ANZ believes the Reserve Bank is in no rush to move again.

Following the release of the May Monetary Policy Board Minutes, ANZ has taken the view that the RBA is now firmly in a holding pattern, with the cumulative impact of previous rate hikes giving the Board scope to assess how the economy evolves from here.

That positioning, in ANZ’s view, makes a June rate hike unlikely.

The bank continues to expect the cash rate to remain unchanged at 4.35 per cent for an extended period, with the RBA adopting what is effectively a wait-and-see approach.

The Minutes point to a Board that sees financial conditions as already restrictive, but without a clear read on just how restrictive they are. That uncertainty has shifted the focus away from immediate policy action and toward monitoring both domestic conditions and global developments, particularly the conflict in the Middle East.

As ANZ interprets it, the Board is deliberately avoiding strong forward guidance.

Instead, it is allowing itself flexibility, acknowledging that monetary policy has limited ability to influence the near-term trajectory of inflation, while also recognising that economic growth is likely to remain below potential for some time.

Despite that pause in momentum, ANZ notes that the Board still carries a tightening bias.

The Minutes reveal that, in weighing up its decision, the Board seriously considered another 25 basis point increase. The key debate centred on the trade-off between inflation and activity, particularly in the context of global uncertainty.

Ultimately, most members leaned toward the inflation side of that equation.

Underlying inflation is still expected to remain above target for an extended period, regardless of how external risks evolve. That has led to a view within the Board that the risks to its inflation objective have increased, and that the current cash rate may not be sufficiently restrictive to fully contain those pressures.

That’s important.

While the decision, for now, is to hold, the underlying tone of the Minutes suggests the door to further tightening has not been closed.

ANZ also points to commentary from Assistant Governor (Economic) Sarah Hunter, who highlighted the risk that inflation could pass through the economy more quickly and broadly than in previous cycles. Both Hunter and a majority of the Board expressed concern that inflation expectations could become less anchored after such a prolonged period above target.

That combination, persistent inflation and the risk of expectations shifting, is what continues to underpin the RBA’s cautious stance.

However, where ANZ diverges from the RBA is on the outlook for activity.

The Board appears relatively comfortable with current spending patterns, effectively downplaying recent declines in business and consumer sentiment. It notes that sentiment has historically been only weakly correlated with actual spending, and that feedback from its liaison program has not yet pointed to a meaningful slowdown in consumption.

ANZ is less convinced.

The bank believes the link between household disposable income, sentiment and spending is more direct than the RBA is currently acknowledging. With inflation continuing to erode real incomes, ANZ expects household spending to soften more materially than the central bank is forecasting.

That divergence matters because it shifts the balance of risk.

If activity weakens more than expected, the trade-off between inflation and growth changes. In ANZ’s view, that would reduce the need for further tightening and reinforce the case for the RBA to remain on hold.

It also suggests that the current policy setting may already be doing more work than the Board fully appreciates.

The broader takeaway from ANZ’s interpretation is that the RBA is walking a narrow path.

On one side sits the risk of inflation remaining elevated for longer than expected. On the other is the growing pressure on households and the potential for a sharper slowdown in activity.

For now, the Board is choosing to wait.

But it is a pause that still carries an underlying tightening bias, rather than a clear pivot toward easing.

In practical terms, that leaves the cash rate anchored at 4.35 per cent for the foreseeable future, with the next move still uncertain.

For borrowers, it reinforces the reality that relief is not imminent.

And for the broader economy, it highlights the delicate balance the RBA is trying to strike, between bringing inflation back to target and avoiding an unnecessarily sharp slowdown in growth.

According to ANZ, it is a balance that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

Joel Robinson

RBA to hold rates for "prolonged period" rather than hikes: ANZ

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/venturecrowd-property-projects">VentureCrowd</a> is down to the final Canopy Villa release at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara, as construction continues on the 59-residence gated community positioned above 100 hectares of natural savanna on the Gold Coast.

The remaining Canopy Villa forms part of one of four collections within the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>-designed community and has attracted interest from buyers seeking larger-format homes that combine privacy, security and low-maintenance living. Positioned within a private cul-de-sac and facing a protected black she oak forest, the four-bedroom villa includes a large private outdoor area suited to pet owners and families wanting more flexible space.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/cumulus-grand-villas-carrara-17-baltimore-court-carrara-qld-4211">Cumulus Grand Villas</a>, located at 17 Baltimore Court, comprises a mix of three and four-bedroom villas across the Skyline, Canopy, Savanna and Broadview collections. Prices currently range from $1.455 million to $1.895 million, with the final Canopy Villa priced from $1.825 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360477]

The Canopy Collection villas offer four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and approximately 245 sqm of internal space, alongside double garages and landscaped private areas. Expansive glazing, open-plan living spaces and private balconies have been designed to maximise natural light and outlooks toward the surrounding savanna landscape.

