&amp;S Projects Founding Director Paul Gedoun said the completion of Esprit reflects sustained demand for premium apartments in tightly held coastal locations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
“Esprit has attracted buyers seeking a combination of quality design, considered amenity and a location that is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate,” said Gedoun.

“We identified some years ago that Rainbow Bay is a unique market where supply of luxury residences is limited, and we see the settlements in Esprit further underpinning this thinking - that for both owner-occupiers and investors.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102921 project_image_fid=172174]

A key feature of the development is ‘Club Esprit’, a 1,000sqm residents-only rooftop level combining wellness and recreation, believed to be a first for the Gold Coast, and which is fast becoming a signature of the S&amp;S brand.

Positioned to capture views across Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay and the Tweed River, the rooftop includes a 25-metre lap pool, gym, yoga lawn, sauna and steam facilities, ice bath, private dining spaces, outdoor cinema and landscaped areas for residents.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a> Director Jayde Pezet, who led the sales campaign for Esprit and S&amp;S’s Flow and Awaken apartments, said the project’s performance reflects both the strength of the product and the depth of demand for premium apartments on the southern Gold Coast.&nbsp;

“In some cases, we’ve seen values double since launch, which is a clear reflection of how tightly held Rainbow Bay has become and the level of demand for well-executed projects in this market,” said Pezet.&nbsp;

“Buyers recognised early what S&amp;S Projects was delivering here, and that conviction has been rewarded as the project has progressed towards completion.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102921 project_image_fid=214819]

Esprit offers a mix of two- three and four-bedroom apartments and sits within walking distance of the beachfront, cafés and local amenities, reinforcing its appeal as both a lifestyle and investment destination.

The project is the third completed by S&amp;S Projects in Rainbow Bay, following Flow Residences and Awaken Residences, which together have contributed to the suburb’s emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after coastal pockets. &nbsp;

S&amp;S Projects is continuing its investment in the area with Radia, a $215 million development currently under construction.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102921 project_image_fid=172175]

Gedoun said the completion of Esprit signals continued confidence in the southern Gold Coast market.&nbsp;

“We’ve seen strong interest in well-located, high-quality apartments, particularly in areas where future development opportunities are limited."

“That’s been a key factor in the performance of Esprit and the broader Rainbow Bay market”.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102921]

Owners move in as Esprit completes at Rainbow Bay

Few developers can boast a portfolio across South East Queensland's luxury markets quite like <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic Property Group</a>.

The builder-developer, founded in 2004 by Managing Director Brook Monahan, has projects in planning, on the market, and under construction, from Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach to Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane.

With a pipeline exceeding $2 billion, Mosaic remains highly selective when it comes to development sites, having spent years refining its strategy around feasibility research and product planning. The group is set to continue growing into 2026 and beyond.

In Brisbane, Mosaic currently has three projects in the market. It is in the final release stage at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford</a> in Kangaroo Point, which is approaching complete sellout ahead of its late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134792 project_image_fid=328123]

Designed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, The Bedford comprises 128 two- and three-bedroom residences. A selection of ultra-luxury Masterpiece Series Skyhomes, positioned across the top levels, offer expansive floor plans and sweeping views of the river and city.

High-end inclusions, such as natural stone benchtops, bespoke cabinetry, and Miele appliances, feature throughout all apartments, alongside the Rooftop Recreation &amp; Retreat Sky Terrace. This includes a resort-style pool with sun deck and loungers, spa, cold plunge pool, sauna, steam room, private dining room with a full kitchen, residents' lounge, multiple barbeque and relaxation zones, an outdoor viewing deck, and landscaped gardens with water features, all oriented to sweeping city and river views.

A gym with indoor and outdoor zones, and a golf simulator, further enhances recreational choice within the building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134792 project_image_fid=328119]

A defining feature of the development is its integrated mixed-use component, which will deliver Kangaroo Point's first major supermarket, alongside a café and liquor store, bringing long-awaited convenience to the peninsula.

Monahan says The Bedford represents the culmination of a near-decade-long journey, after first identifying the A-grade Prospect Street site in 2016. While they came close to acquiring it at the time, the site was ultimately purchased by Woolworths' development arm, Fabcot. The opportunity resurfaced in 2024 when the site, vacant for nearly three decades, was brought back to market.

Monahan says Mosaic projects often begin years before any formal plans are drawn. Their new South Brisbane development is no exception, with the site first earmarked in 2018.

