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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Frasers Centrepoint's $2.6 billion takeover bid for Australand Property Group is still short of the 50.1% required by this Thursday’s deadline.
A flood of acceptances is expected in the final hours of the offer, although some warn the deal will fail to reach the unconditional stage.
Hedge funds control close to 40% of the register. They invested in the hope Stockland would extend a sweetened offer. Stockland owns 19.9% of Australand.
With acceptances sitting at below 10%, earlier this week security holders were reminded the Australand Directors unanimously recommended acceptance of the Fraser's offer in the absence of a superior proposal. 
"We note that the offer cannot be extended unless Frasers’ voting power in Australand increases to more than 50% or a competing takeover bid emerges before the closing date," the letter from Australand maning director Bo Johnston said.
The letter indicated the current status of the offer was as follows:
<ul>
<li>The Offer consideration of $4.48 per Australand Security (with the entitlement to the Allowed Distribution) is Frasers best and final offer in the absence of a competing proposal (as previously announced on 28 July 2014); </li>
<li>
Should Frasers achieve acceptances for more than 50% of all Australand Securities, including under the Institutional Acceptance Facility (IAF), prior to the Closing Date, and at that time no other condition of the Offer has been breached, Frasers has stated that it will immediately declare the Offer unconditional. Assuming the Offer becomes unconditional on 7 August 2014, the Allowed Distribution will amount to $0.0263 per Australand Security. In this case, Securityholders who accept the Offer and are on the Australand register on the Allowed Distribution Record Date would receive total proceeds under the Offer and the Allowed Distribution of $4.5063 per Australand Security. We also note that should Frasers not achieve acceptances for more than 50% of all Australand Securities or a competing proposal does not emerge by 7 August 2014, the Offer will lapse and Australand Securityholders will no longer be able to accept the Offer, and any acceptances received under the Offer will be of no effect. As such, if Securityholders wish to receive the Offer consideration they should accept now. Australand has established a Securityholder Information Line which Australand Securityholders should call if they have any queries in relation to the Offer. The telephone number for the Securityholder Information Line is 1800 882 147 (toll free calls within Australia); or +61 1800 882 147 (for calls outside Australia).
</li>
</ul>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Frasers' Australand takeover bid still short as deadline draws closer

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Two adjoining properties, at 48 and 50 Milne Street, Mount Warren Park in Brisbane’s south are up for sale – offered either separately or together as a development site.
The south Brisbane opportunity is on the market with Ray White Industrial M1 North, by team leader Lisa Dunne, with offers to purchase closing at 4pm on 25 November.
The two lots are on a 4,896 square metre site with a residential choice domain, included in a draft planning scheme with 40 townhouses per hectare potential.
“In January, 2015, the town planning regulator covering Mt Warren Park will be transferring to Logan City Council as advised by the Gold Coast City Council,” said Dunne.
Lot 48 is on 2,448 square metres of land and comes with a two-storey four-bedroom house.
Lot 50 is a 2,448 square metre block with a three-bedroom house.
“The two lots are being offered together or separately,” she said, noting that Mount Warren Park is in a fast growth area.
“Although the area was once separated from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the region has experienced advancing urban sprawl since the development of the highway to Brisbane,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity for an investor or developer to secure a prime piece of land in an up-and-coming suburb and we urge all prospective buyers to register their interest to avoid disappointment.”
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Mount Warren Park, Brisbane development site up for sale

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A mixed-used development on the main shopping strip in Highett, was awarded the Mainstreet Australia Mainstreet Activation award at a gala event last month.
Launched in mid-2013, the development, on the corner of Highett and Graham Roads in Melbourne, includes a retail hub, a socially activated mall and streetscape, and aimed to reinvigorate local commercial opportunities.
<img src="/images/2014/08/06/highett-aug-6-breakout-2.jpg" alt="">
ClarkeHopkinsClarke architect Toby Lauchlan said that their Highett creation is the first of its kind.
“For ClarkeHopkinsClarke rejuvenating streetscapes which are often seen in disrepair in suburban Melbourne, is about creating vibrant communities and injecting much needed life through design,” Lauchlan said.
“We set the bar high on all of our work and liaise closely with the community to deliver a shared vision and we’re glad the UDIA and Mainstreet Australia judges both recognize our collaborative efforts have helped transform another community.”
The project has generated 140 full time, part time and casual jobs since the opening of the centre, and has contributed to the safety of the area for those accessing the train station.
“The site once had old warehouses where planes were built in the war and we now see a strip of award winning urban design,” Lauchlan said.
Retail tenancies are current achieving higher rents that estimated initially.
The property also includes residential apartments, with 120 of the 130 selling off the plan prior to completion, explained Accord Property Group managing director Scott McVilly.
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Highett, Melbourne development wins Mainstreet Award