Construction is now underway across the fully funded development, which VentureCrowd says has become an increasingly important consideration for buyers assessing off-the-plan opportunities on the Gold Coast. The project is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/devcon">Devcon Property Group</a>, which has operated in South East Queensland since 1993 and delivered more than 1,000 homes across the region.

VentureCrowd Director of Property David Whitting previously said the project responds to changing buyer priorities in the prestige Gold Coast market.

“Flexible floorplans have proven particularly relevant for purchasers aged between 40 and 65, including next home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Whitting said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360505]

The buyer profile at Cumulus has reflected that shift toward owner-occupier-driven demand. Stuart Towns and Tracey Loynes recently purchased a Canopy Villa, drawn to both the lifestyle offering and the flexibility the home provided for their next stage of living together.

The couple, who met three years ago, sold their Robina home earlier this year after identifying what they saw as strong long-term investment potential at Cumulus while remaining within the same Gold Coast market. The villa’s private backyard was a major drawcard for their dog Luna, while proximity to golf courses including Emerald Lakes also aligned with their lifestyle interests.

Beyond the residences themselves, the community has been planned around shared lifestyle and recreation amenities. The Infinity Terrace will include a 20-metre heated pool, barbecue facilities, alfresco dining spaces and elevated retreat areas overlooking the surrounding landscape. Walking trails, a private nature reserve, orchard and herb garden are also integrated into the masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360473]

BDA Architecture Director Darren Greenaway said the design approach was heavily influenced by the site’s outlook and secluded setting.

The practice sought to create what Greenaway described as a “little piece of paradise,” drawing inspiration from the elevated views, surrounding greenery and quiet location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/carrara-qld-4211">Carrara</a> continues to attract buyers seeking larger homes within proximity to the coast but without direct beachfront pricing. Cumulus sits within easy reach of Broadbeach, Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre and the M1, providing connections north to Brisbane and south toward the Gold Coast Airport and northern New South Wales.

The first stage of Cumulus Grand Villas is targeting completion in 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135663]

VentureCrowd nears sell-out of Canopy Collection at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara

Waverley Council has made a call that many councils have been reluctant to make publicly. Growth is coming, regardless of who controls it.

The release of the Bondi Junction Vision and Master Plan is less about whether the Eastern Suburbs’ primary centre will change, and more about how that change is shaped, funded, and ultimately experienced on the ground. Waverley Council has released a 100-page plan which is effectively the first comprehensive blueprint for Bondi Junction in over two decades, and in doing so, signals a clear shift in how councils are positioning themselves in the current planning environment.

For the past 18 months, the conversation across New South Wales has been dominated by the State Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms and the emergence of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway. Both have created faster, more centralised avenues for development approvals, particularly in well-located, infrastructure-rich areas like Bondi Junction.

Waverley Council’s response has been to move early, and decisively.

Rather than react to individual proposals as they come through the HDA or broader State-led reforms, Council has sought to establish a clear, place-based framework that sets the terms for how Bondi Junction evolves. The underlying position is relatively straightforward: if densification is inevitable, it should be tied to infrastructure, public domain improvements, and a cohesive vision for the centre, not delivered piecemeal through ad hoc applications.

<img alt="bondi junction" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f1f729c-ed99-4c6c-bf87-ffbce6991941" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-19%20at%209.58.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ULX4OlXKjeJ5BvNCNGL86evgXCjCfMih" />

At its core, the document is attempting to reposition Bondi Junction from what it largely functions as today, a transport interchange anchored by a major retail centre, into something far more layered. The ambition is to transform it into what the plan describes as the “civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East,” a place that is active beyond commuting hours and capable of supporting a broader mix of uses, experiences and communities.

That repositioning is built around four key ambitions.

The first is to create a true destination. Bondi Junction already attracts significant foot traffic, with more than 86,000 daily transport users and millions of annual retail visits, but much of that activity is transient. People pass through, rather than stay.

The Master Plan seeks to change that dynamic. It leans heavily into the idea of an “18-hour economy,” extending activity well beyond traditional retail hours through dining, cultural programming, events, and a more active night-time offering. This is not just about adding more hospitality venues, but about fundamentally shifting how the centre operates, from a daytime shopping destination to a place that functions across the full span of the day and into the evening.

Oxford Street Mall sits at the centre of that shift.

Long seen as underperforming relative to its potential, the Mall is identified as one of the key catalyst projects in the plan. It is to be reimagined as a day-to-night spine, combining retail, dining, wellness and cultural uses in a way that creates a continuous flow of activity. Outdoor dining, rooftop venues, laneway activation and a curated events program are all part of the strategy, alongside significant public domain upgrades that aim to improve comfort, safety and usability.

&nbsp;

The second ambition is to transform Bondi Junction into a world-class interchange.