"We aren't opportunistic," Monahan says. "Every site purchase is carefully considered. As seen with Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane, it can take years to eventuate. There are sites we're looking at now that we may not secure for several years."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141711 project_image_fid=353495]

A similar story unfolded at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a> in Kangaroo Point, opposite The Gabba. Like The Bedford, it is also approaching sellout of its 125 two- and three-bedroom apartments. The majority of sales are attributed to returning customers and referrals, with a balanced mix of investors and a strong majority of owner-occupiers.

BDA Architecture was again engaged to design the 22-storey building, which will feature a suite of wellness and lifestyle amenities, including a golf simulator and cinema, a commercial-grade gym, and a rooftop recreation level with a pool, steam room, sauna, cold plunge, teppanyaki bar, private dining spaces, and landscaped terraces.

Construction is on track for completion in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=362759]

Mosaic's latest offering is its most ambitious yet, boasting a rare, north-facing riverfront position on Montague Road in South Brisbane.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-riversdale-by-mosaic-south-brisbane-91-montague-road-south-brisbane-qld-4101">The Riversdale by Mosaic</a> is a 39-storey tower comprising just over 200 residences and Masterpiece Series Sky Homes. Designed in partnership with Bureau Proberts, it will feature nearly 3,000 sqm of genuine, internationally benchmarked six-star, hotel-style amenities, including a wellness precinct, pool, gym, massage and treatment rooms, cinema, golf simulator, and extensive outdoor dining areas across a two-level rooftop deck.

Early works are underway, with full construction expected to commence in the second half of 2026, and an anticipated late 2029 completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=362759]

Since 2012 alone, Mosaic has completed more than $2 billion in projects and is set to deliver another $2 billion worth of developments, comprising hundreds of luxury apartments, each defined by Mosaic's signature standards of quality, detail, and delivery.

"We never arrive, there is no finish line," says Monahan. "Our ambition is to keep evolving what luxury means, creating design- and lifestyle-led residences in incredible locations, places people genuinely aspire to and want to live, homes that are loved deeply and endure long beyond their moment."

Mosaic's Midas Touch

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> (Urban) has broken ground at Keira Place, its new major mixed-use residential precinct in the heart of Wollongong CBD.

Held at 120-122 Smith Street, the groundbreaking marked the commencement of construction on Stage 1 of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/keira-place-120-122-smith-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Keira Place</a>, with the opening of the new display suite. 
&nbsp; 
Keira Place is a State Significant Development that will deliver new housing supply, affordable homes and inclusive living options within walking distance of Wollongong’s CBD, coastline, transport, hospital and education precincts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144442 project_image_fid=369868] 
&nbsp; 
Stage 1 is now under construction and will deliver 150 apartments across two residential buildings, including 27 affordable housing apartments and 18 specialist disability accommodation dwellings, along with activated ground-floor retail and commercial space. 
&nbsp; 
Urban Co-CEO Patrick Elias said the groundbreaking represented a significant milestone for Wollongong and reflected Urban’s long-term commitment to regional cities.

“Today’s groundbreaking is about turning approvals into homes and moving quickly to deliver much-needed housing in Wollongong’s city centre,” Elias said. 
&nbsp; 
“Keira Place will provide a diverse mix of homes close to jobs, transport and services, while setting a high benchmark for quality, durability and consumer protection.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144442 project_image_fid=369869] 
&nbsp; 
Hon. Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Member for Wollongong said Keira Place is exactly the kind of development Wollongong needs – delivering new homes close to transport, employment and services, while supporting the continued growth and renewal of the CBD.

"This project reflects the Minns Labor Government's commitment to increasing housing supply in well-located areas." 
&nbsp; 
Wollongong Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown said Keira Place would deliver lasting community benefits for the city. 
&nbsp; 
"Keira Place is a welcome addition to Wollongong's CBD delivering new housing, affordable homes and activated street-level spaces that will benefit our community for years to come," Brown said. 
&nbsp; 
"Urban Property Group's investment reflects the confidence that quality developers have in Wollongong's future, and I look forward to seeing this precinct come to life."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144442 project_image_fid=369867] 
&nbsp; 
Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a>, with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/dko">DKO,</a> Keira Place prioritises liveability and long-term performance, with landscaped shared spaces, generous apartment layouts and a pedestrian-friendly streetscape along Smith Street. 
&nbsp; 
Residents will have access to landscaped podium areas, communal rooftop amenities with views to Mount Keira and the Wollongong skyline, and convenient ground-level retail.