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Savills Australia has appointed Shammi Liang to the position of analyst.
Working with Savills' national head of research Tony Crab and Victorian head of research Glenn Lampard from the firm's William Street office, Liang will also provide support to other Savills' divisions.
Liang formerly worked in property management for Ironfish and is currently undertaking a Master of Property degree at the University of Melbourne. She is a fluent Mandarin and Cantonese Speaker.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Shammi Liang appointed at Savills research team

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James Packer’s Crown Resorts Limited will partner up with Chinese property developer, Greenland Holdings Group to jointly bid for the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Project.
Crown will combine its experience in operating large scale luxury integrated resorts with Greenland’s vast property development experience to form a consortium.
They were two of the then four separate short listed contenders announced in late May for the Queensland government’s Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Project. 
In October last year the Queensland government decided a gaming licence would be available for the under-utilised nine hectare government-owned site adjacent to the north bank of the Brisbane River.
The three remaining shortlisted consortia will be required to lodge fully-developed proposals with the government in late 2014.
Crown’s chief executive officer, Rowen Craigie said he hoped they can deliver for Brisbane an iconic tourist, entertainment and residential precinct that is recognised globally and embraced by the local community.
Greenland’s managing director in Australia, Sherwood Luo, said they were excited about the possibility in working with Crown.
Greenland Holdings Group is a Shanghai-based Chinese-state owned enterprise. 
It is a Fortune 500 corporation, ranking 268 in the 2014 rankings. Greenland has businesses in real estate, energy, finance, construction and automobiles and generated revenue of almost US$54 billion in 2013.
Greenland is already undertaking major residential and hotel developments in Sydney and Melbourne as well as a major integrated resort development in South Korea and numerous large scale residential, hotel and commercial developments in China, London, New York, Los Angeles and Malaysia. 
Greenland is the major shareholder of the listed Hong Kong property development company, Greenland Hong Kong Holdings Limited. 
The four consortia initially shortlisted to develop a six-star multi-billion dollar integrated resort development were.
<ul>
<li>Crown Resorts Ltd</li>
<li>Echo Entertainment Group Ltd</li>
<li>Far East Consortium/ Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd</li>
<li>Greenland Investment Pty Ltd.</li>
</ul>
A formal announcement regarding the successful developer and their development scheme is not expected until early 2015.
{qtube vid:=V_Eiiyy8ec4#t=56}
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James Packer teams up with Chinese property developer for joint Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Project bid

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NAME: Robert Lawson <img src="/images/2014/08/05/Robert-Lawson-aug-5-profile.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
POSITION: Raine &amp; Horne Commercial WA associate director, Commercial Property Management
COMPANY: Raine &amp; Horne 
OFFICE LOCATION: Subiaco
How long have you been in the industry?
In total, about eight years.
What’s happening in the area you specialise in? 
Tenant consolidation and retention. So we're trying to retain tenants during a tight market - negotiating to retain them rather than having vacancies. 
Describe the most interesting commercial property you have worked on.
They're all intrinsically different, all set with their own challenges and rewards. From the simplest little office to the largest industrial, you can take pieces from all of them. I get a buzz out of all and sundry.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
Tough skin, not taking things personally; being organised and trying to get ahead of the curve sometimes.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
The best part of it would be being able to deal with people from all walks - you're dealing with contractors, you're dealing with tenants, you're dealing with owners, you're dealing with lawyers - and the things you learn along the way, because you're dealing with all sorts of people.
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
It would have to be commercial property.
Which football team do you support?
Fremantle.
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?
I'm not all up on the techno stuff. It'd have to be the mobile email.
How do you use social media?
Limited, don't use it much at all.
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In profile: Raine & Horne Commercial WA's associate director of commercial property management, Robert Lawson

