Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a> has unveiled its vision for the former Water Tank Site in Ivanhoe, which would see it transformed into a thriving residential neighbourhood, complete with a 2000 sqm public park.&nbsp;

Delivered in partnership with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/development-victoria">Development Victoria</a>, the proposal would transform the prominent corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road into a connected community comprising two residential buildings, generous public open space and shared amenities.&nbsp;

The vision includes 287 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a minimum of 10 per cent allocated to affordable housing, alongside a 2,000-square-metre publicly accessible park featuring a children's playground, activity lawn, indigenous planting, timber climbing logs, seating areas and a rock gathering circle.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, the proposal draws on the site's industrial heritage, using a robust architectural language that references the former water tank through expressive structural elements and durable, self-finished materials.&nbsp;

Extensive landscaping has been woven throughout the development, creating a living landscape that strengthens connections to nature while responding sensitively to the surrounding neighbourhood. Two residential buildings ranging from three to 12 storeys are linked by a landscaped forecourt, creating a welcoming arrival experience and improving pedestrian connections through the site.&nbsp;

Residents would also enjoy more than 1,000 square metres of communal open space, including barbecue and dining facilities, vegetable gardens, landscaped seating pavilions and a dedicated coworking space.&nbsp;

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the vision reflected an opportunity to transform one of Ivanhoe's most recognisable sites into a place that balanced housing, community and landscape.&nbsp;

"This is an opportunity to reimagine an important site and create a neighbourhood that delivers lasting benefits for Ivanhoe," Giuliano said.&nbsp;

"We're creating much more than new homes. The vision brings together affordable housing, quality architecture, meaningful public open space and shared places that encourage people to connect, while respecting the site's history and its place within the local community."&nbsp;

Development Victoria’s Executive General Manager Precincts, Niall Cunningham, said the application is an important step for the government-owned site.&nbsp;

“This is about delivering more homes in a well-connected location, along with public open space that the Ivanhoe community will benefit from for years to come,” Cunningham said.&nbsp;

PDG was selected as development partner in late 2025 following a competitive tender process.&nbsp;

A planning submission for the project is currently being progressed through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with positive early engagement from both Banyule Council and the Department of Transport and Planning.

Joel Robinson

PDG unveils plans to transform landmark Ivanhoe Water Tank Site

Shane Wilkinson's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace Development Group</a> has lodged plans for a major residential precinct on the former Presentation College site in Windsor, with an eight-building masterplan ultimately rising to 10 storeys.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/167-dandenong-road-windsor-vic-3181">167–187 Dandenong Road</a> spans a substantial 19,027 sqm site and is being progressed across six stages, with the first residential stages comprising 170 homes across four buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>.

Stage Two will deliver the bulk of the initial housing, with Building A comprising 81 apartments and Building B 49 apartments, both rising to six storeys.

Stage Three will deliver a further 40 homes. The heritage Nagel Building, identified as Building C, will be converted to 12 dwellings, while a new five-storey Building D will comprise 28 apartments at the Hornby Street and Dandenong Road corner.

The 170 homes across Stages Two and Three will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including townhouse-style dwellings.<img alt="First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83c56e3e-dfb9-4e12-b172-c3f18513ec32" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_9.png?VersionId=xRcRpSZsxX.UX_NDDGcRZktw7HVrzx7u" />

&nbsp;

The longer-term masterplan points to considerably greater density across the site.

Indicative plans show Building E accommodating around 80 dwellings across up to 10 storeys, while Building F is earmarked for around 120 dwellings and also up to 10 storeys. Building G is planned to range between four and 10 storeys, however its apartment yield is yet to be determined. That means the masterplan currently identifies at least 370 dwellings across Buildings A to F before any apartments within Building G are counted.

Across the 1.9-hectare site, that represents an indicative density of at least 194 dwellings per hectare, with the final figure to increase once the yield of Building G is established.

Pace is pursuing the project through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with Urbis lodging a combined Section 96A planning scheme amendment and planning application on behalf of the developer, which secured the site earlier this year.