The development will have 10-year Latent Defects Insurance by Resilience Insurance.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144442]

Groundbreaking marks start of construction at Keira Place in Wollongong CBD

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>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Urgent and radical change in urban transport policies and practices will benefit the planet and future generations.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently warned that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/how-the-un-climate-panel-ipcc-got-to-15c-threshold-timeline" target="_blank">global warming could reach 1.5℃ as early as 2030</a>. The landmark <a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/">report</a> by leading scientists urged nations to do more to avert an impending crisis.
<a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/10/8/17948832/climate-change-global-warming-un-ipcc-report" target="_blank">We have 12 years</a>, the report said, to contain greenhouse gas emissions. This includes serious efforts to reduce transport emissions. 
In Australia, transport is the <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/transport-fact-sheet/" target="_blank">third-largest source of greenhouse gases</a>, accounting for around <a href="/news">17% of emissions</a>. Passenger cars account for <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/transport-fact-sheet/" target="_blank">around half of our transport emissions</a>.
The transport sector is also one of the strongest factors in emissions growth in Australia. Emissions from transport have <a href="/news">increased nearly 60% since 1990</a> – <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/transport-fact-sheet/" target="_blank">more than any other sector</a>. Australia is ranked <a href="https://aceee.org/research-report/i1801" target="_blank">20th out of 25 of the largest energy-using countries for transport energy efficiency</a>.
Cities around the world have many opportunities to reduce emissions. But this requires renewed thinking and real commitment to change.
Our planet can’t survive our old transport habits
Past (and still current) practices in <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-infrastructure-plan-has-some-way-to-go-to-give-our-cities-what-they-need-54954" target="_blank">urban and transport planning</a> are fundamental causes of the transport problems we face today.
Over the past half-century, cities worldwide have <a href="https://theconversation.com/density-sprawl-growth-how-australian-cities-have-changed-in-the-last-30-years-65870" target="_blank">grown rapidly, leading to urban sprawl</a>. The result was high demand for motorised transport and, in turn, increased emissions.
The traffic gridlock on roads and motorways was the catalyst for most transport policy responses during that period. The solution prescribed for most cities was to <a href="https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-traffic-we-need-a-smarter-approach-to-congestion-than-building-more-roads-84774" target="_blank">build out of congestion by providing more infrastructure for private vehicles</a>. Limited attention was given to <a href="https://theconversation.com/on-the-road-research-can-improve-transport-across-australia-43643" target="_blank">managing travel demand</a> or improving other modes of transport.
Equating mobility with building more roads nurtured a tendency towards increased motorisation, reinforcing an ever-increasing inclination to expand the road network. The result was a range of unintended adverse <a href="http://www.oecd.org/economy/rethinking-urban-sprawl-9789264189881-en.htm" target="_blank">environmental, social and economic consequences</a>. Most of these are rooted in the high priority given to private vehicles.
What are the opportunities to change?
The various strategies to move our cities in the right direction can be grouped into four broad categories: avoid, shift, share, and improve. Major policy, behaviour and technology changes are required to make these strategies work.
Avoid strategies aim to slow the growth of travel. They include initiatives to reduce trip lengths, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/higher-density-and-diversity-apartments-are-australia-at-its-most-multicultural-97176" target="_blank">high-density</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-place-to-live-work-and-play-why-mixed-use-developments-are-making-a-comeback-73142" target="_blank">mixed land use developments</a>. Other options decrease private vehicle travel – for example, through car/ride sharing and <a href="https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/12/how-to-fix-traffic-congestion-in-australia/" target="_blank">congestion pricing</a>. And <a href="https://theconversation.com/go-forth-and-telework-but-will-it-work-for-you-10682" target="_blank">teleworking</a> and e-commerce help people avoid private car trips altogether.
