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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/doma-group">DOMA Group</a> has unveiled plans for Newcastle Quay, a major waterfront precinct set to reshape Newcastle’s harbourfront and further cement the city’s evolution into one of Australia’s fastest-growing urban destinations.

Positioned on a prominent site within the Honeysuckle Precinct, Newcastle Quay will span both sides of Honeysuckle Drive, connecting directly to the Foreshore Promenade and sitting within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange.

The mixed-use precinct is planned to include around 1,000 apartments, more than 28,000 sqm of commercial office space, 6,000 sqm of retail, and a 180-room hotel anchored by a 500-seat conference and exhibition centre, a move expected to significantly lift Newcastle’s ability to attract major business and tourism events.
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<img alt="DOMA Group unveil Newcastle’s future with transformative Newcastle Quay Precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0642ca09-67cc-4920-8a7e-d18df9729b4e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/%3D.png?VersionId=CnDmZxQnOV5LN0ePu7jaFBXC9tPGTrWm" />

The proposal builds on DOMA’s growing Newcastle pipeline, where the developer has already delivered 866 apartments and more than 19,000 sqm of commercial and retail space since entering the market in 2013. A further $2 billion pipeline is also in the works across the city.

The masterplan and executive architecture are led by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, with building concepts developed alongside Stewart Architecture, Architecture AND and Curious Practice, and landscape design by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/turf-design">Turf Design Studio</a>. More than 11,000 sqm of open space is planned, including a new waterfront park known as Honeysuckle Green, upgrades to Tree of Knowledge Park, and new pedestrian and cycling links throughout the precinct.

At the centre of the development will be the heritage-listed Wickham School of Arts, which DOMA plans to reposition as the civic and cultural heart of the precinct through restaurants, bars, events and public gathering spaces.

The broader vision is to create a genuine day-to-night precinct, blending residential, hospitality, retail, commercial and cultural uses in a way Newcastle has yet to experience at this scale.

DOMA Group Managing Director Jure Domazet said the aim was to create a precinct that becomes synonymous with Newcastle itself.

“Our vision is to create a precinct that not only delivers high-quality commercial, residential, and cultural spaces, but also defines Newcastle’s waterfront for generations to come,” Domazet said.

DOMA’s Chris Farrington said the project would fundamentally change how Newcastle is perceived nationally.

“Newcastle Quay is more than a waterfront precinct, it is a national announcement for this city,” Farrington said.

“A world-class Conference and Exhibition Centre will open Newcastle and the Hunter Region to a national and international audience for the first time, delivering something this city has long deserved.”

The project is expected to generate more than 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs and act as a major economic driver for the Hunter region through tourism, business events, hospitality and commercial investment.

&nbsp;

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Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the final parcel of harbourfront land will be a "true mixed-use precinct destination that includes housing, hospitality and entertainment, commercial spaces, retail, economic and social outcomes."

Joel Robinson

DOMA Group unveils 1,000-apartment Newcastle Quay precinct

ASX-listed developer Stockland is continuing to ramp up its return to the apartment market.

In late 2024, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a> announced it would resume apartment development after a 13-year absence, launching with Stanton Place in Rosebery, a 144-apartment project now under construction.

Last week, the developer unveiled plans alongside the NSW Government for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-nsw-gov-unveils-plans-for-3-300-home-waterloo-south-renewal">3,300-home precinct in Waterloo</a>.

Now, Stockland has shifted its focus in St Leonards, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to replace an approved 42-storey office tower with a 52-storey residential development comprising more than 500 apartments.

<img alt="Stockland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8979095e-9072-432b-a7da-58b180cf994d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-20%20at%204.27.36%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=_jbRXYOafCSHjwsz.yQCNIymMyCj8zkF" />

An existing 14-storey commercial office building would make way for a 264.5-metre tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a>. The project would deliver 538 apartments, including 30 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses at the podium and ground plane.

It will rise from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">601 Pacific Highway</a>, a prominent 2,844 sqm triangular site adjoining Mitchell Plaza and fronting Pacific Highway.