Despite being one of the most heavily used transport nodes in Sydney, the current experience is fragmented. Connections between the station, Westfield, Oxford Street Mall and surrounding streets are often unclear, and major roads create physical barriers that disrupt pedestrian movement.

The Master Plan proposes a more seamless, people-focused network. That includes clearer pedestrian links, improved wayfinding, better integration between transport modes, and a rethinking of how arrival into the centre is experienced. The aim is to shift the perception of Bondi Junction from a place people move through, to a place they arrive in.

The third ambition focuses on greening and open space.

One of the more consistent pieces of community feedback throughout the Vision phase was the need for more greenery, better public spaces, and a more comfortable urban environment. Despite being surrounded by major parks, Bondi Junction itself has relatively limited accessible open space, with much of the public realm dominated by hard surfaces and traffic infrastructure.

The plan responds with a network of new and upgraded public spaces, increased tree canopy, and what it terms the “Parkline,” a green link connecting Waverley Park through to Centennial Park. This is not just about aesthetics. It is about addressing heat, improving liveability, and ensuring that increased density is matched by access to high-quality outdoor space.

The fourth ambition is perhaps the most important from a development perspective: growth that gives back.

Bondi Junction is already the primary location for new housing supply in the Waverley LGA, and that is expected to continue. The area carries a target of 2,400 new dwellings by 2029, with further growth projected beyond that as demand for well-located housing continues to rise. The Master Plan does not seek to limit that growth. Instead, it attempts to shape it.

New housing is to be concentrated around transport, with stepped building heights designed to protect the character of surrounding neighbourhoods. At the same time, the plan introduces a more explicit link between development uplift and public benefit. This is where value capture becomes central.

The document outlines a framework where increased development potential is tied to contributions that fund public domain improvements, community infrastructure, open space, and affordable housing. It is an approach that recognises that much of the transformation of Bondi Junction will be delivered by the private sector, but seeks to ensure that the benefits of that growth are shared more broadly. The Civic Precinct is a key part of that equation.

Leveraging Council-owned land, the plan proposes a consolidated civic and cultural hub centred around Ebley Street. This would include new community facilities, cultural spaces, and potentially a new Council Chambers, creating a focal point for civic life that currently does not exist in Bondi Junction at scale.

It is one of several catalyst projects identified in the Master Plan, alongside the Oxford Street Mall transformation. These projects are intended to anchor change, acting as early interventions that unlock broader investment across the precinct.

Importantly, the Master Plan is not just a design document. It includes a delivery framework that sets out how these ambitions are intended to be realised.

Council is explicit in acknowledging that it cannot deliver the transformation alone. Implementation will require coordination between State agencies, private developers, landowners and the community, with a mix of planning agreements, infrastructure contributions and direct delivery mechanisms used to fund and stage improvements over time.

The plan outlines a mix of short-term, medium-term and long-term actions, from immediate public domain upgrades and planning controls, through to larger-scale projects that will unfold over the next decade or more. In practical terms, the next 12 to 24 months will be the most important.

This is when the Master Plan will move through exhibition, refinement and eventual adoption. It is also the period in which Council will seek to embed the framework into its planning controls, giving it weight in the assessment of future development applications.

Council officers have indicated that once the Master Plan is in place, it could be used as a benchmark when assessing Housing Delivery Authority proposals, and potentially reduce the need for further HDA declarations within Bondi Junction. In effect, it is an attempt to bring planning control back to the local level, while still aligning with State housing targets.

That tension between State-led reform and local planning control is not unique to Waverley. It is playing out across Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If delivered as intended, Bondi Junction will become denser, more active, and more complex. It will support more residents, more workers, and a wider range of uses, extending beyond its current retail core into a more layered urban environment.

“The civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East”: Bondi Junction masterplan revealed

Toorak's dress circle St Georges Road, home to some of the city's priciest homes, is set for a rare new apartment development.

Blood Diamond Group, an entity tied to Tina Brandi, wife of David Brandi who has been a prolific bidder on The Block over the years, has filed plans for an ultra-exclusive development across an amalgamated 3,662 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/104-106-st-georges-road-toorak-vic-3142">104 and 106 St Georges Road</a>.

The proposal would replace two existing homes on the riverfront site with a five-level apartment building cascading down the steeply sloping land toward the Yarra River. Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the development has been carefully shaped around the site’s topography and river environs, with the upper levels stepping back to reduce visual bulk from both St Georges Road and the Yarra corridor.

Planning documents describe the proposal as “a site layout and building typology that is consistent with the emerging character of the area and which provides exceptional amenity for future residents without compromising that of neighbouring properties.”&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Blood Diamond Group unveils riverfront apartment plans for Toorak Pavilion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea19a17e-7528-4fa8-b727-05f2f7c025e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Toorak%20pavilion%20a_0.png?VersionId=rZ2IjdoUL_UrRl1sZ4wZHnQXbYUaEmUQ" />

The scheme comprises 12 apartments, including 10 three-bedroom residences, one one-bedroom apartment, and a substantial split-level five-bedroom penthouse. A 624 sqm communal rooftop terrace will crown the building, while three undercroft levels embedded into the hillside will accommodate apartments and basement parking.

