Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

Joel Robinson

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

First look: Winx billionaire’s beachfront Surfers Paradise apartment development greenlit

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>
There are times in the development process that just seem to drag on and on. One of these irritating drawn out processes is the period after the Development Application (DA) and Construction Certificate (CC) are approved but before construction can commence.
After the approvals are received, our clients are then able to finalise their construction loan. Prior to this they have received a preapproval from their bank. For their construction loan to be unconditionally approved, the bank requires all supporting documentation.  This includes stamped plans, consents, signed builder's contract and insurance along with other personal documentation confirming your income.
Property Bloom is in this process with several of our projects right now and it's like riding a bike from a smooth bitumen road into a sand dune. 
The momentum and excitement that builds as we received the DA consent from council gathers speed by the use of a private certifier to fast track the CC process.  So it's just a week or two before we usually obtain the CC consent from lodgement.  It's then the builder's contract is issued to clients for signing and a copy is given to the bank together with the other required documentation to finalise their construction loan.
Then we hit the sand that bogs us down, slowing momentum. The banks will take their time processing the loan but it's also the application of the Home Builders Compensation Fund (HBCF) policy, formerly known as the Home Warranty insurance that slows the process. HBCF is required to be raised by the builder and covers their client for losses arising from defective and incomplete work where the builder becomes insolvent, dies or disappears.  
In the past we were able to apply for this insurance as soon as the CC consent was issued, however now the insurance company wants a copy of the signed builders contract and this adds another two weeks to the process as we need to wait for clients to review and sign the contract.
Even once the bank has all they need, including the insurance policy, it can take them another two weeks to issue the authority to commence construction to the builder. We cannot commence construction without the bank's go ahead in writing.
Two weeks here and two weeks there can all add up. When you are relying on third parties there is little you can do apart from be a 'squeaky wheel' and keep calling to see how the application is travelling.
One way to accelerate the process is to avoid using a construction loan. This may not be an option for most developers but if you have enough cash or equity available in other properties then you can look at the option of setting up a line of credit and funding the construction from this. Always get accounting advice on this. The big benefit is that you will avoid the headache the paperwork can cause and you won't be waiting around for the construction finance approval. 
Finally, construction may start as soon as you've signed the contract and the HBCF insurance policy is issued. We have found this to save approximately 6-8 weeks off the time frame of a development. It also has benefits on completion and fast tracks the handover process.
Jo Chivers is Chief Executive Officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about">Property Bloom</a>.
</body></html>

jochivers-wq5Bp59R5a

How to accelerate the pre-construction phase: Jo Chivers

<html><body>
Melbourne prestige buyers agent Mal James says it would be easy for buyers to throw in the towel, but urges they don't.
Advising buyers to not panicking and sticking to buying fundamentals, he says his client’s last 10 market dealings over a recent 10 days reflect the inner Melbourne market was strong.
"But it’s not impossible to navigate," he said noting some cheers and some tears in their dealings which ranged between $2 million to $6 million.
However he notes several examples of sales at 20% above agent quotes, including to FIRB approved buyers at Studley Park. There was also a Malvern home sale at 33% above agent quote in Malvern.
"Overseas interest can add $100,000 for each $1,000,000 as a rule of thumb," he noted.
"The market is manageable.
"The market is hot and you need to be brave and bold. 
"Not ridiculous, but brave and bold.  
"On one of the homes we bought, the underbidder paid $110,000 extra the next day to be an underbidder again on what appeared to us to be a similar offering.
"Better a missed opportunity than a mistake.
"You are not going to get smashed or surprised every time, if you do your homework on price. 
"Sometimes it is just too much and you have to move on. 
"Move on but don’t give up or don’t overreact," he said.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Overseas buyer interest adds $100,000 for each $1 million in Melbourne prestige market: Mal James