The application seeks detailed approval for Stages One, Two and Three, alongside approval of the broader masterplan framework that will guide the later residential stages. Stage One will see an existing heritage building adaptively reused for a wellness and fitness-related facility, while the broader precinct will retain several significant heritage buildings and established trees as part of the redevelopment.

A minimum 10 per cent affordable housing contribution is proposed across both the initial residential stages and the later masterplan stages, delivered through a discounted rental model.

The project comes immediately after a major change to the site's planning controls.

The site was rezoned to the Housing Choice and Transport Zone through Planning Scheme Amendment GC285, gazetted on July 22, 2026, and now sits within the inner catchment of the Windsor Station precinct under the State Government's Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.

While the new controls identify large sites within the inner catchment for buildings of up to six storeys, Pace's masterplan pushes height to 10 storeys in parts of the site, with the taller buildings concentrated toward the centre and along the Sandringham railway corridor.

Lower-scale built form is proposed toward the site's more sensitive residential and heritage edges, with Buildings A and B generally stepping from three storeys at their interfaces to six storeys at upper levels.

Cera Stribley's masterplan breaks the development into a collection of separate buildings rather than a continuous built form, with landscaped spaces, new pedestrian links and a new publicly accessible road forming part of the precinct.

The planning report says the development will create new pedestrian connections to Elm Place and along the railway corridor, as well as a new publicly accessible road linking Elm Place with Dandenong Road. The proposed buildings will occupy around 54 per cent of the site, leaving a substantial portion available for landscaping, communal areas and permeable surfaces.

Urbis said the scale of the project reflected the site's strategic location close to Windsor Station, tram services and the Chapel Street Activity Centre, with the former school campus identified as a significant opportunity to increase housing supply on an underutilised inner-Melbourne site.

&nbsp;

First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/jl-place">JL PLACE</a>'s Veil Brighton is approaching its final months of construction, with the nine-townhouse development at 17 Rooding Street expected to complete in December 2026.

The milestone is bringing the boutique project closer to becoming a finished part of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brighton-vic-3186">Brighton</a> streetscape, with much of Brighton's everyday amenity within a short walk.

Palace Cinema, Coles Supermarket and North Brighton Station are all around five minutes on foot from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/veil-brighton-17-rooding-street-brighton-vic-3186">Veil</a>, alongside numerous cafés, restaurants and bars. The station provides a direct rail connection toward Melbourne's CBD, while Bay Street and the wider Brighton retail and dining network add to the range of services accessible without relying on a car for every trip.

"The location was fundamental to the project. Brighton is an established suburb where many buyers already have strong connections to the area and want to remain close to the people, places and amenities that form part of their everyday life," the developer said.

"Veil sits in a highly walkable part of Brighton, with a Walk Score of 90/100."

For buyers looking to right-size within Bayside, that level of walkability adds to the appeal of a more manageable way of living. Everyday shopping, dining, entertainment and public transport can be accessed without relying on the car for every trip, while residents remain connected to the places and routines that make Brighton familiar. It allows buyers to simplify day-to-day life without giving up the convenience, amenity and connections they already value.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355754]

As completion approaches, the architecture, landscaping and material palette are progressively becoming visible on site, giving prospective purchasers a clearer view of the finished development beyond its plans and renders.

Veil comprises nine townhouses, predominantly three-bedroom homes with between 2.5 and 3.5 bathrooms, two car spaces and, depending on the residence, study areas and private outdoor space. Selected homes include a bedroom on the ground floor.

Veil occupies a middle ground between detached housing and apartment living, retaining private gardens, storage and secure parking within a more manageable residential format.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/schmidt-pang-architects">Schmidt &amp; Pang</a> designed the architecture around natural light, ventilation, privacy and practical use of space. From Rooding Street, the façade has been composed to read as a cohesive residential building rather than nine individual townhouses, with landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick Landscape Architects</a> integrated throughout the site.