The design leverages the site’s dramatic northern outlook across the Yarra River, with living areas and balconies oriented toward the water. A central atrium running the full height of the building is intended to draw natural light deep into the residences and improve internal amenity.

Landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jack-merlo">Jack Merlo Design &amp; Landscape</a> will play a major role in softening the built form, particularly along the river edge where significant setbacks have been introduced. The proposal includes a minimum 30-metre setback from the Yarra River boundary, preserving a substantial landscaped buffer between the development and the waterway.

While a mature English Oak near the front of the site is proposed for removal, the plans retain a large English Elm closer to the riverfront, alongside other established vegetation in the lower section of the property.

<img alt="First look: Blood Diamond Group unveils riverfront apartment plans for Toorak Pavilion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed3bf19b-5bc7-482f-bde7-41f709a13c3a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Toorak%20pavilion%20b.png?VersionId=SG_kBGu4rOaSPY8FtVcmPJfSCrstuOfg" />

Architecturally, the building adopts strong horizontal forms with expansive glazing and curved balcony edges facing the river. Planning documents note the upper levels “adopt a receding form” to ensure the building responds appropriately to the Yarra River environs overlay controls.&nbsp;

The surrounding streetscape is characterised by large contemporary homes embedded into the hillside, many presenting as modest one or two-storey forms to the street before expanding toward the river frontage below. The planning report notes this established pattern heavily influenced the massing strategy for Toorak Pavilion.&nbsp;

Until the recent sale of the landmark Clendon Road mansion Coonac for around $130 million, St Georges Road held the state's most expensive home, the $80,000,088 derelict "Ghost House" mansion that was bought by crypto king Ed Craven.&nbsp;

Blair House, also on St Georges Road, sold for $74.5 million in 2022.

First look: Toorak Pavilions slated for dress circle St Georges Road

Six months after a development site on Kangaroo Point’s Shafston Avenue sold for $6.55 million, plans have been lodged for a 23-storey apartment tower.

A company named JMT Mega Capital, understood to be interstate investors when the 1,222 sqm double block traded late last year through Patona Property, is proposing an 84-apartment development in place of the existing low-rise buildings.

The slender tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/212-220-shafston-avenue-east-brisbane-qld-4169">212–220 Shafston Avenue</a>, overlooking the Brisbane River, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/aplus-design-group">Aplus Design Group</a>. It will comprise a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments above six basement levels, topped by rooftop resident amenities.

<img alt="First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e17ba9e-553e-42ef-92b6-22081671521a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium_3.png?VersionId=hlVUf99vrOjUs.vhQs0qV0DhOncUy9T8" />

The development has been designed as a vertically articulated tower with recessed balconies, curved façades and planted edges intended to soften its scale within the evolving Shafston Avenue skyline. In the submitted Urban Design Report, Aplus Design Group said the tower had been “shaped with a slender vertical expression, articulated façades, recessed balcony zones, integrated planting and a clearly defined podium relationship, helping to reduce perceived bulk and create a more elegant contribution to the Shafston Avenue streetscape and broader Kangaroo Point skyline.”

The scheme comprises 84 apartments, including 25 one-bedroom units, 34 two-bedroom apartments and 25 three-bedroom residences. A total of 104 car spaces are proposed across six basement levels, including resident, visitor and accessible parking.

Residents will have access to rooftop communal open space and shared amenities, while the development also incorporates deep planting zones and subtropical landscaping throughout the podium and tower levels. The project includes 35 per cent communal space coverage across the site and a 17.5 per cent deep soil zone allocation to support urban greening outcomes.

The application exceeds the mapped building height under the Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan and is being assessed under Brisbane City Council’s impact assessment pathway. The design team argues the additional height is supported by the site’s strategic inner-city location, existing high-density zoning, and proximity to transport and employment hubs.

“The design has been developed to make better use of a well-serviced urban site within an established high-density residential setting, while improving the street presentation and overall quality of the public realm interface,” the report states.

<img alt="First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1ab44b1e-ff45-4bf3-8da8-8aa0cd79db33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_10.png?VersionId=tSxeGekZOqj1e9g3PEn_yFoC3taKDp3U" />

The proposal adds to a growing pipeline of apartment developments reshaping Kangaroo Point ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, with demand continuing to strengthen for new housing supply in well-connected inner-city precincts.

Mosaic has nearly sold out its under-construction <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford by Mosaic</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a>,&nbsp;while Pikos recently completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye Residences</a> nearby. Pikos is also delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gaia-kangaroo-point-108-lambert-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Gaia</a>, over 230 three- and four-bedroom apartments on Lambert Street.