<html><body>
The Sydney real estate market is nothing short of idiotic…
So-called experts, along with the media, are hyping up the situation, stating that Sydney is still affordable to the average punter.
What a load of bollocks…
The median income being around $75,000 does not equate to being able to afford the Sydney median house price now, at over $900k.
Even if a couple were earning $75,000 each, it still doesn’t mathematically work.
Unless my calculator is broken?
So, when does all this mayhem start to correct itself?
Well, today I stand-alone and say the change started from last week…
But why you ask?
There was a fundamental bank policy change that took affect on April 24th. The change in policy affects non-residents trying to borrow in Australia.
Where Non-Residents were able to borrow up to 80% of the purchase price, this has now been reduced by 2 major banks down to 70%.
The statistic’s published by the FIRB this week show that the Chinese have taken over as the major buyers of real estate in our country – no surprise there!
But how much are they actually buying? Well we can only work out these numbers based on the approvals they have. I say that as many are buying properties without approval.
Joe Hockey forced the sale of the $39 million Sydney mansion recently that has now been sold… but this is happening on a much larger scale. We recently had a client call us who wanted to invest. This lady had a large home mortgage on a property already but wanted to buy an investment property with cash that she was receiving from her mother from overseas.
We rightly refused the business, but I am sure they managed to buy a property using another property company.
By using the approval figures published, let’s number out the volume of purchases. The stats say that the Chinese have spent 27.7 Billion on property this year alone. The majority of these sales would be in Melbourne and Sydney.
Using the new median in Sydney of $900k, this would equate to 30,777 property transactions.
Monthly this equates to 2,564 deals per month.
If we say that one third were in Sydney, one third in Melbourne and one third for the remainder of Australia, then the number now looks more like 855 sales per month in Sydney.
That number doesn’t look that big now does it???
But, we need to add in the other major players too. The US spent $17 Billion, Canada $15 Billion and Malaysia $7.2 Billion.
So the volume now becomes more substantial…
Everybody is saying though that the Chinese are paying cash for all these houses?
Are they? – I think not!
If they were, why have 2 banks reduced their LVR for those borrowers?
<ul>
<li>Could be that they are over exposed to overseas borrowers.</li>
<li>Could be APRA now have a close eye on them.</li>
<li>Overseas borrowers are much harder to chase, should the properties go into mortgagee in possession.</li>
</ul>
But think about it like this… wHy would these two banks broadcast this through a major announcement for no reason?
Simply because they want to curb the volume of mortgage applications that come in!
Even the banks Business Development Managers (BDM’s) are nervous as they know the exact volume of loans that do come in from Non-Residents. They are nervous as they are paid on volume and they know the volume will now reduce.
The effective date of this change was April 24th and it was effective immediately as well. Now usually banks will allow a grace period for those loans already pre approved to still proceed under the old policy, for a period of around 2 months. That didn’t happen here. Any loans that had not found a property within 24 hours of the notice would now fall under the new policy.
Now call me skeptical, but that seems very definite to me!!!
So what does all that have to do with the Sydney Property Market?
Consumer confidence…
What Sydney has at the moment is a massive consumer confidence problem. This is fuelled by the media and the hype of overseas buyers, along with investors paying more for houses than what owner occupiers can afford. There is a huge fear of missing out and consequently people are paying way too much for a property.
After two solid years of capital growth in Sydney, not only do overseas buyers now have to pay another $200k more for the same property, but they now must also put another 10% – $90k cash towards the purchase. The new extra $5k tax they pay won’t affect things but it all adds up.
So, if you take the sting out of the market, you take away consumer confidence and markets begin to turn…
Why would this occur when we have the lowest interest rates we have ever seen? Even after interest rates were cut this week?
Low interest rates will not save the market. They may prolong it a little, but not save it.
APRA have stopped the banks and consumers hanging themselves for a while. When you apply for a loan, the bank will assess the deal at 7.1% even though interest rates are almost hitting 4%, after this week’s announcement.
APRA forced them to do this to stop potential future mortgagee possessions. But what it has meant, is that for the past 4-6 interest rate cuts, your borrowing power has not increased in the eyes of the banks. Sure your actual repayments have but they wont allow you to borrow any more than what you can afford at 7.1%.
But those house prices continue to rise… meaning that there comes a point where your affordability in a mortgage wont allow you to pay anymore for a property.
The other interesting point to make here is, if the interest rates stay low for ten years, will this market continue?
No Chance!!!
We already have low interest rates in Perth and the market there is dead. Why? Because the vast majority believe that Perth is a mining town. That’s not the case… Perth is a major city of two million people… the mining is a mere blimp in their overall economy.
But this perception has knocked the wind out of people’s Consumer Confidence.
Canberra, until very recently, had the same problem too. The government announced 16,000 public servants to be retrenched and consumer confidence flew out the window in the ACT. It never happened, but this lack of confidence took control and dictated what the market did.
Greece, Spain, Japan, USA all have extremely low interest rates and their property markets are terrible.
So, I make the stand and say, I believe from today we will see the start of a change. Many less overseas buyers, far less affordability and a strong property market where many buyers who have already purchased are out of the market, will see a turn towards slowing down.
I guess we will have to go back and check in six months or so, as this is how long it takes for property data to take affect. The deals being pre approved in May, might buy in June. Which then settle in August. The banks bulk stamp transfers these days around twice a month which would take the data into September… ready for reporting by Christmas.
Time will tell…
TODD HUNTER is buyer’s agent, director and location researcher for Sydney-based <a href="https://www.wheregroup.com.au/" target="_blank">wHeregroup</a>.
</body></html>

