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

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Industrial property leasing nationally over the 12 months to March 2015 is up nearly 40% annually, according to Savills national head of research, Tony Crabb.
"The data confirmed the recent upswing in the market and, with Melbourne and Sydney accounting for 66% of the transactions in square metre terms, also provided further evidence of the economic shift to the non-mining states," said Crabb.
"It’s a good news story for Sydney and Melbourne, and while Brisbane has fared remarkably well Perth has not, but it’s important to note that this is a cyclical rather than a structural phenomenon and one which WA will recover from, indeed a spate of recent leasing deals would suggest some green shoots of recovery already."
The data reveals 2,222,163 square metres of industrial space was leased in the year to March, or more than 600,000 square metres above the corresponding period to March 2014. The five year average is 2,406,514 square metres.
At 714,977 square metres reported leased, Melbourne’s figure was up a remarkable 460,000 square metres on last year (255,783 square metres) while Sydney recorded 757,474 square metres of space leased compared with 659,000 square metres in the previous period.
Over in the west, by contrast, Perth recorded a total of 144,926 square metres leased, down more than 45% on the 264,744 square metres recorded to March 2014, while in the other key resources state, Brisbane (485,286 square metres) was up a surprising 70% (283,802 square metres to March 2014).
Savills’s national head of industrial, Darren Curry, said the gradual shift of activity to the non-mining states was progressing as expected.
"And we’ll continue to see that trend over the coming 12 months driven by key players in the transport and logistics sector and especially the warehousing requirements of onlines and new international retailers such as H&amp;M and Uniglo, among others, along with new requirements from key players such as IKEA," Curry said. 
<img src="/images/2015/04/29/chart-ailr-92-one.jpg" alt="">
Source: Savills
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Industrial property leasing on the upturn: Savills

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Sydney's City Tattersalls Club has chosen ICD Property and Sinclair Brook to as development partners for its proposed redevelopment.
According to City Tattersalls Club chief executive Tony Guilfoyle, the mixed-use redevelopment, which will include apartments, will help "reduce the Club's financial dependence on gaming".
Patrick Campion, the chairman of City Tattersalls Club, said the club had received strong interest from developers during its four-month expression of interest process.
"We believe that the ICD Property and Sinclair Brook proposal has the greatest benefit to our members and is in their best interests," Campion said.
"The Club briefed its members yesterday and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."
ICD Property's projects include the 663-apartment Eq. Tower, which is currently being built in the Melbourne CBD. The developer's managing director, Michael Mai, said the project would deliver apartments to an "under-supplied market".
Sinclair Brook is the developer behind Australia 108, the Southbank apartment tower that is set to become the tallest building in Melbourne.
Elenberg Fraser has designed the development concept for the 194-204 Pitt Street premises. The project is due to be completed in 2020.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

City Tattersalls Club announces development partners

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James Packer's Crown Resorts has been ordered to endeavour to resolve its trademark dispute with the burgeoning apartment developer, Iwan Sunito's Crown Group.
The Federal Court Justice John Griffiths ordered the parties to attend a mediation session held by a private mediator.
Crown Resorts is trying to stop Iwan Sunito's company from trading under the name Crown Group Holdings, claiming the apartment developer is cashing in on the $10 billion casino operator's brand.
Sunito's Crown Group filed a counter claim. Both seek wealthy Asian investors.
<img src="/images/2015/02/11/corwn-logogs-feb-11-two.jpg" alt="">
Crown Resorts logo (left), Crown Group logo (upper right) with logo for Crown Apartments (lower right)
The property developer has $3.5 billion of residential developments in its Australian project pipeline.
Spokesmen from Crown Resorts and Crown Group both declined to comment on the court case when contacted by Fairfax Media.
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Crown Resorts and Crown Group told to mediate name dispute

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Developer Villawood Properties has established new Queensland offices in Southport ahead of its launch of two new Gold Coast residential communities.
Founded in Victoria in 1989, Villawood has developed more than 60 award-winning residential masterplanned communities along the eastern seaboard.  
"This year, it is expanding its Queensland operations to diversify its land bank and take advantage of key growth corridors," Villawood Properties co-executive director Tony Johnson said.
The new Southport office is 110 square metres on level six of 64 Marine Parade.  It previously occupied an office at 11-13 Station Street, Nerang.
The relocation comes as Villawood Properties has appointed Christopher Ciuffetelli to the role of assistant development manager in Queensland.  
He joins Michael Williams, Villawood Properties state manager – development.
Villawood Properties co-executive director Tony Johnson said the new Queensland communities were part of its "aggressive three-year growth strategy" and combined represent a total land value of $50 million.
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Villawood setup for Gold Coast projects

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The Bargara Beach Plaza Shopping Centre, located east of the key regional Queensland city of Bundaberg, has been listed in the circa $4 million price category.
The well-established Bargara Beach Plaza Shopping Centre is being marketed by Jon Tyson and Michael Harcourt of Savills Retail Sales.
The property comprises two detached single-level buildings on a 3,048 square metre site with a total gross lettable area of 997 square metres split over 13 tenancy areas.
Tenants include Wide Bay Australia Bank and the Queensland Government Electorate Office.
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Around $4 million tipped for Bundaberg shopping centre