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First home buyers are fighting with a 100 pound gorilla with one arm tied behind their backs as they compete with investors who have the luxury of negative gearing and superannuation funds.
I believe the answer to improving affordability lies in rethinking superannuation laws and first home buyer grants.
Historically the family home has been the corner stone of ones wealth but this is in danger of being lost. Superannuation was implemented to help people self fund their own retirement and compliment the wealth in their family homes. I believe that allowing first home buyers to access their super and assist them in laying that foundation keeps within the spirit of superannuation.
A worker who earns the average Australian income of $50,000 a year will have around $36,000 in super by the time they are 30 not including any return on their investments. As a couple that is $72,000! They also have the benefit of diverting more of their income into a tax-sheltered environment. It would not be unreasonable for a first home buying couple to have in excess of $100,000 in super by the time they want to purchase their first home.
A large deposit like this would mean first home buyers have more equity in their home and as a result in a more stable financial position. It would also save a significant amount in interest. For example if a first home buyer had a $100,000 deposit they would only need to borrow around 80% of the property value rather than 90% or more. On a $500,000 home that would save them $2,500 to $3,000 per annum in interest.
They would also avoid paying a hefty mortgage insurance bill of around $5,000 to $10,000 in most cases.
Buying a property is only the first step to home ownership. Keeping up with the mortgage payments is where the real pain starts to bite. If governments really want to help with home ownership they should look at providing ongoing assistance and review first home buyer grants.
First home buyer grants have evolved over the years but on average they provide first home buyers with around $10,000 cash or stamp duty saving benefits. Rather than paying first home buyers a lump sum payment that is usually paid to the banks for mortgage insurance, I believe annual payments will be more effective and a better use of taxpayer money. An annual payment of $2,000 a year for the first five years would help first home buyers establish themselves in the market.
While the devil is in the detail the points outlined above provide a win-win outcome. The government wins as it helps solve first home buyer affordability at no extra cost. The economy wins, as more money will flow into the important building industry. First home buyers win as they will enter the market without paying mortgage insurance and save around $5,000 per annum in holding costs for the first five years.
There is a potential downside in that it would place further pressure on property prices. However this is already happening even without first home buyers and these ideas will go a long way to levelling the playing field between first home buyers and investors.
They would help young Australians into the market and start the process of building wealth in one of our most powerful tax-free investments – our home.
MARK ARMSTRONG is a director of <a href="https://ratemyagent.com.au/" target="_blank">ratemyagent.com.au</a>, Australia’s number one real estate agent rating website.
This article was originally published on Property Observer in October 2013.
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Allowing first home buyers access to super is the answer to the affordability dilemma

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The average holiday rental property is rented for an average weekly rate of $1,143 for 23 weeks a year, according to a new report from a holiday rental website.
The <a href="https://www.stayz.com.au/" target="_blank">Stayz</a> report says the average traveller takes two to three domestic holidays a year for an average of five nights at a time, with 53% of holiday makers traveling with their family.
According to Stayz marketing director David Dunstan, travelers may have used caravan parks or motels in the past, but are increasingly turning to holiday homes for accommodation.
“This is reaping rewards for property managers or private owners," said Dunstan.
"The average holiday home is netting over $1,000 a week with an average occupancy rate of 23 weeks per year. That’s not a bad return on investment!” 
But according to Dunstan, fewer than half of holiday rental owners generate profits after maintenance and mortgage expenses. However, he does predict further growth for the sector. 
Travelers tend to plan well in advance, a habit rental property owners should take into consideration, commented Dunstan.
“Stayz sees enquiries for summer holidays spike in July and August so property owners and managers need to make sure their holiday rentals are listed as early as six months in advance of peak season to make sure they capitalise on that.
“Word-of-mouth recommendations and personal experience are also important to building trust and we know that once people have a good experience, they are likely to return to the same property again in the future – sometimes multiple times.” 
Dunstan said that some locations were more popular than others on the website, with a strong preference for beachside holidays.
“We have a reputation for being sun-lovers and our bookings bear that out,” he said.  
“Beach breaks are by far still the most popular holiday option for Australian travellers with floods of visitors descending on coastal towns like Surfers Paradise, Port Douglas, Terrigal, Lorne and Fremantle every year to enjoy the sun, sand and surf.” 
The Stayz website sees about 14 million visitors each year.
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Average holiday home occupied for 23 weeks a year: Stayz

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For the first time Ray White’s group sales in July exceeded $3 billion, the first time in any winter month.
"The markets are continuing to resemble spring/summer conditions in a remarkable display of consistency," Ray White co-chairman Brian White advised, adding the consistency was across all individual markets. 
Brian White pinpointed the strength of the recovery in Queensland - noting it was "once the hardest hit property market in Australia".
 Seems the only thing holding even stronger results across our markets is the seasonal stock shortages.
"Capital cities - indeed the inner city components of our major capitals - are proving fundamental in this resilience," he said.
Ray White’s inner city New Farm office in Brisbane achieved an all time record of $50 million.
The previous July 2013 figure was $2.1 billion, although it is not a like on like figure given office openings in the meantime.
The figure includes residential, commercial and hotel sales from across its Asia Pacific network.
"Cold weather always tames our markets so we needed to be happy with our $2.6 billion for June," Brian White said in the June 2014 report.
The June 2013 sales number was $2.3 billion, up on June 2012 by 5%.
The Ray White Group’s May 2014 results of $3.3 billion took the group to equal its all time monthly record, well above the $2.7 billion notched up in May 2103. 
This year's May tally included $1 billion in NSW.
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Ray White secures record $3 billion in wintery July 2014 property sales