thunter-umjjMzoT8b

Low interest rates will not save all markets: Todd Hunter

<html><body>
Small businesses with a turnover of less than $2m can now claim an immediate tax deduction when purchasing plant equipment valued under $20,000.
This new tax break will deliver an early Xmas present to fit-out contractors who specialise in restaurant and small office refurbishments.
I was surprised by the quantum of the tax break.
I think $20,000 as an immediate tax deduction for individual items is a huge amount and an incredible incentive to bring that fit-out forward.
Fit-out contractors now believe in Santa Claus and he’s taken the form of Joe Hockey.
We recently refurbished our office for a cost of $202,000 and were able to claim $35,000 in depreciation in the first year. If we’d carried out the same fit-out today our first year depreciation would’ve been over $123,000.
That’s a huge difference.
Quantity Surveyors are experts in breaking down the overall construction cost into individual items and now has never been a more appropriate time to do this.
There are four main points to consider:
<ol>
<li>Small businesses should ensure a detailed report of any fit-out costs be carried out.</li>
<li>When acquiring any new asset, small businesses should try to keep the costs below $20,000.</li>
<li>This generous bonus has an expiry date of June 30, 2017.</li>
<li>Assets costing over $20,000 can still be depreciated but not claimed as an outright deduction.</li>
</ol>
Some examples of what may qualify for an immediate tax deduction include carpet, desks, blinds, work stations and a lighting upgrade.
Now has never been a better time to upgrade that office or refurbish your restaurant.
TYRON HYDE is director of <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/" target="_blank">Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors</a>.
His book <a href="https://www.claim-it.com.au/?utm_source=wbsite&amp;utm_medium=image&amp;utm_campaign=homepagebanner" target="_blank">CLAIM IT!</a> helps property investors maximise their tax benefits through smart deprecation.
</body></html>

tyronhyde-GVUTYT8ZT3

Christmas for contractors as Hockey delivers: Tyron Hyde

<html><body>
Historically, the east coast housing markets of Brisbane and Melbourne have followed the Sydney growth cycle, booming shortly after the Sydney market reaches its peak.
Despite speculation that growth in the Sydney market would spill north to Brisbane, devastating weather conditions and the deterioration of commodity prices mean that the greater Brisbane region has seen subdued growth so far in 2015.
Our latest data shows that the median house value in Brisbane contracted by 1.33% for the March quarter. Units did not do much better, with growth of 0% in the same period.
Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt described the Federal Budget as a “let down for Queensland”.
The State Government was chasing funding for a cross river rail, the second stage of the Gold Coast light rail and the Sunshine Coast rail duplication.
However, the Federal Government has announced its infrastructure loans are conditional, and Queensland will not receive full federal support unless it agrees to sell its assets.
Unless the State Government can negotiate further infrastructure funding, Queensland may see subdued economic and employment growth.
This is further reinforced by the abolishment of the tax free threshold for those on a working holiday in Australia.
The reform could reduce tourism, which has provided a crutch for the Queensland economy following the tapering off of the mining boom.
Any fiscal policy impacting tourism is also important for those with holiday rentals to consider, as rental returns could go down and vacancy periods have the potential to go up.
Eliza Owen is the Market Analyst for <a href="https://investors.onthehouse.com.au/Federal_Budget_2015/?page=1#.VVOx3XpMIzU" target="_blank">Onthehouse.com.au</a>.
</body></html>