Inside, natural stone, oak flooring, integrated joinery and brushed nickel finishes establish a restrained material palette, while kitchens include Miele appliances and substantial storage such as pantries. Walk-in robes and dedicated study spaces have also been incorporated across the collection.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355852]

The project team said the planning of the homes has been informed by how the spaces function for both daily routines and larger gatherings.

"Our new homes owners at Veil have enjoyed the attention to detail in creating efficient layouts that use every space well. Hosting Christmas lunch and large family gatherings is an ease when care is taken to consider how people really live and entertain."

Private landscaped gardens extend the living spaces outdoors, while secure basement parking and bicycle parking are provided below. The homes have also been designed to achieve a 7-star energy rating, supported by double glazing, high-quality insulation, natural ventilation, LED lighting, water tanks and water-efficient fittings. Each residence is backed by a 10-year building guarantee.

Veil is being built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/jeniton">Jeniton</a>.&nbsp;Limited-time stamp duty savings are also currently available on selected purchases at Veil, adding another consideration as the project moves toward completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7877]

Veil Brighton nears completion in one of the suburb's most walkable pockets

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic Property Group</a> has recorded 134 sales worth just over $400 million in two months of pre-release activity at The Riversdale, as the developer brings its $750 million South Brisbane riverfront project to the broader market.

The sales represent more than 60 per cent of the project's 213 apartments, with Mosaic reporting the majority of purchasers have been local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-riversdale-by-mosaic-south-brisbane-91-montague-road-south-brisbane-qld-4101">The Riversdale</a> will rise 39 storeys from its north-facing site at 91 Montague Road, delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments alongside a collection of Mosaic's premium Masterpiece Series Sky Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371872]

The early buyer response comes ahead of the wider evolution of the northern end of Montague Road, where The Riversdale will be one of the first major residential projects delivered within an emerging riverfront precinct.

Directly adjoining the development is a planned 7.1-hectare mixed-use precinct, set to introduce new residences, parkland and public realm along the river's edge. The Riversdale's position directly on the Brisbane River gives it a relationship with the waterfront that Mosaic says cannot be replicated by future buildings within the precinct.

The site is also the result of a years-long pursuit by Mosaic. The developer first earmarked the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-brisbane-qld-4101">South Brisbane</a> property in 2018, reflecting what Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan has described as a deliberately patient approach to acquiring development sites.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=372083]

"We aren't opportunistic," Monahan previously told Apartments.com.au.

"Every site purchase is carefully considered. As seen with Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane, it can take years to eventuate. There are sites we're looking at now that we may not secure for several years."

Designed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau Proberts</a>, The Riversdale has been shaped around the qualities of the riverfront site, with apartments oriented to capture northern light and uninterrupted Brisbane River views.

Generous floorplans and expansive balconies extend the living spaces towards the river, while natural materials and a restrained interior palette have been selected with longevity in mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371890]

Residents will have access to a level of amenity more commonly associated with world-class hotels and private members' clubs, with almost 3,000 sqm dedicated to wellness, connection, recreation and everyday convenience.

At ground level is a business lounge, private meeting rooms and dedicated workspaces. Mid-tower is a wellness sanctuary featuring magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, sauna, steam room, infrared therapy facilities, a Pilates and yoga studio, and a commercial-grade gymnasium.

Crowning The Riversdale is a rooftop featuring a 35-metre swimming pool with lap lane and spa, outdoor dining and seating terraces, firepit lounges and views of the city, river and Mount Coot-tha.

A private members' club-inspired retreat offers private dining rooms, a whisky lounge, media rooms and immersive entertainment experiences. Completing the amenity offering are two hotel-style guest suites and a resident-exclusive electric vehicle fleet and car-share program.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371877]

The Riversdale sits at the northern end of Montague Road between South Bank and West End, around 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, providing access to the city's major cultural, dining and recreation precincts.

It becomes Mosaic's largest Brisbane project to date and adds to a pipeline already under construction across the city.