The development is being pursued under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway after Stockland’s proposal was declared State Significant Development earlier this year.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans 52-storey mixed-use tower with 538 apartments in St Leonards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="67f40f35-0458-47ab-80c0-a4e98a31838a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%201.png?VersionId=rxXe3njr.auuGDuiR0k42uI8Zr4K.gZA" />

The apartment mix includes 217 one-bedroom apartments, 191 two-bedroom apartments, 122 three-bedroom apartments, and eight four-bedroom residences. Six basement levels would accommodate 300 car spaces, bicycle parking, loading areas, and building services.

Bates Smart said the project has been shaped around a series of urban design principles intended to improve the pedestrian experience and respond to the evolving character of St Leonards.

“With a boundary length of almost 75m along Pacific Highway and 70m along Atchison Street to the north, complying simply with the LEP envelope and required setbacks would result in a very wide tower form on the skyline,” the architects noted in the Design Report.

“We propose breaking the tower form into two defined volumes rather than a singular form.”

The podium has similarly been articulated into separate forms to reduce perceived bulk and create a finer-grain response to Mitchell Plaza and Atchison Street. Retail tenancies would activate the lower levels, while commercial space is proposed across the podium floors.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans 52-storey mixed-use tower with 538 apartments in St Leonards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90149990-0551-40d2-bd48-14b69a015d12" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%202.png?VersionId=MJC2KIIWFvU9FPGr3IVq09gkRN_gX3m8" />

The design also places a significant emphasis on communal amenity and environmental performance. Residents would have access to landscaped terraces, wellness areas, flexible workspaces, and rooftop communal facilities, while the all-electric building is targeting an average 7-star NatHERS rating. Bates Smart said the project incorporates passive design measures including natural ventilation, integrated shading, and lightweight façade systems.

Planning documents note the site is around 350 metres from St Leonards Station and 400 metres from the metro entrance, placing it within one of Sydney’s most connected emerging residential precincts.

The project arrives amid a wave of large-scale redevelopment proposals reshaping the St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline. Several nearby sites have recently been approved, lodged, or declared under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway as the precinct absorbs significant residential density uplift tied to transit-oriented development policies.

<img alt="Stockland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7805bd7c-dfd7-4b35-8e15-ec4a8bf8e61b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-20%20at%204.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iY12K2m2bQ6EeDnshqfZC9rbLx_oEugP" />

Bates Smart’s report describes St Leonards as transitioning away from its historical commercial identity toward a more mixed-use urban environment.

“In recent years, the character of St Leonards has started to evolve, driven by new development trends along the Pacific Highway corridor,” the report said.

“These projects have increasingly focused on residential accommodation, marking a shift from its purely commercial roots.”

Sekisui House Australia is currently selling Waterstone down near Newlands Park, in a pocket being branded "St Leonards South." Hyecorp recently completed Audrey in the same pocket.

First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower

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.

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.

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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;

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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

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

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A new report suggests retail property prices will be built up by investors due to tightening yields, improved consumer sentiment and other asset classes not providing the same stability.
The LJ Hooker Commercial Retail Market Monitor said the value of retail transactions dropped in 2014-15, with the downturn attributed to the lack of available stock, with regional centres hit the hardest.
“Investment transaction activity was a little subdued in the first half of 2015, constrained in dollar terms by the low level of stock available,’’ he said.
“Regional centres have been consolidated on the back of improved retail spending.
"Queensland’s capital and secondary markets experienced a halving of retail turnover from 5.3% in 2013 to 2.5% in July this year.
“But we’re expecting a considerable turn-around for Queensland eclipsed, not surprisingly, only by Sydney and New South Wales over the next two years."
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mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