First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point apartment tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct

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>
An international campaign is being launched to find a tenant for a store in Melbourne CBD's upmarket Collins Street.
The 85 Collins Street store offers 400 sqm of retail space in the Athenaeum Club’s landmark city premises. Its neighbours include retail heavyweights Prada and Hermes and is directly opposite Cartier and Christian Louboutin.
CBRE's Zelman Ainsworth will be handling the leasing, said a media release.
The CBRE Melbourne team will work with CBRE’s offices in the US, Hong Kong and Europe to present the opportunity to luxury retailers around the world.
Ainsworth said the shop’s location in the city’s sought after retail pocket was expected to underpin significant global retailer interest.
“Overwhelming interest from international retailers seeking to secure space within this block of Collins Street has spurred the club’s decision to launch an on market campaign.”
Charter Keck Cramer’s national director Steve Kingston is advising the Athenaeum Club, one of Australia’s oldest clubs and a proud resident of Collins Street since 1868.  
The opportunity has arisen because of the impending expiry of existing leases to two separate tenants - Rolex and Ashley Opal Jewellers.
“Australia has been a top performer for international retailers in the past five years, with strong sales and a buoyant Asian tourism market being two of the key attractions for luxury brands seeking flagship retail space,” Ainsworth said.
The campaign at the Athenaeum Club coincides with news that a freehold office and retail building at 10-12 Collins Street, which has been on the market since earlier in the year, has been scheduled for a boardroom auction. The auction will be handled by the CBRE's Josh Rutman, Mark Wizel and Kiran Pillai.
Rutman said the building provides a terrific opportunity to invest passively, owner occupier or convert to residential or hotel accommodation, subject to relevant approvals.
</body></html>

prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Athenaeum Club tempts global retailers with prized Collins St offering 

<html><body>
Australia offers a lot of untapped potential for global retailers, with a new survey highlighting that less than a third of major retail groups have a presence here and many wanting to set up shop Down Under.
Australia ranked 31st of the 61 countries surveyed on the penetration of global retailers in CBRE’s “How Global is the Business of Retail?”.
The rankings were topped by the UK, with 57.5 percent of international retailers present, followed by China (56.9 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (59.3 percent)
In contrast, just 28.7 percent of the retailers surveyed have a base Down Under.
CBRE national retail director Alistair Palmer said the results point to the opportunity for global brands in the Australian market.
“While global retailers have increasingly targeted Australia, the penetration rate is still very low,” Palmer said.
“What we have seen is a considerable shift over the past five years in the types of brands targeting this market and the level of interest in new opportunities. This is expected to translate to a considerable uptick in offshore leasing activity in the short to medium term.”
The retailers were selected based on a variety of sources including surveys or retailers’ turnover and brand presence, global and national retail directories and the views of the local CBRE professionals on the dominant retailers in their markets. From these sources, 334 leading international retailers were identified as representatives of the global retail community. For each of the retailers in the sample, research was undertaken to identify whether they had a presence in each of the 61 countries and 191 cities included in the study.
CBRE’s Australian head of retail tenant representation, Tim Starling, said the focus on Australia had most recently been highlighted by Decathlon, one of the world's largest sporting goods retailers.
Decathlon has an online presence in Australia with at least 30 stores to follow.
TJX, more commonly known as TJ Maxx in the US, has also established a beachhead in Australia after acquiring the 35-store Trade Secret chain.
“TJX is a Fortune 500 company that is recognised as one of the world’s leading retailers,” Starling said.
“They have ambitions for 200 stores in Australia, encompassing several brands, with CBRE assisting in their Trade Secret roll out.”
Palmer said the success of the St Collins Lane redevelopment in Melbourne had been another litmus test of international retailer interest in Australia, with the project attracting international brands such as Sandro, Maje, Reiss Kooples, Zadig and Voltaire.
CBRE says it was involved with the first deals here for Zara, Uniqlo, Microsoft and Tesla.
The How Global report says that 19 percent of retailers surveyed intend to expand into Australia – a high proportion, given that Australia accounts for just 2 percent of the world economy.
High consumption per capita, rising tourism levels and the lower AUD are all driving demand, which is in turn pushing up retail rents given a lack of available space in the major CBD markets, it said.
Fashion retailers (encompassing luxury, mid-range and specialist clothing brands) dominate the list of retailer intent of expanding into Australia, with a high percentage of these seeking 101-250sqm of space.
London has retained its number one spot in the city rankings, with 57.9 percent of international retailers having a presence there. Dubai was hot on the heels with 57 percent, closely followed by Shanghai (54.4 percent) and New York (46.6 percent). 
Singapore and Moscow were joint fifth with 46 percent of retailers present.
Sydney was the top Australian market at 65th place, followed by Melbourne at 78th.
Hong Kong was the top market for new entrants, attracting 73 new brands, up from 58 in 2014. Singapore was a close second attracting 63 new brands, while last year’s top market, Tokyo, slid to third place after a slowdown in domestic demand.
Globally, Coffee &amp; Restaurant brands (F&amp;B) accounted for 20 percent of new entrants overall, followed by Luxury &amp; Business Fashion (19 percent), Mid-Range Fashion (18 percent) and Specialist Clothing (17 percent) retailers.
</body></html>