Shanghai’s Hongqiao transport hub is a unique example of an <a href="https://uic.org/cdrom/2013/nextstation/doc/proceedings/3Ajianping.pdf" target="_blank">integrated air, rail and mixed land use development</a>. It combines Hongqiao’s airport, metro subway lines, and regional high-speed rail. A low-carbon residential and commercial <a href="https://www.usgbc.org/articles/building-shanghai-tomorrow-hongqiao-cbds-low-carbon-transportation-hub">precinct</a> surrounds the hub.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/246775/original/file-20181122-161609-x8oxhj.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/246775/original/file-20181122-161609-x8oxhj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Layout of Shanghai Hongqiao integrated transport hub.<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Layout-of-Shanghai-hongqiao-integrated-transport-hub-SHITH_fig1_309453749"> </a>
Shift strategies encourage travellers to switch from private vehicles to public transport, walking and cycling. This includes improving bus routes and service frequency.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-traffic-we-need-a-smarter-approach-to-congestion-than-building-more-roads-84774" target="_blank">Pricing strategies</a> that discourage private vehicles and encourage other modes of transport <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jonas_eliasson_how_to_solve_traffic_jams" target="_blank">can also be effective</a>. Policies that include <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jul/02/norway-electric-cars-subsidies-fossil-fuel" target="_blank">incentives</a> that make electric vehicles more affordable have been shown to encourage the shift.
Norway is an undisputed world leader in electric vehicle uptake. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/25/norway-leads-way-electric-cars-green-taxation-shift" target="_blank">Nearly a third of all new cars sold in 2017 were a plug-in model</a>. The electric vehicle market share was expected to be as much as 40% within a year.
An electric vehicle charging station in the Norwegian capital Oslo. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/electric-car-charging-station-oslo-eco-670494520?irgwc=1&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=TinEye&amp;utm_source=77643&amp;utm_term="> </a>
Share strategies affect car ownership. New sharing economy businesses are already moving people, goods and services. Shared mobility, rather than car ownership, is providing city dwellers with a real alternative.
This trend is likely to continue and will pose significant challenges to car ownership models.
Uber claims that its <a href="https://www.uber.com/en-IN/blog/mumbai/onestepforward-with-uberpool/" target="_blank">carpooling service in Mumbai</a> saved 936,000 litres of fuel and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2,662 metric tonnes within one year. It also reports that <a href="http://www.cityam.com/242760/uber-reveals-london-ride-sharing-figures-for-uberpool" target="_blank">UberPool in London</a> achieved a reduction of more than 1.1 million driving kilometres in just six months.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/244778/original/file-20181109-35554-ym7dj5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
UberPool is available in inner Melbourne suburbs. Trip must begin and end in this area.
Improve strategies promote the use of technologies to optimise performance of transport modes and <a href="https://theconversation.com/intelligent-infrastructure-when-roads-and-vehicles-talk-to-each-other-7865" target="_blank">intelligent infrastructure</a>. These include <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/03/why-our-cities-need-smart-transport/" target="_blank">intelligent transport systems</a>, urban information technologies and emerging solutions such as <a href="https://www.itf-oecd.org/files/urban-mobility-system-upgrade" target="_blank">autonomous mobility</a>.
Our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23249935.2018.1528485?journalCode=ttra21" target="_blank">research</a> shows that sharing 80% of autonomous vehicles will reduce net emissions by up to 20%. The benefits increase with wider adoption of autonomous shared electric vehicles.
Autonomous vehicles can offer first- and last-kilometre solutions, especially in outer suburbs with limited public transport services. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/iot-smart-automotive-driverless-car-artificial-794528215?irgwc=1&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=TinEye&amp;utm_source=77643&amp;utm_term="> </a>
The urgency and benefits of steering our cities towards a path of low-carbon mobility are unmistakable. This was recognised in the past but progress has been slow. Today, the changing context for how we build future cities – smart, healthy and low-carbon – presents new opportunities.
If well planned and implemented, these four interventions will collectively achieve transport emission reduction targets. They will also improve access to the jobs and opportunities that are preconditions for sound economic development in cities around the world.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/106076/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hussein-dia-110689" target="_blank">Hussein Dia</a>, Chair, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767" target="_blank">Swinburne University of Technology</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/four-ways-our-cities-can-cut-transport-emissions-in-a-hurry-avoid-shift-share-and-improve-106076" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Four ways our cities can cut transport emissions in a hurry