In Brisbane, the developer is currently delivering The Bedford and The Carter at Kangaroo Point, both of which are approaching sell-out, with a further four projects being delivered on the Gold Coast. Mosaic has completed more than $2 billion in projects since 2012 and has a further development pipeline exceeding $2 billion across South East Queensland.

Early works are underway at The Riversdale, which will be delivered by Mosaic's in-house construction division. Completion is anticipated in late 2029, with remaining apartments priced from $1.98 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151614]

Mosaic records more than $400m in two months at South Brisbane's The Riversdale

Lender, fund manager and apartment developer Princeton has completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a>, the first new apartment development in South Sydney to provide its owners with a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, the most comprehensive insurance available for a new apartment building.

The policy has been a key consideration for prospective purchasers of the 58 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, strategically located between&nbsp;Rockdale Plaza and Rockdale Station.&nbsp;

Buyers have also been drawn to the fact that it is one of few new apartment developments delivered in the suburb in the last 10 years, and the only one located on Princes Highway to be set well back from the street to reduce noise. There's also a communal rooftop, a rarity in the suburb, complete barbecue facilities, landscaped seating areas, a children's play zone and herb gardens.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374084]

Ray White Projects’ Matt Otway said buyer enquiry reflected the increasingly diverse and cosmopolitan population that has made Rockdale home.

“We’re seeing strong interest from a broad mix of buyers, including young professionals and people who have rented in Rockdale and the surrounding suburbs and now see Marque as an opportunity to buy a brand-new apartment in an area they already know,” Otway said.

“Proximity to the CBD and Sydney Airport is another key advantage particularly for buyers working in these locations who want the added convenience of living close by.”

Investors have also been attracted to the project, with rental yields of more than five per cent, which is considered a strong result for the Sydney market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374090]

Adding another layer to the buyer proposition is Marque's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy from Resilience Insurance, making it the only new apartment development in Rockdale to offer the cover.

The policy protects apartment owners against major structural and waterproofing defects for 10 years following completion, giving Marque purchasers cover until early 2036 at no additional cost.

The likelihood of defects emerging has also been mitigated through the Technical Inspection Service (TIS), which saw independent experts inspect the building at various stages throughout construction to identify potential issues during the build, rather than after the fact.

SDSS, which provided the TIS, consistently ranked the construction quality at Marque, undertaken by iCIRT-rated builder Coplex, among the best across its extensive portfolio of projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=374088]

Otway said the LDI had become a major drawcard for buyers, particularly given Rockdale has seen relatively little new apartment development over the past decade.

"Rockdale hasn't had a lot of new apartment buildings in the last decade, and has never had a project with 10-year defect insurance," Otway said.

"Marque presents a truly rare opportunity at an affordable price point, so well connected to the Sydney CBD."

One-bedroom apartments at Marque start from $735,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136442]

Marque Rockdale completes as South Sydney’s first apartments backed by 10-year defect insurance

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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There are 1,187 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 1,172 for the same time last year.
The most auctions are expected in <a href="/news">Reservoir</a> with 24 expected followed by 23 in both <a href="/news">Bentleigh East</a> and <a href="/news">Glen Waverley</a>.
The clearance rate over the past few weeks has provided further confirmation that the market is healthy but not booming.
This is also obvious when the home values are both corrected for inflation and then compared to the previous peaks. At the end of September house values in Melbourne were 3% below their peak in real terms and units 5.4% lower. In many parts of Melbourne buyers have better purchasing power than they did in 2010.
Clearance rates may have dropped but the private sale market continues to tighten.
On a citywide basis, the time on market results for houses sold at private sale was stable at a very low 31 days over the last week and vendor discounting dropped to -4.7%.
Key data:
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 16 November: 68.9%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 23 November: 1,187</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 16 November: 31 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 16 November: -4.7% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 4.3% higher in month ending 16 November (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
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Market healthy, but not booming: RP Data's weekend auction preview