Tight yields to drive retail property investors

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Office property re-emerges as the strongest commercial property sector, according to NAB's quarterly Australian commercial property survey.
The findings show that overall sentiment in Australian commercial property markets has moderated a little, but it remains at elevated levels and continues to vary widely across sectors and states. 
"Sentiment eased in most sectors (particularly CBD hotels), but this was largely offset by a big improvement in office. It is also still deeply negative in WA and SA/NT, while NSW and Victoria remain the most upbeat states."
The quarterly survey also notes that on the development front, more property developers are looking to commence new projects in the short-term (led by residential projects), despite increasingly difficult funding conditions. 
"The NAB Commercial Property Index fell to +10 points in Q3, down slightly from a Survey high +11 in Q2.
“The index was dragged down by weaker sentiment in most sectors, particularly CBD hotels. Office was the exception, and it has re-emerged as the strongest sector overall after lagging all other sectors since mid-2013", said NAB Group Chief Economist Alan Oster.
NAB added that sentiment also continues to vary widely across states.
"It is still deeply negative in WA and SA/NT, neutral in Queensland and positive in NSW and Victoria.
"NSW continues to be the most optimistic state for commercial property looking forward, and WA by far the most pessimistic (particularly in regards to office and retail property)", claims the report.
The commercial property survey suggest that by sector, property professionals operating in office (especially in NSW and Victoria) and industrial markets (led by Queensland and NSW) are the most confident when looking to the year ahead, with CBD hotels lagging. 
Looking further ahead, confidence levels are broadly similar across all market segments in 2 years time, with CBD hotels the big improver.
The survey suggests capital growth the next 1-2 years will be strongest for office property (1.5% &amp; 1.4%), followed by industrial (1.1% &amp; 1.3%) and retail (0.9% &amp; 1.2%). Expectations for capital growth in CBD hotels have however been scaled back (-0.6% &amp; 0.3%). 
Positive rental returns are also forecast in all sectors in next 1-2 years, led by big upward revision in expectations for office rents (especially in Victoria).
“This is the first time the outlook for rents has been positive across all sectors since late-2010” he said.
The survey also points to an improvement in developer confidence this quarter, with the number of developers planning to commence new works in the next 6 months rising to 60%, up from 48% in Q2. 
“Hopefully, this will translate into stronger building construction, particularly as property developers have also noted a further deterioration in their debt and equity funding situations”, he said.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

NAB survey suggests office property as the strongest sector

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An upswing in the Melbourne and Sydney commercial property markets is expected to continue for the next two years, according to the Property Directions Survey by the Australian Property Institute.
API NSW president George Vallas respondents to the survey were asked to plot their predictions of where the national commercial markets would be against a property clock, with 12 o'clock indicating the peak of a cycle and 6 o'clock indicating the bottom.
"Currently, commercial property in Sydney and Melbourne is at 10 o'clock on the property clock. Respondents to our survey expect that commercial property markets in these cities will be at 11 o'clock next year, and 12 o'clock in 2017," he said. 
"Commercial property in Brisbane is expected to remain at approximately the same position over the next two years, which is almost halfway along the upswing of the property cycle.
"Industrial and retail property is currently at approximately the same point on the upswing of the property cycle (10 o'clock) across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with some way to go until it reaches its peak. The exception is retail property in Brisbane, which is currently at 9 o'clock. 
"By 2017, both retail and industrial property across all three cities will have reached the top of the property cycle."
 
<a href="/images/2015/11/18/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%201.11.38%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
2015
<img src="/images/2015/11/18/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%201.11.38%20PM.png" alt="">
 
<a href="/images/2015/11/18/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%201.18.29%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
2016
<img src="/images/2015/11/18/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%201.18.29%20PM.png" alt="">
<a href="/images/2015/11/18/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%201.19.34%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
2017
<img src="/images/2015/11/18/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%201.19.34%20PM.png" alt="">
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Growth still coming for Sydney, Melbourne commercial property