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Strong trading has prompted healthy food purveyors and café Cocomamas to expand into a nearby bigger space within its home suburb of Elsternwick.
It will move around the corner to an 80sqm space on busy Glen Huntly Road following a deal negotiated by Fitzroys agent Jordan Ceppi, following a high level of demand for the space from hospitality operators.
Ceppi negotiated the 4x4-year deal for <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-elsternwick-502917398" target="_blank">341 Glen Huntly Road</a> at $55,000 per annum on behalf of a private investor.
“Cocomamas will move from their smaller premises of 20sqm that has served them well in their formative period, and their strong performance has prompted the operators to take the next step in its journey,” Ceppi said.
Ceppi said the precinct’s offering of national and well regarded local tenants and operators had benefited from numerous mixed use developments recently completed and in various stages of planning, bolstering the immediate residential catchment.
“Glen Huntly Road has developed an attractive lifestyle and hospitality offering, bringing people to the precinct across all hours,” he said.
“A large proportion of Melbourne’s rapid population growth is being accommodated in the inner- and middle-suburban retail strips, generating sustained local demand for hospitality and retail services in particular.”
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Cocomamas cafe expands in Elsternwick

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EXPERT OBSERVER 
Our quarterly surveys of sales activity always reveal key trends and the latest shows just how many growth markets we have in the different markets across Australia.
The smaller capital cities and in particular regional Australian are providing some compelling growth areas which provide an attractive combination of affordable prices and solid rental yields, compared to the now-fading markets in the biggest cities.
Here are four key findings from the new edition of The Price Predictor Index:-
1. Adelaide Is the Unsung Hero
Hotspotting’s latest survey confirms that Adelaide is the standout market in capital city Australia and is largely an unheralded star – although we note the latest report from realestate.com.au which lists Adelaide alongside Hobart as the fastest-selling markets in the country. 
Adelaide seems destined to always fly under the radar screen of national media, but it has a noteworthy property market. 
We reported in the previous edition that Adelaide had become the nation’s leading market jurisdiction, with 61 suburbs with rising sales activity. Our new survey reveals Adelaide has improved further and now has 71 growth suburbs. 
The next best city is the recovering Perth market, which has 49 (up from 45 in the winter survey). Canberra is also travelling well, with a solid (relative to its size) 22 upwardly-mobile suburbs. 
Brisbane remains lukewarm, but with promise of better things, and Hobart, which is currently the leading city on price growth, looks to have passed the peak of its up-cycle. 
Darwin remains mired in its downturn. As noted in previous reports, Sydney and Melbourne are well past their peaks and have few growth markets.
2. Regional Markets Out-do Their Capital Cities
Regional areas continue to out-perform their capital cities in the eastern states. 
Regional NSW is the only serious challenger to Adelaide as the market jurisdiction with the most rising markets and now has considerably more growth markets than Sydney. 
Regional Victoria is also pumping and is out-performing the fading Melbourne market. 
Regional Queensland is out-doing Brisbane, which is yet to fire. And Regional Tasmania is raging in the wake of Hobart’s mini-boom. 
This is also being reflected in price performance. The strongest price growth in the past 12 months has occurred in selected Regional Victoria markets, while Regional NSW has multiple precincts where double-digit annual price growth has been recorded. 
The strongest market in Queensland is the Sunshine Coast and we are seeing a return to solid price growth in recovering Central Queensland markets like Mackay. A recent REIQ report confirmed that Regional Queensland was out-doing Brisbane on price uplift and a CoreLogic analysis in November listed Regional Tasmania as a national leader on price growth.
3. Price Patterns Confirm The Importance Of Demand Data
Price performance around Australia in the past 12 months has emphatically confirmed the basic premise of The Price Predictor Index: that increases in sales volumes (buyer demand) in a location leads to price growth, but with a time lag. 
The time lag factor often means that price uplift continues for a considerable time after sales activity has started to taper off. 
Right now, many of the locations around Australia with the biggest price growth are what we classify as “plateau” markets – places where sales activity has passed its peak and tapered off at still-solid levels a little below the peak. 
A prime example is provided by the outer ring suburbs of Melbourne, where sales were previously rising strongly and have now tapered off – but prices are still rising. This is true for suburbs in the Whittlesea, Hume, Casey and Wyndham LGAs, where most suburbs have recorded growth above 10% in the past 12 months, including many which have recently topped 20% growth. 
This is also true for the suburbs of Greater Geelong and other areas just outside Melbourne, including Pakenham, Officer and Warragul in the south-east. New South Wales examples include the Central Coast and the City of Newcastle.
4. Big City Prices Stronger Than Media Suggests
Mainstream media is over-stating price decline in our two biggest cities, partly caused by dodgy data and analysis from some of the research companies and partly through the ineptitude of economists, who pontificate on subjects beyond their area of expertise, notably residential property markets. 
Our detailed analysis of recent activity in Sydney and Melbourne has found evidence of price decline in some markets, but not the wholesale large decreases claimed in daily newspaper reporting. 
In our analysis of Melbourne we say this: “A feature of Melbourne is the number of locations where prices remain strong … Our survey has found over 100 suburbs across the metropolitan area where median prices have recorded double-digit growth in annual terms, including 85 where prices have risen further in the most recent quarter. This finding contradicts media coverage, which suggests prices are falling across the Melbourne metropolitan area. The general theme, based on our survey, is that the top end suburbs are experiencing price decline, the middle market areas are holding firm on pricing and the cheaper areas are still rising.” 
Prices are weaker in Sydney, but we can find few locations with sufficient decline to justify claims that Sydney prices are down 8% in annual terms (CoreLogic figures). Few individual suburbs have fallen that much, as yet.
And I note that the latest figures from other research sources, including SQM Research, Domain and the ABS, record Sydney’s price decline in smaller numbers. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Four standout trends in the end of 2018 Australian property markets: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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Global mens health charity Movember Foundation has called on CCWS Interiors to fit out the London HQ for the second time.
The HQ, in the creative district of Farringdon, is set among art galleries and a thriving entertaining precinct with bars and restaurants.
 The 555 sqm space is the hub for the Movember workforce to collaborate, initiate and implement its objective to bring men's health to the forefront of public conversation.
<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/2018/11/27/Mov1.jpg" alt="">
CCWS Interiors' David Keane and Amy Elliott headed up the project.
They were tasked with transforming the open-plan office into an inspirational environment that reflected the ethos and brand identity of the organisation.
The brief was to upgrade the office design and create an environment that better matched the people, brand and culture behind Movember.
<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/2018/11/27/Mov3.jpg" alt="">
 