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I noted recently how I was bemused that investment advisors have recommended buying property in mining towns.
Looking back, I said that my view is that this is "madness" - in retrospect an unfortunate choice of word - perhaps "foolhardy" would have been a better choice.
Anyway, this morning I received <a href="https://www.realwealthaustralia.com/helensrant10/?inf_contact_key=ffcf5f9e4758af6d591bf4ff40ea780457b7c97853867205df134e8795369d5e" target="_blank">this podcast</a> in my inbox from Real Wealth Australia which went even more to the point:
"The mining industry is over. Resources is over. People buying in those towns...it's just insane".
Clearly, I agree that it's necessarily a very smart idea to speculate in mining town property, right down to the misuse of inappropriate terminology. 
But what really left me scratching my head was it that was Real Wealth Australia that was <a href="https://www.realwealthaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Boom-Suburbs-Report.pdf" target="_blank">recommending mining town property in the first place</a>.
What I can't for the life of me fathom is what has changed to cause the reversal in viewpoint.
It surely can't be the peak in mining investment as the construction boom gets set to recede, since that has been well known about for years and well documented all over the press and the internet.
 <img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Pqa-8BsmR0/U997X63Pn-I/AAAAAAAAO8A/n9lnWTaKeoE/s1600/New+Capex.jpg">
In fact my former employers Deloitte have been <a href="/expert-insights/investing/mining-led-construction-boom-to-peak-in-2014-deloitte">warning about the forthcoming peak of the mining boom</a> for so long that it had become something of a point of general amusement and occasional mirth in certain media circles.
And it certainly can't be the reversion of commodity prices which has caused the shift in viewpoint, since I don't know of anyone who seriously believed that Australia's terms of trade could remain so grossly inflated against their long-term averages.
It wouldn't make any sense to have based any strategy on such a hugely obvious anomaly. 
 <img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0C_iq1IhY9Y/U998A5a3tBI/AAAAAAAAO8I/rlG4KQyjO7c/s1600/Commodities+1.gif">
Of course commodity prices globally are somewhat unpredictable and, for example, the copper spot may eventually rebound as the global economy recovers and should demand from Asia remain strong.
But the fact of the matter is that the RBA's index of commodity prices is heavily weighted towards Australia's bulk commodities (iron ore, thermal coal, metallurgical coal) which account for 56% of the index. If they tank, so does the index.
 <img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSyrMswZZAM/U998BOKVkWI/AAAAAAAAO8M/YrWuaj9nRes/s1600/Commodities+weighting+2.jpg">
The iron ore price has taken a shellacking this year, but again it seems highly unlikely that anyone could have believed that a price which had run up from $1 per tonne to $180 per tonne in a decade could ever be sustained. 
Even now back down at around $95 per tonne, there are plenty who are arguing the spot price must revert towards its longer term average.
<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AT1Gt2UVys8/U999LYzMJ8I/AAAAAAAAO8c/6U7a_9asx6g/s1600/Iron+Ore+price.jpg">
So I'm basically stumped. 
The transition from construction phase of the boom to production phase is the only thing I can come up with, but even that has surely be known about for years.
Property investment can be a very effective long-term strategy and act as an inflation hedge if you invest in landlocked suburbs of capital cities which have growing populations.
This is because new dwellings must be constructed to house the new population and new houses must always be built in today's dollars and at today's labour and materials costs.
However, when people focus on the cash-flow element of property as being more important than the basic fundamentals they can get themselves into a real mess, because they are trying to wrench investment property into something it's not meant to be (i.e. an income asset).
If income today is your primary focus, residential property is the wrong asset class. 
I saw this first-hand in Britain when investors who focused on yield at the recommendation of seminar promoters were buying in small towns in the north-east or the Potteries before the financial crisis.
Prices crashed to zero in some extreme cases (and if you're going to buy regional, it's post-crash that you should buy). 
Mining towns sit right at the top of the risk spectrum - frankly, they never were a very good idea for most investors, and they certainly aren't right now. 
You can visit <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) or Pete's <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blog</a>.
His latest book is '<a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>' .
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