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Australia’s retail industry is undergoing a period of significant change, as established retailers are forced to evolve in order to survive, according to the latest retail research from Colliers International, Game On: Retail’s new entrants flex muscle as competition grows.  
“Australia’s retail industry has been heavily concentrated and characterised by fierce competition between a few established players,” said Head of Retail at Colliers International, Michael Bate. 
“Our industry is undergoing an unprecendented period of disruption, as these established players have been forced to evolve in order to meet the changing demands of the consumer and revive profitability. 
"These changes are opening up new opportunities for the many emerging brands in Australia, who are looking to gain a foothold in an established and well-heeled market.”
According to the research, two retail segments who have undergone significant disruption are the supermarket and department store sectors.  
“The purchase of David Jones by the South-African based Woolworths chain last year has prompted a period of significant change,” said the report’s author, Daniel Lees, Associate Director of Research at Colliers International. 
“Under their new ownership, David Jones has undergone a transformation, and they are looking ahead at new opportunities, such as fresh food.  At the same time, Myer has been forced to revitalise their offering in order to stay competitive.”
The impact on the retail property sector as a result has been significant. 
Myer has decreased their property footprint in several key areas, such as Top Ryde where they are withdrawing completely.  In other centres they are reducing their footprint.  
“Myer and David Jones have been two of our most significant retail occupiers for decades,” said Mr Bate. 
“They have controlled a huge portion of the most sought-after, highest visibility retail space across the country. 
"With their rationalisation of space, comes a huge opportunity for the emerging brands to establish themselves in well-located retail spaces with good foot traffic and exceptional visibility.”
Aldi, who have been in the Australian market for more than 10 years, have expanded rapidly in recent times as such opportunities have arisen, with a current estimated market share of 11%. 
Likewise, there is speculation that global supermarket giant, Lidl, may enter the Australian market, and sourcing appropriate floor capacity will be crucial to their entry strategy. 
Having taken some of the low hanging fruit to improve sales at David Jones, Woolworths Holdings SA now sees the need to invest substantially more money in the business to build out offerings such as fresh food.
To fund this investment, it’s possible that David Jones could realise significant funds by a rationalisation of its property portfolio in Sydney and Melbourne CBDs, potentially raising up to $1 billion if air rights are fully exploited.
The sale may result in at least a partial leaseback of space from a buyer however this strategy does open up prime availability to new market entrants.  
“Our retail landscape has changed significantly in recent years, but that’s nothing on what we’re going to see in the coming years,” said Mr Bate. 
“The march of international retailers into our country is nothing new, but the second, third and fourth wave of these will continue to come.  Australia’s savvy consumers know these global brands, making their move into the Australian market an easy one.”
Brands such as H&amp;M are only making the move into the Australian market when the right floorspace opportunity comes up. 
H&amp;M’s new Sydney CBD store, in Pitt Street Mall, spans 5,000sqm and has strong visibility in a high traffic area. 
According to Mr Bate, such global retailers will form an important part of the future retail landscape.  
“Only 10 years ago, our major department stores occupied tens of thousands of square metres in our CBDs, limiting the options for other retailers.  These department stores are now savier with their space, and embarking upon multi-channel strategies to appeal to changing consumer needs. 
"This is opening up our retail industry to new players, and providing our consumers with an increased choice.” 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

New players make for retail disruption in Sydney

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A prized Blackwattle Bay development site, with jetty, near the Sydney Fish Markets has been scheduled for an online overnight auction.
The auction commenced with a $22.2 million starting bid today, Wednesday 18 November at 11.00am and <a href="https://www.auctionworksonline.net.au/properties/288-31-35-bank-street-pyrmont-2009-nsw-australia" target="_blank">ends Thursday 19 November at midday</a>.
The 2988 sqm Bank Street holding, currently utilised for fish freezing storage, was recently bought off market by a private local investment syndicate. 
 <img src="/images/2015/11/13/blackw.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="288">
The previous owner, the Chinese developer Dahua sold mid-year after its controversial mixed use development plans for the precinct drew a backlash from the NSW government.
The auction is being conducted through the auctionworks.net.au website lead by auctioneer David Scholes who amended the auction times to mid-week.
The bidding will close at 12 noon Thursday, unless there is last minute further bidding.
"All interested parties will need to register with the agents and provide sufficient identification to allow them to select a bidder’s number and compete," Mr Scholes said.
Competitive bidding is expected as Blackwattle Bay is the crown jewel in the NSW Government’s Urban Growths renewal plans for a waterfront tourist precinct.
While Urban Growths' Bays Market masterplan has yet been released, work on the foreshore walk is scheduled to commence in early 2016.
The nearby Sydney Fish Market land will be up for tender in March next year. 
The site for auction, which sits between Poulos Bros and Hymix, has been listed as a place of state significant development under the State and Regional Development SEPP with the minister as the consent authority rather than City of Sydney Council.
The existing controls allow hotels but developers are likely to seek mixed residential usage.
"The short auction deadline is not ideal, but the option to purchase is a live prospect," the Deans Property listing agent, Robert Deans said.
"It is a great opportunity alone or as part of a broader scale redevelopment," he said. Any redevelopment of the nearby fish market must be approved by the SFM Merchants and Tenants.
The Labor State Government started the Bays Precinct consultation and the Liberal Government appointed Urban Growth as the coordinating agency. 
The sales brochure point to an Urban Growth document that indicates more density and higher planning controls was possible for the site.
"It appears from the captured image that it is proposed that the building on the subject land will be a 14 storey building," says the auction marketing.
"This is speculative and interested parties should make their own assessments," it said. 
Most of the Blackwattle Bay waterfront is government-owned, but Jin Huiming's Dahua Group paid $17.5 million to buy the site from Bidvest last year.
The Dahua Group on-sold the site to the current vendors, Fishbank Development Corporation in June this year, according to a caveat on the title, but the delayed settlement sale has not yet been finalised.
Mr Jin, 63, previously was ranked by Forbes as the 36th richest person in China a decade ago when Dahua was ranked in China's top 10 real estate companies.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Blackwattle development plot for online auction after Duhua disposal