Providing a base for both local and visiting international teams, the newly-configured office needed to easily ‘expand-and-contract’ as required during busy campaign periods. 
Over a six-week period, CCWS delivered flexible workspaces, hot desks and hot-booth-meeting areas to encourage collaboration and introduce both formal and flexible productivity areas. 
The traditional concept of ‘one desk, one employee’ was thrown out in favour of this interactive co-working model, whilst also catering to introspective work styles with semi-enclosed booths.
<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/2018/11/27/Mov4.jpg" alt="">
 
When looking to the interior aesthetics, the refit was characterised by industrial design elements, seen in the use of rustic wood cladding and exposed metal fixtures, alongside playful detailing throughout and the company’s signature ‘moustache’ symbol displayed with pride.
When adding the final touches to the Movember office design, David and Amy collaborated with the Movember team to introduce some famous moustache owners to the office décor; fancy a catch up in the Chaplin, Mercury or Einstein room?
 
 
 
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Movember Foundation gets new London HQ office fitout

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Dramatically changing property markets have seen a new breed of commercial building chameleons across Melbourne, with plans to turn offices into apartments being abandoned in favor of returning to office space.
According to CBRE national director of investments Mark Wizel, while the long term prospects for large scale residential projects remain positive, Melbourne’s booming office market has made office development the compelling shorter term alternative.
"Residential is in a cyclic downturn but make no mistake it will recover as Melbourne’s population continues to outpace the rest of Australia’s capitals, however currently the case for office development is extremely good with solid rental growth, reducing incentives, and vacancy, at 3.6 per cent, at its lowest point in a decade," Wizel said.
"We are also talking about delivering new office stock into not only Australia’s fastest growing city but also the best performing economy nationally.
"That augurs well for continued growth in the market as the economy drives jobs growth and increasing demand for office space,’’ Wizel said.
According to the latest ABS data, Victoria’s annual growth in trend employment stood at 2.6 per cent with 30.5 per cent of the 20,300 average monthly increase in employed full-time persons nationally over the past 25 months. At September the unemployment rate stood at 4.5 per cent, the lowest rate in seven years. 
Wizel said Melbourne’s cheaper office rents, more affordable housing and generally lower cost of living, was also attracting office tenants away from the Sydney market. 
"The attraction to set up in Melbourne has always been there but there is no doubt that Sydney’s eye-watering cost of housing, in particular, is arguably having a greater impact than has hitherto been the case.   
"As a consequence of a number factors the demand for office development sites in the last couple of months has been off the charts and, with the current shortage of available sites, land values are really under pressure especially for well-located sites where a reasonable size floor plate can be achieved,’’ Wizel added.
He said he expected the office development site market to continue to tighten into the new year as work began and continued on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in Victoria’s history including the $16 billion North East Link and the $11 billion Metro Tunnel projects.
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Offices to apartments back to offices: The changing property landscape in Melbourne