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BCS Strata Management has been named the owner corporation manager for the six Prahran apartments best known as The Block Glasshouse.
The Block's production team also appointed BSC Strata Management to manage its previous two ventures, South Melbourne's the Block Sky High building and Albert Park's the Block Fans v Faves development in the former Dux theatre.
General Manager of Business Development John Georgas said: "For the past 40 years we've enhanced community living. We can't wait to work with the new owners of one of Melbourne's most-watched and talked about properties.
The apartment block has a total of 3,500 square metres of floor space, with a carpark, lock-up storage and indoor common entrance area and lift access.
The Albert Park Block development had a substantial common area, with an indoor pool, lounge with televisions and lifts.
"We're looking forward to providing our services to a building which is sure to go down in history as a Melbourne icon," said Georgas.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

BCS to manage The Block Glasshouse

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The financial planning industry has been thrown into turmoil and the Abbott government has been dealt another blow, after a group of rebel senators last night banded together to disallow the government’s changes to the Freedom of Financial Advice regime.
The group, which calls itself the ‘Coalition of Common Sense’, was led by Labor senator Sam Dastyari and independent senator Nick Xenophon, and included defecting Palmer United Palmer senator Jacqui Lambie and Motoring Enthusiasts Party senator Ricky Muir.
They joined together to disallow the Abbott government’s proposed changes to the previous Labor government's FoFA laws, which had been <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/42838-palmer-deal-means-watered-down-future-of-financial-advice-reforms-will-proceed" target="_blank">watered down by a deal struck with Clive Palmer in July</a>.
The effect will be a return to Labor’s 2012 laws.
Lambie and Muir revealed they were not comfortable with the deal cut by Palmer, believing it diluted reforms needed to the industry. Lambie and Muir both said they were further convinced after hearing from victims of the Timbercorp financial scandal.
In a speech, Lambie said she regretted obliging to the July deal. “Sometimes when you make a wrong, you have to go back in there and make it right. And that's exactly what I'm doing now,” she said.
The ‘Coalition of Common Sense’ has not ruled out banding together to vote on other issues, indicating the Abbott government may face further difficulties when dealings with the senate.
<a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/legal/politics/41230-government-puts-future-of-financial-advice-reforms-on-ice" target="_blank">The FoFA reforms</a> were introduced by the former Labor government and were designed to protect consumers from financial planning fraud.
The laws originally set out to ban advisers from commissioning for financial advice, requiring them to ask clients whether they wish to continue receiving their service every two years and to act in the best interests of their clients.
In July, the Abbott government moved to water down what it termed the “burdensome” reforms and announced many of the changes would be made by regulation not legislation. But regulation can be cancelled by a disallowance motion through parliament.
The disallowance has left the financial planning industry uncertain about the future of laws governing financial advice.
To revert back to Labor’s laws, financial planners will face a number of strict new laws when dealing with clients. These include:
<ul>
<li>Customers will have to ‘opt in’ to receiving ongoing advice, with financial advisers having to obtain written consent every two years;</li>
<li>Stronger laws around the disclosure of fees;</li>
<li>Advisers will have to act under a broad ‘best interest duty’ towards their clients, considering all aspects of their best interest; and</li>
<li>An end to ‘grandfathering’, which allowed advisers to continue to receive commissions from existing clients.</li>
</ul>
John Brogden, chief executive of the Financial Services Council, said in a statement the consequences will be far-reaching.
“Overturning the FoFA regulations at the eleventh hour will do more harm than good,” Brogden said.
“The industry has been working under the current FoFA arrangements since 1 July. To turn around and just throw them out is irresponsible.”
Paul Stark, head of financial services operations at Crowe Horwath,said Crowe Horwath has been supportive of FoFA reforms to improve the industry but the continued uncertainty through the parliamentary process was frustrating.
“It makes it hard to plan with uncertainty,” says Stark. “It also takes resources and time.”
Stark says most of the impact will be at an operational level. He gave the example of Crowe Horwath’s fee disclosure statements, which he said were built when the Labour government’s reforms came into place and then subsequently changed in July.
“We built a process, and then we had to redefine it, now we have to go back and revisit and reintegrate those process we’d set up 12 months ago,” he says.
Stark says in his experience, most clients do not value fee disclosure documents or opt-in measures.
“Does it really impact the clients? It hasn’t, in any material way, in my experience,” he says.
Stark says he wants more certainty and for the issue to be brought to a final close.
“We would like for it to be brought to a conclusion and get on with what we need to do to continue to improve the industry,” he says.
This article first appeared on SmartCompany.
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Senate scraps FoFA changes as financial planners plead for certainty