Global retailers set sights on Down Under: CBRE survey

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Australian companies can greatly boost their profitability by making industrial property decisions in strong consultation with supply chain and logistics directors.
There is a growing trend – and it seems to be happening with more urgency – that industrial property companies who’ve traditionally only done deals within their industry need to be made more aware of the growing influence and control of supply chain directors in making property-related decisions.
Within that space, a lot of automation and trends coming down from North America and Europe have the fundamental ability to disrupt how people go about planning their warehouses and distribution centres in Australia today.
By both driving costs and service, supply chains are also being used to add value to the customer experience. Automation allows companies to reduce warehouse footprints, lower head count and improve overall performance. 
Property is an enabler; it’s not a primary decision. So, we basically look at what the company wants to achieve in terms of the customer-service requirements and the competitive landscape. We then provide them with fact-based recommendations to assist their decision on the best infrastructure to support the company’s customer promise – at least cost.
In addition, Siecap regularly conducts studies for the property sector on site logistics implications. Key supply chain cost drivers which need to be taken into account include: site occupancy encompassing real estate, facilities and overheads; labour and handling; inbound freight; inventory and outbound freight and potential surrounding infrastructure changes which could influence these elements.
Companies which have factored logistics into their property decisions have enjoyed network operating cost reductions in the range of 10 to 16 per cent, as well as infrastructure cost reductions and logistics cost and service improvements.
David Irvine is chief executive officer of Brisbane project management and advisory firm Siecap and can be contacted <a href="https://www.siecap.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Property supply chains key to success: David Irvine

<html><body>
A local Melbourne investor has secured a sushi bar in the seaside town of Rye on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
It fetched $1.565 million at auction.
The 194sq m retail property tenanted by Sushi Express at 2379 Point Nepean Road sold at a yield of 3.3 per cent.
CBRE negotiated the sale for a local family vendor.
</body></html>

Rye sushi sells at 3.3 percent yield

<html><body>
Actor Ada Nicodemou and her brother Costa have sold their Potts Point retail investment.
It was sold at $1.3 million by the the Home and Away actor and her sibling.
They have owned the 54-square-metre property since 2001 when they purchased it for $600,000 on Macleay Street.
It is leased by Toni&amp;Guy Hairdressing.
</body></html>

Potts Point retail space sold by Ada Nicodemou

<html><body>
A standalone retail/office building with redevelopment potential at Oakleigh in Melbourne’s south-east has been sold for $630,000 to a private investor.
The 184 Warrigal Road vacant property sits on a land area of nearly 156 sqm.
Ray White Commercial Oakleigh’s George Kelepouris, who brokered the deal, said the buyers plans to renovate the property and then lease it out.
The boutique 170 sqm building includes a two-bedroom home.
Kelepouris said the building is zoned ‘commercial 1’ and has potential for a multi-storey apartment subject to council approval.
 
</body></html>

Retail building in Melbourne's Oakleigh sells for $630,000

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Cognitive impairment and ageing are two important aspects that need to be kept in mind while incorporating design elements, and is a challenge for architects and urban designers, according to a leading Brisbane architect.
Marchese Partners Brisbane principal Frank Ehrenberg—who has studied at one of the world’s leading authorities on ageing and dementia, the University of Stirling — said the shift in mindset toward new design features becoming commonplace was something that could not be ignored.
“As a population we are living longer and we know many of us will face some form of cognitive impairment as we age,” Ehrenberg said.
“We know multiple colours in floor tiles can appear to someone with cognitive impairment to be a hole in the floor, so design is ensuring floors are uniform and easier to navigate."
He added that legibility was very important as rooms that are easy to navigate can help people locate things like bathrooms quickly. Same while designing outdoor spaces such as gardens residents can go for a walk and easily find their way back to their starting point.
“Even the treatment of light and sound is critical. During waking hours lights need to be bright enough to account for declining eyesight, but at night it is important to eliminate as much light as possible to ensure restful sleep." 
It is important to keep sounds such as alarms and buzzers to a minimum, as they can be confusing to people with cognitive impairment, he added.
Ehrenberg said the attitude toward ageing friendly design was similar to that of disability design 40 years ago and it was time all new projects were designed and constructed with these features. 
“A few decades ago we started becoming aware we had to design spaces that considered people with mobility impairment and now every new building has equitable access incorporated into the design,”  Ehrenberg said.
“In the same way that we now include ramps and lifts as a matter of course for people with mobility difficulties, we need to design spaces that consider cognitive difficulties as well.”
Ehrenberg said the real challenge for architects and designers was to integrate these principles into new buildings without drawing attention to them.
“No one wants to think about their mind not functioning as well as it used to, just as no one wants to think about the possibility that one day they may not be as mobile,” he said. 
“Designing with ageing in mind means people can live independently for longer. It means couples can stay together longer, even if one of them begins to experience some cognitive decline.
“The result is a seniors living environment that ensures operations are efficient and functional and the innovative aesthetics are obvious and at the forefront."
Ehrenburg emphasised that Marchese focuses on creating friendly public spaces and meeting places that engender a village atmosphere.
“To provide the individual choices residents desire we provide understated luxury across the spectrum of sun-drenched living spaces from apartments and independent living units through to warm and welcoming aged and health care models,” he said.
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