More bad news for Queensland property: Eliza Owen

<html><body>
What is it about Sydney people that makes them so sensitive to interest rates when no one else in Australia is?
If we can believe popular analysis, interest rates cuts are like steroids to Sydney residents. They get all pumped up by them and charge around lifting things that were financially too heavy for them previously.
But the 81% of Australians who live outside Greater Sydney are immune. They’re exposed to the same stimulus but it has no visible effect on them. Curious modern phenomenon.
Anyone with a keen eye for observation and an inquiring mind – the qualities that journalists used to have, back in the day – might wonder why Canberra people, for example, have such a strong immunity to the rates steroid.
It certainly made me wonder, so I checked to make sure they have the same interest rates in the national capital as they have three hours up the road in the NSW capital. And, sure enough, they do.
And guess what else? They have the same interest rates in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Hobart as well. 
I had assumed rates must be much higher in all those places because, according to the latest figures from cor blimey RP Data, apartment prices are falling in Perth, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra – and have barely moved in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, whereas they’re up 10% in Sydney.
Here are some of the headlines since the RBA interest rates decision last week:
<ul>
<li>Rate cut adds to Sydney buying frenzy</li>
<li>Rate cut dangerous for property market</li>
<li>Rate cut could destabilize property market</li>
<li>RBA rate cut will put pressure on property market</li>
</ul>
Some of the reaction to the interest rate reduction bordered on the ludicrous. We had a slightly hysterical president of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, Malcolm Gunning, claiming the rate cut meant young people would be forced to leave Sydney. Sam White from Loan Market said the rate cut would make the market unsustainable and unaffordable.
We even had Adelaide pundits claiming the rates decisions would fire up the local property market. Why all those previous rate cuts had failed to achieve that was not explained. 
We’ve had almost four years of falling interest rates and none of those previous cuts have generated a boom in Adelaide – or anywhere else in capital city Australia, apart from Sydney - but this latest reduction is going to “fire up” the market, apparently.
So where did this notion that interest rates were the prime factor in residential real estate dynamics originate? Yes, you guessed it – it’s the love child of our under-class of chattering economists.
Watching an economist discuss real estate is like listening to a close friend of mine discuss rugby. She understands that a ball is involved but she’s never sure whether it’s round or oval - or whether you need to kick it over the bar or under it. She is sure about one thing, though - that it doesn’t make a lot of sense and far too many people are obsessed with it.
I recently spoke to a boardroom luncheon in Sydney, attended by 12 or 15 people with “economist” somewhere in their titles and all from big name companies and institutions. What they collectively knew about residential property could be written on the back of a postage stamp in crayon. In the minds of most of them, there’s a national property boom and it’s caused by low interest rates.
They’re the masters of the universe and they know close to nothing.
There’s another thought about this whole obsession with interest rates and the belief they are central to movements in property markets. Investors who are fundamentally driven by interest rate cuts are not thinking clearly. The current level of interest rates is largely irrelevant to sensible decision-making about property investment.
Anyone who borrows now to invest will face dozens of interest rate changes over the life of their loan. The current level of rates is not a core consideration. The core question for investors should be: if rates at some point rise 2 or 3 percentage points above their current levels, can I still afford the repayments?
If you’re charging around like the steroid-induced herd animals in Sydney, you’ve missed that fundamental point.
TERRY RYDER is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting">Twitter</a>.
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Sensitive Sydneysiders reel at rates: Terry Ryder