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Australia ranks 16th out of the G20 nations for debt as a proportion of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Comparison website <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">Finder</a> compiled a list of the 20 nations, comparing their total and national debt, proportion of debt to GDP and debt per person.
Australia, with the lowest population of any G20 nation, has $23,769 worth of debt per person. Among the G20 nations, our proportion of national debt to GDP is relatively low. Australia's total debt equals 32.6% of GDP, the fifth lowest result. Only India, Russia, Saudi Arabia and China have a lower level of debt to GDP.
On a per person basis, we rank ninth, with $23,769 of debt for each member of our 23.1 million strong population. Australia is the smallest of the G20 nations.
Japan has both the highest national debt per person and as a proportion of GDP. The country recorded $101,305 worth of debt for every person, with debt more than doubling GDP at 226.1%.
India, with a population of 1.3 billion, has the lowest per person debt, with just $783. However, its debt as a proportion of GDP ranks 10th on the list, recorded at 51.8%.
Unsurprisingly, the European Union has the highest total debt, with 28 member states contributing to the $16.8 trillion figure.
Click the infographic below to see how Australia's debt level compares, on a national and per person basis.
<a href="/images/2014/11/20/finpernation.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/20/finpernation.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Infographic: How Australia’s debt compares to the other G20 nations

EXCLUSIVE: Negative gearing – what needs to change?