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Quest apartment hotels have opened their doors to a new hotel in Chatswood.
The new 100 room hotel at 38 Albert Avenue increases Quest's already strong presence in Sydney.
The building will be developed by international trading and investment company Wu International. 
There are 100 studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments available.
The building includes onsite parking and a gym, with rooms featuring Foxtel and free wifi. 
CEO of Quest Zed Sanjana was delighted to open another Quest in NSW, given Sydney being a leading location in the apartment hotel operator's growth strategy.
"Sydney is one of our key growth areas for the coming decade - expanding our presence in this diverse and thriving city will strengthen out brand and cement our position as the accommodation provider of choice for travellers doing business in this state."
Quest Hotels are continuing their growth, with new properties being targeted in:
WA: West Perth, Mounts Bay Road, East Perth and Fremantle
NSW: St Leonards, Newcastle, Bella Vista and Macquarie Park
SA: Port Adelaide
VIC: Dandenong Central
NZ: Petone
The rate for a one bedroom apartment is around $229 a night. 
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Quest expands NSW presence with Chatswood opening

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The combination of a stable rental market and the slight firming of yields has seen an increase in industrial property capital values over 2015, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White.
The HTW report suggests there is an acknowledgement that many companies, particularly those in the manufacturing sector, are still struggling with high costs and overseas competition. 
"The fall in the value of the Australian dollar has improved local competiveness, and it is unlikely that we will see rampant price rises with these economic headwinds. 
"A case in point is the retreat of the major car makers from the Australian market over the next two years and the likely oversupply of established buildings which will hit the market on their departure.
"Capital values in the city fringe areas are more a function of the underlying land value with the rental income often treated as a short term holding return pending redevelopment", says the HTW month in review.
The report notes these areas are expected to remain buoyant in the ensuing 12 months. 
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It also suggests that incentives have been increasing, particularly for larger and speculative developments, which offsets some of the higher asking face rents in this sector. 
"Traditionally, the leasing market operates on an incentive equivalent to one month rent free per year of term (8.33%) but can be as high as 30% in some high end deals. 
"Returns are typically net with the tenant responsible for payment of statutory outgoings, insurance premiums, utilities, operating costs and non-structural repairs and maintenance."
The report goes on to add that outgoings have been generally in the range of $8 to $15 per square metre of building area, higher for specialised buildings or buildings with particularly low site coverage. 
"Yields have been generally firming as a response to a prolonged period of historically low interest rates and it is particularly evident for institutional grade property where a combination of strong demand and a scarcity of ‘blue chip’ assets has pushed yields and IRR’s to pre-GFC levels", says the HTW November review.
"The market doesn’t differentiate to any great extent in terms of required yield over Melbourne’s main industrial markets with the exception of the City Fringe market (including Port Melbourne, West Melbourne, Abbotsford, Collingwood and Richmond) where the high underlying land values and redevelopment potential support tighter yields."
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As a general overview, Herron Todd White offers the following Capital Value and Rental Rate ranges.
"Capital values in the western market continue to range from $800 to $1,075 per square metre of building area for prime and from $500 to $700 per square metre of building area for secondary properties. 
"Capital values in the northern market range from $850 to $1,150 per square metre of building area for prime and from $550 to $750 per square metre of building area for secondary properties. 
"Capital values in the south eastern and eastern markets range from $1,000 to $1,300 per square metre of building area for prime and from $600 to $800 per square metre of building area for secondary properties. 
"Prime rents in the western market continue to range between $60 to $70 per square metre per annum net plus GST and secondary rents are $45 to $55 per square metre per annum net plus GST. 
"Prime rents in the northern market are between $65 and $75 per square metre per annum net plus GST and secondary rents are $50 to $60 per  square metre per annum net plus GST.
"Prime rents in the south-eastern market are between $75 and $85 per square metre per annum net plus GST and secondary rents are $55 to $65 per square metre per annum net plus GST.
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The month in review says going forward, major projects include the sale of the Port of Melbourne leasehold with the proceeds committed to the improvement of road infrastructure through the removal of rail crossing ‘bottlenecks’. 
"There are planned upgrades to major freeways over the next two years including the Western Distributor project and the Monash Freeway upgrade at Hallam. 
"Strong demand from the transport and distribution sector has been fuelled by the rise of on-line retailing and its reliance on large scale warehousing.
"The proposed opening of the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market in Epping continues to drive demand in the northern industrial market."
"In light of this, the retreat of the major car makers from the Australian market over the next two years and the likely oversupply of established buildings which will hit the market on their departure will continue to put pressure on the market for secondary properties", the report concludes.
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Capital values increase in Melbourne industrial property: HTW