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In 2017/18, real economic output grew by 2.8% nationally, accelerating from 2.3% in 2016/17, according to the latest State by State Growth Report from Westpac.
The NSW economy performed over the past four years with output growth averaging an above trend 3.1% - the strongest four year performance for the state since the late 1990s.
The report found: "output growth was 2.8% in 2014/15, surging to 4.0% in 2015/16 and then moderating to 3.1% in 2016/17 and 2.6% in 2017/18 particularly as housing has become less supportive."
By industry, agriculture, real estate and professional services led the growth moderation in 2017/18.
Construction added a 0.4ppts to growth with broad strength as investment responded to the growing needs of a rising population.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/WESTPAC%20NSW.JPG" alt="">
The Victorian economy has been performing strongly, in particular, driven by a population boom.
Output growth was 3.5% in 2017/18, matching the average for the past four years but down from on last year.
Andrew Hanlan, the report author, noted: "State demand grew to 4.7% in 2017/18, up from 4.2%, the fastest pace in a decade.
"On a per capita basis, output grew by 1.2% in 2017/18, in line with the national average.
"Construction remained a key growth driver."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/WESTPAC%20NSW%202.JPG" alt="">
In Western Australia output bounced back from a 1.8% decline this year to grow by 1.9% this year.
The construction sector added 0.2ppts to activity in 2017/18, a turnaround from a 2.6ppts drag in 2016/17.
Mining output was a key growth driver, adding 0.8ppts, with new capacity coming on stream, according to the report.
"Consumer related sectors were subdued, significantly underperforming gains across the rest of the country as household incomes remained under pressure," Hanlan said.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/WESTPAC%20NSW%204.JPG" alt="">
The Queensland economy grew 3.4%, the strongest levels since 2011/12.
Construction added 0.4ppts to activity, a turnaround from a -0.1ppts impact in 2016/17 and from the sharp negatives in 2014/15 and 2015/16.
"srowth was broadly based across a range of business sectors, indicative of an improvement in underlying conditions," Hanlan said. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/WESTPAC%20NSW%203.JPG" alt="">
The South Australian economy expanded by 2.0%, slightly reduced on last year's 2.4% but in line with the long term average.
This is an improvement on the previous six years, when growth averaged just 0.9%.
Andrew Hanlan found: "the health sector added an exceptional 0.8ppts to activity, well above the national average (0.4ppts) boosted by the progressive roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
"Construction advanced, +0.3ppts, after three years of modest negatives, with home building and business investment expanding," he added.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/WESTPAC%20NSW%205.JPG" alt="">
The 2017/18 year was a standout for Tasmania, with output growth of 3.3%, a doubling of the 1.5% rise in 2016/17 and the strongest post GFC result in a decade.
"Per capita output growth of 2.3% in 2017/18 was the envy of all other states," stated Hanlan.
"State final demand grew by 4.1% in the year, with broad based strength across the consumer, housing, business investment and public demand."
The health sector was a key growth driver, +0.7ppts.
Of the 19 broad industries, none were a drag on activity in 2017/18 - a relatively rare outcome, Hanlan said.
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How each state economy is performing: Westpac

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The Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre in Melbourne has been sold for $178 million.
A new joint venture between Elanor Investors Group, global firm Heitman and domestic institutional and wholesale capital partners were behind the purchase.
The 39,554 square metre sub-regional shopping centre is on a 106,000 square metre site 25 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD.
Major tenants account for 56% of total gross lettable area and it is anchored by Woolworths, Coles and ALDI supermarkets, as well as two discount department stores.
The sale was negotiated  by JLL’s Head of Retail Investments for Australasia, Simon Rooney, on behalf of Blackstone.
 “Sub-regional assets continue to appeal to yield-driven investors given the compression in yields in other retail sub-sectors and across other real estate sectors,” said Mr Rooney.
“We continue to see demand for retail assets where investors can progressively add value and drive enhanced returns, either via intensive asset management and/or development.
“Waverley Gardens offers an attractive and secure income return and provides future mixed-use development potential, given the extensive land parcel of 106,000 square metres.
“Investors are attracted to the high population growth in Victoria which is currently running at 2.2% per annum, now the strongest nationally.
“The state provides sound investment fundamentals with the economy underpinned by broad-based growth driven by strong growth in household consumption, tourism, infrastructure spending and business investment.
“Opportunities to acquire sub-regional centres in 2017 were limited, with sub-regional transaction activity falling to $1.1 billion, less than half the $2.3 billion (per annum) which sold between 2013 and 2016 – reflecting the volume and scale of portfolio sales in prior years.
“We have seen $1.3 billion transact in the year to date.”
The Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre in Melbourne has been sold for $178 million.
A new joint venture between Elanor Investors Group, global firm Heitman and domestic institutional and wholesale capital partners were behind the purchase.
The 39,554 square metre sub-regional shopping centre is on a 106,000 square metre site 25 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD. 
Major tenants account for 56% of total gross lettable area and it is anchored by Woolworths, Coles and ALDI supermarkets, as well as two discount department stores.
The sale was negotiated  by JLL’s Head of Retail Investments for Australasia, Simon Rooney, on behalf of Blackstone.
 “Sub-<a name="_GoBack" href=""></a>regional assets continue to appeal to yield-driven investors given the compression in yields in other retail sub-sectors and across other real estate sectors,” said Mr Rooney.
“We continue to see demand for retail assets where investors can progressively add value and drive enhanced returns, either via intensive asset management and/or development.
“Waverley Gardens offers an attractive and secure income return and provides future mixed-use development potential, given the extensive land parcel of 106,000 square metres. 
“Investors are attracted to the high population growth in Victoria which is currently running at 2.2% per annum, now the strongest nationally. 
“The state provides sound investment fundamentals with the economy underpinned by broad-based growth driven by strong growth in household consumption, tourism, infrastructure spending and business investment.
“Opportunities to acquire sub-regional centres in 2017 were limited, with sub-regional transaction activity falling to $1.1 billion, less than half the $2.3 billion (per annum) which sold between 2013 and 2016 – reflecting the volume and scale of portfolio sales in prior years.
“We have seen $1.3 billion transact in the year to date.”
 