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Engineering your end game and getting ready for mobile payments are both key <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/online/33923-trends-in-online-and-store-retail-in-australia">global retail trends</a> for next year, according to Lorna Hall, head of market intelligence at WGSN.
Hall was the keynote speaker at the WGSN Live conference in Melbourne last week. 
She says retailers shouldn’t stop innovating but need to really focus on their customers and identify which trends they are ready for and what will pass them by. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-one.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Universal carts
Universal carts allow customers to purchase from different online stores through the one website. Hall says universal shopping carts could transform marketplaces and affiliate-based businesses into a much more convenient place to shop.
“These sites may be much more important to retailers and brands. It’s not a big step to imagine a time when we all own our own mobile carts,” Hall says. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-two.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Click and collect
Last Christmas in the United States was an “epic fail” for delivering gifts on time, according to Hall.
“As a result, retailers do not want to get burnt again. They are trying all sorts and it is really interesting to see,” she says.
Hall says the problem with traditional online shopping with home delivery is that it is not as convenient as we thought it would be.
“Most of the time we are not at home. The growth of click and collect is one of the ways of bridging that gap,” she says. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-three.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Curbside pickup
Retailers are experimenting with other more convenient ways of delivering purchases beyond click and collect.
In Australia, The Iconic is going to allow ordering before 1pm and getting your goods after 5pm.
“In the US how you receive and return goods is a key battleground ahead of the holiday trading period,” Hall says.
Examples include department store Sears, which has launched an in-vehicle pickup. Customers wait outside the store and a staff member carries the order to their car. 
Meanwhile, Target is piloting a pickup service called Curbside where customers pick up from a tent outside the store.  The Curbside app uses geolocation technology. Customers don’t have to let the retailer know when they are ready to pick up. When their car is 30 minutes away from the store the retailer goes and gets your order ready for you. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-four.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Click and commute
Hall says a growing trend is retailers introducing lockers and collection points into transport hubs.  
In the United Kingdom, department store John Lewis has opened a 3000 square metre store at London’s St Pancras station, which sells stock but also provides a venue for click-and-collect pick up. 
Fashion retailer French Connection recently opened its first “convenience store” at a tube station in London. It allows shoppers to pick up online orders on the same day if they place the order by 1pm and pick up at 5pm. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-five.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">A single view of inventory
Hall says the thing that unlocks many of these trends for retailers and shoppers is a single view of inventory, with 70% of the new technology and apps relying on a single view of inventory.
“If you are not working towards that in your business and making it a real focus then you are never going to be able to capitalise on a lot of the new technology,” she says.  
“This is where you get innovation for customers and you can achieve better margins for your business.”
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-six.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Last touch service
Hall recommends retailers innovate around their end game to “elevate brand experience”. 
French company Darty has a physical help button that customers stick on their appliance. Customers pay a service charge and press it when something goes wrong and within one minute receive a call from a Darty service adviser.
In the United States, online jewellery retailer Baublebar adds a present into every purchase. There is no mention of the gift before purchase, it happens after purchase and is a surprise to engender goodwill. 
“I think we are likely to see much more of this post-purchase innovation ideas by retailers as they look to lock in loyalty post the purchase experience,” Hall says. 
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<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-seven.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Mobile payment
Hall says the <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/43671-apple-pay-delay-for-aussies-but-will-small-businesses-benefit-from-iphone-tap-and-go">launch of Apple Pay</a> in the IPhone 6 has upped consumer awareness around mobile payments. 
“Mobile payments will unlock all sorts of innovation and change in retail and will change the way we shop,” she says.
“Millennials are already really willing to embrace new forms of payment.”   
New security features are allowing mobile checkouts to become faster and more convenient. 
In the United States, Venmo is providing a new payment option with peer to peer payments. Venmo is predicted to reach $90 billion in payments in the next three years. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-eight.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Data-driven
“Learning algorithms are increasingly being used by retailers to guide the path to purchase,” Hall says. 
Amazon is the pioneer in this area but other examples include US fragrance retailer Scentbird, which tailors recommendations to customers, and the home and renovation app Houzz.
Houzz enables people who are renovating their houses to browse for inspiration. “In theory, the more you browse the service the better the recommendations get,” she says.
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-nine.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Connecting customers 
“The process of buying something is becoming a learning journey on both sides,” Hall says.
UK pure play furniture retailer Made has launched Unboxed. It’s a social platform for existing customers to upload images from their own houses to show how they have used furniture and styled it.
“You can connect really satisfied customers because they are geo-located,” Hall says.
“At its simplest, Made doesn’t want to invest in expensive retail or showroom space.”
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-ten.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Surprise and delight in-store
Hall says retailers need to surprise and delight in-store using technology.
“There is not enough of this going on but there is a real opportunity to do this,” she says.   
UK retailer The White Company has installed tiny digital projections in stores to animate products such as messages scrolling across pillows encouraging customers to touch them.   
“We are so caught up with technology that we almost forget how to charm and delight like this.” 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-eleven.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Visual search apps  
In the US, Macy’s and Target have launched visual search apps.  
Customers can pull up a photo of a friend wearing a necklace and then use the apps to find similar products.
“This technology is getting better all the time,” Hall says. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-twelve.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Going hyper local with beacons
Hall has seen a “massive push” in terms of trial and innovation around beacons with Timberland, Apple and Macy’s all using beacons in stores. 
Hall cites research which shows 53% of customers are willing to share their current location in order to receive more relevant information.
“The question is how can retailers use beacons to impact the sale,” she says.
US department store Lord &amp; Taylor is using beacons to track dwell time and the beacons send push notifications to alert customers to deals.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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The 12 top global retail trends for 2015