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Nadia Karkar has tendered her resignation as the Kay &amp; Burton chief executive officer, effective 30 April 2015.
Michael Gibson and Ross Savas will now serve as joint managing directors as the CEO role will not be replaced.
In early 2014, Nadia Karkar took he job having been a corporate lawyer in New York and Hong Kong. She had also been an associate director at Hastings Funds Mangement having a MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, and a Melbourne University Bachelor of Commerce and Laws (Hons). 
“We are thankful for Nadia’s strategic guidance and leadership over the past 14 months," said Ross Savas. 
“We wish Nadia the very best in the next phase of her career.
"The company has undergone a successful transformation both from an operational and branding point of view and, no doubt, Nadia has set Kay &amp; Burton on an innovative course for changing times.”
“I am proud that we were able to successfully implement such a large number of strategic initiatives in such a short space of time," said Karkar.
"I have done what I set out to do and it is now time for me to pass the torch along to those who, without doubt, will make it shine even brighter.
“I am proud that we were able to successfully implement such a large number of strategic initiatives in such a short space of time.  I have done what I set out to do and it is now time for me to pass the torch along to those who, without doubt, will make it shine even brighter.”
<div><img src="https://kayburton.com.au/app/webroot/files/Our%20People/South%20Yarra/Nadia%20Karkar.jpg" alt="Nadia Karkar"></div>
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Kay & Burton to have joint CEOs

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Stockland managing director Mark Steinert has been appointed the national president of the Property Council of Australia, the peak body for Australia’s $680 billion property industry.
He takes over from Darren Steinberg, CEO of Dexus Property Group after his four years in the role.
The property industry represents 11.5% of GDP, employs more than 1.3 million people and contributes $34 billion in real estate specific taxes alone, and Steinert said the role of National President was an opportunity that came with great responsibility.
Steinert’s appointment coincided with the election of a new national board with Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison welcoming the "powerful new board".
Property Council of Australia National Board
<ul>
<li>Mark Steinert - Stockland - National President 
</li>
<li>Carmel Hourigan - The GPT Group - Vice President 
</li>
<li>David Southon - Charter Hall - Vice President 
</li>
<li>Darren Steinberg - DEXUS Property Group - Immediate Past President 
</li>
<li>Peter Allen – Scentre Group  
</li>
<li>Kingsley Andrew ‐ Stockland 
</li>
<li>Stephen Conry ‐ JLL 
</li>
<li>Tarun Gupta ‐ Lend Lease 
</li>
<li>Sue Kench - King and Wood Mallesons 
</li>
<li>Ming Long - Investa 
</li>
<li>Derek McMillan - Australian Unity Retirement Living 
</li>
<li>Chris Palandri - Brookfield Multiplex 
</li>
<li>David Rolls - Mirvac 
</li>
<li>Nigel Satterley AM - Satterley Group 
</li>
<li>Steven Sewell - Federation Centres 
</li>
<li>Adam Tindall - AMP Capital 
</li>
<li>Carolyn Viney - Grocon 
</li>
<li>Kurt Wilkinson - Brookfield 
</li>
<li>Ben Yates - Development and Advisory</li>
</ul>
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Stockland's Mark Steinert to lead Property Council of Australia