 
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Joint investment venture snaps up Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre

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A 50 year old suburban Melbourne drive-in theatre - one of the last - has been sold for around $12.5 million, exceeding its price expectations of $11 million-plus.
Coburg Drive-In located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-vic-coburg+north-502955310" target="_blank">155 Newlands Road, Coburg North</a> is a 8.16ha site.
The owner of the drive-in — Village Roadshow Theatres Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the ASX-listed Village Roadshow Limited — will lease it back for an initial 10-year term on a triple-net basis.
It has been bought by Charter Hall.
The site was marketed as "the last essentially undeveloped parcel of significant scale in Melbourne’s inner north.”
Located on Newlands Road, Coburg North, the drive-in has been operating since 1965 and has three screens — one each on the south-western, north-western and north-eastern points of the site.
At 33m wide each and overlooking an asphalt viewing area of 36,000sqm, the screens are up for debate as the biggest in the southern hemisphere.
<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/2018/9/14/Coburg%202.jpg" alt="">
A single-level retro-style diner and children’s playground are located centrally and the drive-in's ticket booth — topped by an old yellow Holden — is a local landmark.
Victorian Heritage describes it as “one of three (drive-ins) that remain in operation in Victoria out of approximately 60 at the height of drive-in popularity”.
 
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1960s suburban Melbourne, Coburg drive-in theatre sold for $12.5 million

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The recently refurbished ISPT foyer at 100 Creek Street has brought Brisbane’s subtropical environment into an office setting.
The lobby now opens up to an integrated state-of-the-art digital canvas wrapping around the lift core.
Along with new end of trip facilities the $10 million upgrade includes entry statements and sub-tropical gardens.
The dynamic curated content reflects ‘Elements of Queensland’ commissioned by local artists which exhibits the name of the building as digital morphing art.
ISPT Portfolio Manager for Commercial Services Mr Craig Blake said tenants and guests have respond well to the new 100 Creek Street vision.
“We are committed to creating places that work and look forward to continually evolving our environments to benefit all who work in and visit the building,” Mr Blake said.
Over the last 9 months 100 Creek Street has transacted over 3,000sq m across 11 transactions with an average rent of $685/sq m.
Savills’ Dan Boyes and John McDonald in conjunction with Andrew McPhail and James Comino of CBRE are jointly appointed to lease the balance of the available space.
“The works have repositioned 100 Creek Street as a market leader in the Brisbane CBD,” Mr Boyes said.
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State of the art foyer brings Brisbane outdoors in

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A private Melbourne investor has put a portfolio of five strip retail properties, across the suburbs of Richmond, Malvern, Armadale and Hampton, on market including a large High Street corner block.
Located at 1276 High St, Armadale (pictured below), the property comes with a lease expiring in 2022 with two, five year options at $98,711 per annum net. 
The auction is set for December 13.
<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/2018/11/26/1276%20High%20St.jpg" alt=""> 
Michael Ludski, one of the agents marketing the portfolio said Teska Carson had sold 19 strip retail assets worth more than $36 million on an average 3.55 per cent yield this year.
“Most of our sales this year have gone to local investors with local knowledge and a keen sense of where the market is likely to sit in a few years’ time as Melbourne gradually approaches Sydney’s population mantle," he said.
He says that there has been an "enormous spike" in enquiry for retail strip and strata commercial assets in the sub $5 million range over the last few months.
The properties, all leased and zoned Commercial 1, include:
128A Bridge Rd, Richmond – auction December 12 at 1pm on site, new two year lease with a two year option at $30,000pa net with 4% increases;
172 Bridge Rd, Richmond – auction December 12 at 12pm on site, leased to Sportsgirl at $94,759pa net (pictured above);
210 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern - auction December 13 at 12pm on site, leased to Foxes Den, which has four Melbourne outlets, at $100,981pa net;
401 Hampton St, Hampton - auction December 14 at 1pm on site, leased on a three year term with a three year option at $40,351pa net;
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