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Commercial warehousing spaces in the Melbourne city fringe is a competitive market, according to Melbourne commercial agency Gray Johnson.
Leasing agent Rory White has just leased three older style warehouse spaces in Abbotsford, Richmond and adjacent Cremorne. 
At 18 Clarke Street in Richmond (pictured above) the ground floor of 200 square metres has been leased by UK-based Hawkeye Innovations, the sports replay and line call system company that was recently purchased by Sony for in excess of $200 million.
The lease at a commencing annual rental of $39,000.
"The proximity to Melbourne’s major sporting facilities was an important factor in the choice of this location," Rory White said. 
At 31 Cremorne Street, Cremorne some 410 square metres of warehouse space has been leased by European product retailer House of Orange Pty Ltd at a commencing annual rental of $42,000.
The warehouse space will support the tenant’s high quality retail furniture, design and giftware outlets in Armadale and Prahran.
At 1 Grosvenor Street in Abbotsford a sole building occupancy over 515 sqm has been leased by ArtCubed Pty Ltd. 
The new tenant will pay an annual rental of $57,000 on a four year plus four year option lease with 4% annual rental increases. 
The company is a leader in art curating and hanging systems.
"A city fringe location is of critical attraction to many small businesses including those seeking stockholding or warehousing space in support of inner suburban retail outlets," he noted.
Gray Johnson currently holds listings for similar city fringe space at 138 Stawell Street in Richmond with an indicative rental of $28,000 for 121 sqm, at 35 Dover Street Cremorne for 255 sqm at a rental of $52,000 which will be available in January and at 121 Dover Street Cremorne with 265 sqm currently vacant at a $66,500 annual rental.
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Momentum builds in inner Melbourne warehouse leasing market

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The convenience store chain, EzyMart will open its fifth store in Melbourne’s CBD this year. It envisages 150 stores across the city in what some see as a battle against 7-Eleven's supremacy.
The latest opening follows agreement on a new lease on the Queen and Little Collins streets corner in a deal negotiated by Savills Australia.
The property comprises a ground floor retail area of 40 square metres which has been leased on a three-year term at circa $2,500 a square metre per annum net. 
"EzyMart is very well established in Sydney and is now making its presence felt in Melbourne with several recent store openings," Savills Australia retail director, Michael Di Carlo said.
"This, the fifth CBD store, capitalizes on what has been a very busy corner ideally suited to a convenience outlet with the large numbers of office workers in the area and the late night trade from the pub, bars and nightclubs along Queen Street,’’ Di Carlo said.
EzyMart has around 187 stores, mostly in Sydney, started by Jordanian-born Maher Magableh in 2002.
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EzyMart continues expansion with Melbourne CBD retail lease

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A retail store in Sydney’s newest economic precinct, The Quay, has been sold for $2.95 million to a Hong Kong investor.
Shop 7, at 61 to 79 Quay Street is 82 square metres and is located near Central Station, Darling Harbour and Chinatown. It is currently being leased by the Chinese noodle bar- Two Sticks, on a new five year lease with two five year options. Two Sticks became popular in Sydney after opening a store in George Street earlier in the year.
The space will receive $180,000 per annum in gross rental income and comes with a fixed four percent annual increase. 
The property was sold by Andy Hu of Knight Frank, on behalf of Connoisseur Investment. Hu said properties such as these are rarely put on the market.
"We have seen a large number of offshore investors especially from Hong Kong, actively searching for quality prime strata retail investment opportunities and the investment yield has tightened further due to limited supply on the market," Hu says. 
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Hong Kong investor snaps up retail store in Sydney's The Quay

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Colliers International is selling a 285 square metre floor space on the corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane and expects prices upward of $2.2 million.
The property is on level 11, 41 Exhibition Street in one of the cities newly designed buildings, located in the Paris end of Melbourne’s CBD.
It is within walking distance of Parliament Station and Flinders Street Station and also has several public car parks within a close distance.
Colliers International says that it is a 5 Star Green Star building and the first carbon neutral commercial building in Melbourne.   
The floor is being sold by International Colliers’ Jeremy Gruzewski, National Director Metro Sales, Daniel Wolman, Senior Executive Melbourne City Sales and Oliver Hay, Executive Melbourne City Sales.
They are currently offering the sale via expressions of interest closing 3 December.
<img src="/images/2014/11/19/41X%20Hero%20-%20Mark%20Up%20no%20number.jpg" alt="">
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