<html><body><div class="cT-imageLandscape">
<div class="cT-imageLandscape">
South Melbourne's Emerald Hill Terrace – a row of 15 adjoining buildings – has been offered selling on a low 4.2% yield.
Developed in 1887, it is a distinctive row of double-storey retail terraces with an estimated net income of $1,146,555 p.a.
The property offers 15 ground-floor retail tenancies, 10 dwellings and two offices. Offering subdivision potential as currently single title.
It covers the street addresses known as 328-362 Clarendon Street, 48-69 Emerald Hill Place and 244-246 Park Street.
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-south+melbourne-501496007">Emerald Hill Terrace</a> last sold to the Cannon family in 1997 for $5.6 million having being previously owned by the state government.
It was saved from demolition by then Liberal premier Dick Hamer.
The Victorian terrace shops sold to a syndicate of private investors for $27.5 million through Dixon Kestles agent John Pratt and Ian Price, with Knight Frank's Ken Smirk and Marcus Quinn.
</div>
</div></body></html>

Emerald Hill, South Melbourne retail terraces fetch $27.5 million

<html><body>
Melbourne’s booming auction market, with a record 40,000 auctions last year, attracts headlines. But behind the scenes are the quiet achievers: private sales, actually the means by which most homes across Victoria, including in Melbourne, are sold.
While the number of auctions has grown, with vendors seeing the high prices obtained at auction by others and wanting that for their own home, more than 60 per cent of all sales in Melbourne last year were private sales. This resulted in close to 50,000 Melbourne homes being sold through private sale over the 12 months.
While auctions can be favourable to the seller, with the white heat of competition encouraging ever-higher bids and buyers to be highly assertive, private sales avoid that stress. They also allow a longer marketing period than an auction campaign, which is generally a month. 
Traditionally outer suburbs and regional areas, where homes can take longer to sell than in the highly competitive inner suburbs of Melbourne, have been the main centres of private sale activity. 
And last year was no different, with almost all of the top private sale suburbs in Melbourne’s outer region.
The trend has continued in 2015 – with the outer eastern, southern and western suburbs leading the way. Among those with the most private sales this year have been Frankston with 635, Pakenham with 620, Point Cook with 571 and Croydon with 470. Also on the top 10 list were: Mornington, Mooroolbark and Mount Martha.
The active property market in Mildura resulted in 560 private sales for that year, Victoria’s fifth highest total.
What may come as a surprise to some is the number of private sales in Melbourne city itself. In the city of Melbourne there were 717 private sales – a result of the large number of apartment private sales in Docklands and the CBD. Another top performer was the very large middle north suburb of Reservoir, which racked up the highest auction total for the year, and also had the eighth highest total private sales: 409.
While private sale levels are still extremely high, there has been a steady growth in auction levels statewide. So while in January and February last year just 12 per cent of all sales in outer suburbs were by auction, that had risen to 18 per cent in the first two months of this year. Areas with the largest increase in sales by auction included Rosebud, Craigieburn, Edithvale, Springvale and South Morang.
This reflects the value offered by outer suburbs, where population growth is leading to improved infrastructure including shopping centres such as the expanded centre in Craigieburn, transport hubs such as the station at South Morang to which the Epping line was extended, and recreation facilities.
Affordability is also a driver of outer suburban sales in 2015. Melbourne’s most affordable locations at present include Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Carrum Downs, Wyndham Vale and Hampton Park.
While clearance rates – that is the percentage of properties at auction that sell – are a measure of the health of the auction market, days on the market are the comparable measure for private sales. All the suburbs in which properties sold fastest in February were in outer Melbourne – and, more specifically, outer eastern Melbourne. Top of the list was Croydon Hills with 17.5 days on the market, followed by Croydon South with 19 days and Montrose and Ringwood, both with 21.
Others on the list of the top 10 fastest selling areas were the Basin, Chirnside Park – the biggest improver compared with January, down by 2.5 days to 23, Mooroolbark, Yallambie, Scoresby and Kilsyth.
<a href="https://reiv.com.au/news-resources/latest-news/ceo-steps-down-after-16-years" target="_blank">Enzo Raimondo is the REIV Chief Executive Officer</a>
</body></html>