'Ageing-friendly design' is the next frontier in urban design

<html><body>
If you’re currently living in an apartment, planning a purchase or have an investment apartment, it’s important to know that the next and final stage of the big review of Strata Schemes in NSW has been announced.
Draft regulations detailing the backbone of the changes, have been released by The NSW Government to support the wide ranging strata reforms that were passed back in late October 2015.
The Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 and the Strata Schemes Development Regulation 2016 that underpin the new Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015 are due to come into effect later this year.
Peter Chittenden is managing director for residential of Colliers International. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.projectagenda.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
The regulations contain a lot of detail and the key points contained in the regulations include:
The provision to accommodate modern technology for virtual meetings and electronic voting which many time poor people will appreciate, and the changes might also encourage more active involvement by owners.
Another regulation and a change that has attracted a lot of comment are the provisions for the documentation and procedures for the collective sale and renewal reform that enables a minimum of 75% of owners in a scheme to jointly agree to sell or redevelop their scheme. As possibly one of the biggest changes, this area needs careful consideration.
There’s also a draft model by-laws on a wide range of issues such as pet ownership and smoke penetration.
Draft Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 
The proposed Regulation is extensive and it aims to support strata communities in a number of ways including some of the following summarised key points:
Protecting a scheme’s assets by:
<ul>
<li>Outlining what the developer’s maintenance schedule should contain.</li>
<li>Providing a ‘common property memorandum’, which owners could adopt.</li>
<li>Setting out how the new building bonds for new strata buildings would function.</li>
</ul>
Helping schemes to operate effectively by:
<ul>
<li>Allowing for different types of voting procedures.</li>
<li>Specifying that voting records, including electronic voting records, need to be retained for 12 months only.</li>
<li>Setting out the process for mandatory Fair Trading mediation.</li>
<li>Establishing that certain financial matters would not require an owners corporation meeting.</li>
<li>Setting out clearer approval requirements for renovations to make it easier to get basic renovations done with no, or minimal, approval.</li>
<li>Structural renovations would continue to require approval by special resolution or as set out by the strata scheme in a by-law.</li>
</ul>
Clarifying and reinforcing key accountabilities by:
<ul>
<li>Providing procedures to elect members for the strata committee, including tenant representatives.</li>
<li>Setting out additional matters and documentation requirements for the agenda for the first annual general meeting.</li>
<li>Determining the insurance requirements for schemes.</li>
<li>Clarifying that owners corporation responsibilities could only be delegated to a strata managing agent or strata committee (formerly called ‘executive committee’).</li>
<li>Outlining requirements for window safety devices.</li>
<li>Determining how schemes could set and enforce rules to limit the number of adults that can occupy a bedroom. An important and sensitive area for many buildings.</li>
<li>Listing the offences that may result in penalty notices.</li>
<li>Setting out the content that should be included in:
<ul>
<li>Payment plans for late strata fees,</li>
<li>Statements of key financial information,</li>
<li>Receipts issued by treasurers of owners corporations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
The Regulation also include details such as:
<ul>
<li>Accountabilities to prevent financial mismanagement.</li>
<li>Continued provisions allowing lot owners and prospective purchasers to inspect financial and other records.</li>
<li>Requirements to ensure that building assets are better maintained.</li>
<li>The approval process for owners seeking to make changes to their lot, and as apartment buildings age this becomes an ongoing issue for many Schemes.</li>
</ul>
Big Issues – Time To Comment
A fully detailed Regulation Impact Statement outlining the objectives and detail of each proposed regulation is easily accessed from the Fair Trading website.
It makes good sense that all stakeholders be encouraged to review the drafts and suggest improvements needed to the draft regulations. This should help make sure that as far as possible the new regulations work as effectively as possible. Important when you consider the review has taken decades to come around and years to put into force.
The Government has allowed for written submissions on the regulations to be made up until 27 May 2016, which is a tight timeframe, however we should all make our views known.
</body></html>