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A local Asian developer was successful in outbidding 15 other potential purchasers at a Burwood, Sydney development site offering.
It fetched $7.8 million through Savills agents Stuart Cox and Neil Cooke.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-burwood-501732202" target="_blank">59 Park Road</a> property in Burwood drew over 140 enquiries.
“This was a phenomenal result, smashing Burwood’s record price for townhouse land with this sale equating to $1,115,000 per townhouse site,” said Mr Cox.
The townhouses, once completed, could achieve $2 million plus .
The 1,833 square metre site comprises three detached dwellings with DA approval.
Zoned R3 Medium Density Residential, the development approval allows for seven luxury four bedroom townhouses situated directly opposite Burwood Park.
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Burwood townhouse site sells at $1.1 million through Savills

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The industrial property market in Mildura has generally held up well during 2015, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White.
In the HTW month in review they show that vacancy rates, particularly for modern premises, remain relatively low and rental levels have been maintained.
Having said this however, the report goes on to suggest that there have been relatively few sales and so far only one above $1 million (compared to three sales over $1 million in 2014).
"The sales that have occurred have generally shown yields of around 9%.
"In 2015 we have seen some development start in the section of Benetook Avenue between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets.
"Development in this strip has been held up for many years by the cost of connecting to stormwater drainage infrastructure.
"With little remaining vacant land in Mildura’s traditional industrial area, it is a welcome sight to see development now moving further along Benetook Avenue, filling in one of the last remaining gaps in one of our main arterial roads."
 
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Mildura commercial property market holds: Herron Todd White

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Throughout 2015 there has been a substantial increase in transaction activity, says valuation firm Herron Todd White's recent month in review.
The report suggests however that this is by far more heavily weighted to prime assets and larger assets offering a strong WALE of five plus years.
"Buyer and market activity for investment properties with solid WALEs in the greater Brisbane area is very strong at present due to the low interest rate environment.
"This has resulted in firming yields for these prime assets over the past 18 months, evidenced in the above table."
However, the report does go on to add that there is increasing disparity between prime and secondary stock with strong yields for primary stock ranging between 7% and 8.5% and relatively soft yields for secondary stock ranging between 8.5% and 10%.
"The spike in demand for these more modern assets is driven largely by the limited supply being constructed which is a by-product of the hesitation to proceed without some certainty of future cash flow and hence the need for a pre-commitment.
"There has been an increase in leasing activity for prime industrial investment properties in the greater Brisbane area which is a positive sign in a somewhat volatile broader industrial market."
The report concludes by suggesting that the secondary stock is not as attractive with rents falling and vacancy rates increasing.
"Rents for prime industrial assets are ranging between $100 and $140 per square metre per annum net with secondary assets ranging between $60 and $95 per square metre per annum."
 
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