enzoraimond-7fvRFHPR52

Melbourne auction versus private treaty numbers: REIV's Enzo Raimondo

<html><body>
<div class="page" title="Page 9">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Credit Losses at Australian Banks: 1980–2013 is the latest Reserve Bank of Australia research discussion paper, written by David Rodgers.
<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2015/2015-06" target="_blank">The paper</a> explores the historical credit loss experience of the Australian banking system.
The paper provides the narrative of banking system credit losses in Australia that includes both the early 1990s and global financial crisis episodes.
During both episodes, banks’ credit losses appear to have had a close relationship with changes in business sector conditions (such as commercial property prices and the business sector’s interest burden). 
Losses during the earlier period totalled around 8.5% of lending; losses during and after the global financial crisis were around 2.5% of lending. 
The earlier episode was a more severe downturn – business sector conditions declined to a greater extent – but anecdotal evidence indicates that differences in lending standards also played a role in the different levels of credit losses across these two episodes.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 10">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
As well as macroeconomic conditions and lending standards, portfolio composition turns out to be important for credit losses. The very limited portfolio-level data available for the early 1990s indicate losses during this episode were incurred mainly on business lending.
The better data available for the global financial crisis episode make it clear that the elevated losses during this episode were almost entirely incurred on business lending.
 Credit losses on housing loans during the global financial crisis episode were minimal.
It noted the Australian bank credit loss experience since 1980 is dominated by the very high rate of losses before, during, and after the early 1990s recession, as well as the smaller losses during and after the global financial crisis.
Losses around the early 1980s recession were much lower. Relative to lending, credit losses during the early 1990s far exceeded those incurred by banks during and after the global financial crisis. 
Current losses between September 1989 and September 1994 totalled around 8.5% of the average value of banks’ lending during this period. In comparison, current losses during September 2007 to September 2012 were equivalent to around 2.5% of average lending over this period.
The partial portfolio-level data that are available for the early 1990s episode indicate that the bulk of credit losses were incurred on lending to businesses rather than households.
Two major banks published usable portfolio breakdowns of their net write-offs in their annual reports for some or all of the early 1990s, but the categories used in this data were not well defined (Figure 5).
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 17">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<img src="/images/2015/05/08/700_figure_5.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="349">
They show losses on non-construction housing loans were minimal (these fall within the ‘Real estate – mortgage’ category).
Loans to individuals for construction of housing probably fell within the ‘Real estate – construction’ category, but this category also contains lending for commercial property. Losses on this category were significant, but only make up around 13% of reported losses for these two banks. 
The key point is that most of the losses reported by these two banks fall in the ‘Other business’ category. 
Losses on personal lending, such as credit cards and non-housing term loans, were non-negligible, but appear to be less cyclical than losses on business lending.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 19">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
These two banks, CBA and NAB, accounted for 33% of bank lending at September 1991. 
CBA’s write-offs include those made within the State Bank of Victoria’s loan book after its acquisition in November 1990.
Portfolio-level data are available on all banks’ non-performing assets from mid 1990 to mid 1994, and these support the conclusion that losses were incurred mainly on business lending.
It shows that the share of banks’ lending to businesses that was non-performing far exceeded the share of their lending to households (including non-mortgage personal lending) that was non-performing.
It noted contemporary accounts of the period also indicate that credit losses were primarily on lending to businesses. 
Trevor Sykes’ (1994) classic account of corporate and banking collapses during this period, The Bold Riders, is one example. 
Edna Carew’s (1997) account of Westpac’s experience during the period indicates its losses were concentrated in business lending, and more specifically, in property development lending. The dominant role of business lending is also suggested by contemporary accounts from industry participants (Phelps 1989; Lee 1991).
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 21">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Various authors have set out potential reasons why credit losses were so large in the early 1990s (Battellino and McMillan 1989; Fraser 1994; Sykes 1994; Carew 1997; Conroy 1997; Ullmer 1997; Gizycki and Lowe 2000). 
There was a recession during 1990–91, and downturns in financial and property markets, but losses were many times greater than those seen in earlier (and later) downturns, suggesting other factors at play. 
A short version is that deregulation of the banking sector in the 1980s was accompanied by very fast business lending growth and declining lending standards, all during a period of strong economic and financial conditions.
Macroeconomic and financial conditions facilitated these developments. 
Real GDP grew at an average rate of about 41⁄4 per cent over the five years to September 1989. 
Equity prices rose by almost 50 per cent per annum from late 1984 until the crash in October 1987. 
Commercial property price growth rose above 10 per cent per annum at the start of 1986, and accelerated in subsequent years. 
This price growth was accompanied by an exceptional amount of non- residential construction, particularly of offices (Figure 8; Kent and Scott 1991).
<img src="/images/2015/05/08/700_figure_8.jpg" alt="" width="538" height="326">
Commercial property was a key form of collateral for the business loans that were secured.
By early 1990, large highly geared companies across a range of industries were unable to meet their increased loan repayments and defaulted on their debts (Sykes 1994). 
This, together with a weakening in the commercial property market, exposed banks to a first round of credit losses (Gizycki and Lowe 2000). 
These losses broadened as business profits began to fall and Australia entered a recession around the end of the year. 
By September 1991, large additions to the supply of office property had combined with flat or falling demand to sharply raise vacancy rates and drive prices down by over 20% on an Australia-wide basis; some banks were forced to recognize significant credit losses on commercial property lending (Carew 1997).
Even during a period in which system-wide lending standards loosened, there are indications lending standards at state government-owned banks, particularly SBSA and SBV, were below average.
These banks grew their lending very quickly over the late 1980s. SBSA and SBV grew their lending at rates of 43 and 27% per year between 1985 and 1990, versus growth in total credit of around 18% per year over this period. 
This fast growth was driven by business lending – the share of these banks’ portfolios made up by business lending increased by over 20 percentage points over the same period. State government owners encouraged fast lending growth, both to support state economies and to provide a new source of revenue for state coffers, and installed aggressive managers (Sykes 1994).
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 51">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The historical experience of credit losses at Australian banks the paper describes should help to guide overall understanding of the credit risk they currently face. 
It supports a continued focus on the analysis of the financial health of the business sector as part the Reserve Bank’s semiannual Financial Stability Review, David Rodgers. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Commercial property credit losses at Australian banks: RBA research discussion paper chart 