pchittenden-eLqUUC8TWW

Strata reform regulations the next step: Peter Chittenden

<html><body>
A Chinese government-backed investment group has bought a 289 ha aquaculture and tourism property on Kangaroo Island off South Australia.
Andermel, home to Andermel Marron Farm, The Marron Café and Two Wheeler Creek Wines, was sold to Shandong Geo-mineral International Investment Co Ltd for more than $1.6 million through Colliers International's Jesse Manuel and Tim Altschwager. 
Manuel said the Heads of Agreement for the sale was signed during the South Australian Premier’s visit to China in May 2015 and has now settled after an extensive due diligence period.
“This property represented a unique business and lifestyle opportunity in one of South Australia’s most picturesque and popular tourist destinations, Kangaroo Island,” Manuel said. 
Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and one of South Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, located 112 km south-west of Adelaide and around 15 km off the mainland.
Projects worth $171 million are planned or approved for Kangaroo Island over the next few years, including an $18 million joint investment by the state and federal governments to extend the island’s airport runway and allow direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne.
Established in 1997, Andermel Marron Farm is a marron production business which consists of six breeding ponds, nine nursery ponds and 52 grow ponds. The farm breeds and grows marron – native Australian freshwater crayfish – for domestic markets as well as through the onsite ‘Marron Café’ restaurant and farm gate sales.
Australian marron is native to the south west of Western Australia and is the largest commercially grown fresh water crayfish.
The property also includes an 8 ha vineyard planted to Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, producing fruit for Andermel’s own ‘Two Wheeler Creek’ label and a licenced cellar door.
Altschwager said Kangaroo Island was renowned for its pristine beaches, native wildlife, tourist attractions and fresh local produce.
 
 
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Kangaroo Island marron farm attracts Chinese investment

<html><body>
The preliminary clearance rate across the combined capital cities rose this week, up from 69.5 percent the previous week to 70.0 percent.
The level of activity across the capital city auction market was similar to the previous week, with 1,863 auctions held this week, compared to 1,876 last week. Auction activity remains well below the comparable week last year, however, when 2,599 capital city auctions were held and 79.1 percent cleared.
After ANZAC weekend last year, there were five consecutive weeks of more than 2,200 auctions held across the combined capitals; however the same activity hasn’t been replicated this year.
<a href="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-capital-city.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-capital-city.png" alt="">
This week, there were 825 auctions held in Melbourne, down from 871 last week, and also lower compared to one year ago (1,162). Preliminary results show that 70.7 percent cleared this week, falling from 71.3 per cent last week and well below the 82.1 per cent one year ago.
Over the past seven weeks, Melbourne has maintained a clearance rate above 70 per cent. The most auction activity this week happened in Melbourne’s Inner sub-region, where 172 auctions were held and preliminary results show a 72.2 per cent clearance rate. On the other hand, the strongest clearance rate across the city so far this week was in the Outer East region at 80 per cent across 50 results from 57 auctions.
<a href="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Melbourne.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Melbourne.png" alt="">
Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate was 74.2 per cent this week, having fallen from 76.2 per cent last week. The latest result marks the second week in a row where Sydney has been the best performing capital city market. While the clearance rate fell on a week-on-week basis, the number of residential auctions held across the city rose, from 647 last week to 700 this week. Similar to the broader market, Sydney’s auction activity this week is much lower than what was seen last year, when 1,018 auctions were held and 86.2 per cent cleared. Across the individual sub-regions of the city, the best performers this week were City and Inner South (86.5 per cent) and North Sydney and Hornsby (83.0 per cent).
<a href="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Sydney.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Sydney.png" alt="">
Across Brisbane 128 auctions were held this week, having fallen from 151 last week and also lower than one year ago (159). Preliminary results show 55.3 per cent of auctions were sold this week, compared to 49.3 per cent last week, meaning this week was the cities strongest clearance rate in twelve weeks. This week’s result is also higher than last year, when 46.2 per cent of Brisbane auctions were successful. There were 47 GoldCoast auctions this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 42.9 per cent.
<a href="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Brisbane.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Brisbane.png" alt="">
Adelaide was host to 92 auctions this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 70.1 per cent. Last week 66.3 per cent of Adelaide’s 103 auctions were successful, while one year ago the city’s clearance rate was 70.9 per cent. Adelaide is the only city where more auctions were held this week compared to last year, when 88 auctions were held.
<a href="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Adelaide.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/23/20160523-Adelaide.png" alt="">
There were 42 Perth auctions held this week, 44 last week and 53 one year ago. The preliminary clearance rate this week is 54.5 per cent, up from 28.9 per cent last week and also higher than one year ago when one third of auctions across the city sold.
Preliminary results show 61.4 per cent of Canberra auctions sold this week, compared to 58.3 per cent last week and 63.5 per cent one year ago. There were 67 Canberra auctions held this week, up from 52 last week, but well below volumes seen last year (103).
5 Tasmanian auctions have been reported so far with just 1 sale.
</body></html>

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