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The past 24 months have seen a significant increase in commercial property capital values with limited rental growth, according to the GPT Chief Investment Officer, Carmel Hourigan.
"Our expectation is that capital values will increase again in 2015 driven by rental growth and a reduction in returns required by investors," Hourigan said at a presentation for CEDA's Property Outlook 2015.
She noted Australian commercial property values are yet to reach historic highs despite historic low bond yields and other ‘global’ cities recording all time low property yields.
Her speech noted two key structural factors influencing capital values:
<ol>
<li>"The globalisation and liberalisation of capital flows leading to new investors in the Australian property market; and 
</li>
<li>"An ageing population driving a hunt for income generating assets. The fact is a government bond at 2.4% is simply not enough to fund an Australian’s retirement. 10 years ago that number was 5.6%, now it is half. As a result, investors are accepting moderately higher risk to invest in real estate and infrastructure.</li>
</ol>
"On the cyclical side, the global and domestic economic recovery has also led to a strengthening in income from commercial property, however the recovery has been slower and growth is expected to remain moderate.
"Australian corporate profit growth remains heavily reliant upon cost reduction rather than revenue growth and this will lead to continued pressure on rents."
Since the GFC in 2008, Hourigan noted capital values have slowly recovered and are on their way to getting back to the previous peak.
Transaction volumes or the amount of money actually being spent buying and selling commercial property is also tracking well above the height of the last cycle which reflects offshore buyer and merger and acquisition activity.
The majority of activity of that activity has been in the office sector in particular in gateway cities on the eastern seaboard.
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Australian commercial property values are yet to reach historic highs: GPT's Carmel Hourigan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In a letter to Felice Bauer in 1912, philosopher Franz Kafka lamented, “time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres.” Modern workers may well empathise with Kafka’s description of his workplace. Much attention has been focussed recently on the current state of office design.
The huge response to a recent <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-open-office-trap">article</a> on the trap of open offices suggests increasing numbers of workers might be inclined to agree with Kafka’s sentiments. It seems that being productive at work is becoming harder.
According to a <a href="https://www.gensler.com/uploads/documents/2013_US_Workplace_Survey_07_15_2013.pdf">Gensler</a> report in 2013, just getting work done at all is difficult, with over half of employees noting they found it hard to concentrate at work. Being able to concentrate is a vital precursor to cognition in the workplace. <a href="https://jom.sagepub.com/content/early/2010/04/08/0149206310367948.abstract">Studies</a> have shown that if we can’t think clearly, our performance, strategic decision making and responses to both internal and external events are compromised.
We seem to be getting it back to front. In many modern workplaces, the trend to open-plan collaborative spaces is almost an epidemic. Not participating in the drive for collaboration is seen as almost anti-corporate behaviour.
Workplaces that are born out of design briefs full of corporate jargon such as space optimisation, utilisation efficiency or brand alignment tend to, unsurprisingly, leave us cold. As employees we need to be both physically and psychologically comfortable. Usually, physical comfort is a central part of the design of workplaces. Unfortunately, psychological comfort is often not. If people aren’t both psychologically, as well as physically comfortable at work, they have less cognitive resources available to them. They are less productive, less creative and more stressed.
The cost and time involved to make large scale change to offices can seem overwhelming. However, new research has shown that even small changes to the workspace can have dramatic effects on the way people work. It will come as no surprise to many to discover that control over our environments makes a difference to how we feel. Personal control makes us feel more confident. Research has shown that employees who can personalise their space are 32% more productive. Two areas showing promising results are stand-up desks and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/nyregion/as-office-space-shrinks-so-does-privacy-for-workers?_r=0">retreat spaces</a> within the workplace.
The idea of retreating to spaces that restore us is not new. The sixteenth century philosopher Montaigne famously worked in a tower replete with vaulted ceilings, a library and even a bedroom. Seinfeld’s George Costanza stored a blanket, pillow and alarm clock under his desk so that he could take naps. Indeed, research shows that our need for prospect (or a view) and refuge remains biologically hardwired. <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=hoRooqUJwVsC&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PR9&amp;dq=sally+augustin&amp;ots=uDaGqQl1RF&amp;sig=ah1vogGgrH8B7DTYh2JOLs4j5-M#v=onepage&amp;q=sally%20augustin&amp;f=false">Environmental psychologist Sally Augustin</a> notes this need for refuge helps us to restore our attention and feel psychologically safe. Indeed, Augustin notes this as a reason why booths in a restaurant fill up faster, perhaps reinforcing Mafia folklore that it’s a good idea to sit with your back to a wall.
Susan Cain, author of the New York Times bestseller Quiet, writes that solitude is an essential ingredient in innovation. Cain has recently been involved in a project to create <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/an-office-for-introverts/372130/#disqus_thread">retreat spaces</a> for introverts within the workplace. Refuge spaces allow employees to access a place where they can retreat from distraction to restore mentally and physically. These types of spaces, as well as different furniture configurations, are becoming increasingly important for employees to undertake focussed work.
Stand-up desks are now a more prevalent feature in offices following studies finding workers spend up to 80,000 seated during their working life, leading to numerous <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/cprc/docs/Reducing_Sitting_Workplace_Full.pdf">health issues</a>. New research however by Andrew Knight and Markus Baer at Washington University, has shown the benefits of stand-up desks go far beyond health. In an empirical study of 54 teams engaged in a creative task, Knight and Baer found that the use of stand-up desks, rather than traditional, sedentary office furniture, increased excitement around creative processes, decreased the tendency for people to defend their turf, leading to better information sharing, ideas and ultimately improved team performance.
A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work/dp/0307273601">compilation</a> by Mason Currey on the workspaces and work habits of some of history’s most profilic thinkers highlights the vast (and often amusing) differences in how we work. There is no one size fits all, so whether we like to sit, stand, lie down, or decorate our desks with our gnome collection, the ability to alter our workspace and take refuge from it, are important to us all.
Libby Sander is a PhD Candidate at Griffith University.
Libby Sander advises organisations based on findings of her research. She has previously received research funding for a project from BeneAG.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Why you should get up, stand up and even lie down at work: Libby Sander

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Kuwaiti sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah won a recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing that granted permission to remove covenants on his Port Melbourne development site.
The sheikh owns developer Action Group Australia, which owns 1-5 Waterfront Place.
The company wants apartments possibly up to 10 storeys adjacent to the Station Pier entrance.
The covenants on the land's title were restricting the development.
The Kuwaiti billionaire bought the site for $21 million in 2007 through the Australian arm of the sheikh’s company that also operates hotels in Melbourne and Brisbane.
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