<html><body>
The Queensland State Government has vetoed a $7 billion casino resort and cruise ship terminal project planned for Wavebreak Island on the Gold Coast.
Industry data reveals up to 75 ships a year would be docking at a Gold Coast cruise ship terminal had it proceeded.
The concept design for ASF’s rejected cruise ship terminal at Wave Break Island was seen as the most viable option for the Gold Coast from a list of possibilities which included man-made harbours at The Spit and Bilinga.
However, the project did not have the backing of the new Labor Government.
Las Vegas-based casino and resort group Global Gaming Asset Management was set to be be the operator of the Chinese-backed ASF Consortium’s $7.5 billion project on the Gold Coast.
GGAM, founded by Bill Weidner, was set to team up with architect Paul Steelman’s Steelman Partners as the designer for ASF’s planned casino
GGAM has been involved with ­opening and managing more than 20 properties worldwide since 1999.
At a Property Council of Australia event, ASF's Alan Fife had indicated that five international hotels were proposed on Wavebreak Island
ASF Group is a Sino-Australian investment and trading house which focuses principally on the identification, incubation and realisation of opportunities in areas of synergy between China and Australia including resources, commodities trading and property sectors, alongside travel and financial services.
The overall project was not approved by the Newman government, following numerous knockbacks and resistance from community groups.
ASF envisaged to dredge The Spit and use the sand to build up Wavebreak Island.
Hong Kong-listed China Communications Construction Company and one of its subsidiaries, as well as the state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation, have provided a financial guarantee for the project.
</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