Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

City of Melbourne

<html><body>
Did you know that the City of Melbourne makes up 37% of the Greater Melbourne economy, 27% of the Victorian economy and 6% of the national equivalent? What about the fact that there are 438,793 jobs in the City of Melbourne? Or that in 1990 the median unit price in the City of Melbourne was $148,000?

These are all statistics now extremely easy to access in one place with the release of the <a href="http://melbourne.geografia.com.au/" target="_blank">City of Melbourne Economic Profile on Geografia</a>.

As stated on their <a href="http://geografia.com.au/" target="_blank">about page</a>, Geografia were established in 2005 and is "a specialist social and economic planning, and spatial analysis consultancy" whose approach "combines rigorous statistical methods with on-the-ground research and consultation".

It's pleasing to see this kind of initiative being taken by the City of Melbourne to represent their economic profile in a simple, easy-to-use platform. No-one likes trawling through notoriously hard to find datasets on the ABS website and likewise the inclusion of private sector data - in this case Savills' commercial property prices - rounds the platform out nicely in providing users with a more-than-a-summary snapshot of the City of Melbourne.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/com_geografia.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Economic snapshot, image: Geografia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/com_geografia.jpg?itok=KkcBQVOD" title="Economic snapshot, image: Geografia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Economic snapshot, image: Geografia</figcaption></figure>What's more, the user-friendly platforms don't stop there. As we <a href="/news/urban-forest-visual" target="_blank">previously reported</a>, the City of Melbourne has built a front end to display its raw data from the municipality's <a href="http://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">Open Data Platform</a>.

Some favourites from the Melbourne Open Data platform:

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Transport/Pedestrian-Counts/b2ak-trbp" target="_blank">Pedestrian Counts</a> and <a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Community/Pedestrian-Sensor-Locations-Map/ummz-yqx8" target="_blank">the location of sensors</a>
</li>
	<li><a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Business/Total-Built-Floor-Space-By-Small-Area-2012-Chart/2gcw-gr8s" target="_blank">Total build floor space by small area (2012)</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Community/Public-Memorials-and-Sculptures-Map/9wc4-sxer" target="_blank">Public monuments and sculptures map</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Recreation/Melbourne-Bike-Share-Locations/kgfy-ymmq" target="_blank">Melbourne bike share locations</a></li>
</ul>
Happy data mining!
</body></html>

Alastair Taylor

City of Melbourne and open data

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Did you know that 27 per cent of City of Melbourne's current tree population will be lost within the next decade? Ever had the urge to keep tabs on Melbourne's overall tree population, or even a specific tree for that matter?

Tasked with maintaining more than 70,000 trees, City of Melbourne via its <a href="http://melbourneurbanforestvisual.com.au/" target="_blank">Urban Forest Visual</a> website provides the means for any person to explore the current state of Melbourne's inner city 'forest'.

In operation for some time, Urban Forest Visual is a tool within the wider Urban Forest Strategy which provides "A robust framework for the evolution and longevity of our urban forest." The strategy aims to:

<ul>
<li>Adapt our city to climate change.</li>
	<li>Mitigate the urban heat island effect by bringing our inner city temperatures down.</li>
	<li>Create healthier ecosystems.</li>
	<li>Become a water sensitive city</li>
	<li>Engage and involving the community.</li>
</ul>
The Urban Forest Visual interactive map goes into amazing detail, with all manner of searchable options possible. Age, location, type and life expectancy are but a few options available to the viewer, with the map able to target a specific tree if required.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image50.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Useful life expectancy. Image © City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="330" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image50.jpg?itok=eI38511g" title="Useful life expectancy. Image © City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Useful life expectancy. Image © City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>The purpose behind Urban Forest Visual is to raise awareness of a number of key issues confronting Melbourne's tree population, particularly regarding diversity and longevity.

<blockquote>
A lack of species diversity leaves the urban forest vulnerable to threats from pests, disease, and stress due to climate change. Currently our urban forest is dominated by eucalypts, planes, elms and gums (corymbias). Many of these trees were planted at the same time during condensed periods of planting activity, and large numbers of elms and planes are now reaching the end of their useful life expectancy.
<cite>Urban Forest Visual</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/diversity_image_0.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Tree genus. Image © City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/diversity_image_0.png?itok=5ast-23S" title="Tree genus. Image © City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Tree genus. Image © City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>The above graphic shows Melbourne's most common tree types graphed by genus with the colours indicating useful lifetime; green refers to a healthy tree while orange indicated a dying specimen. Interestingly Plane and Elm trees look to be the least suited/resilient genus utilised in Melbourne.

<h2>Comment</h2>

Hats off to City of Melbourne for devising such a comprehensive and interactive system in charting the state of Melbourne's inner city 'forest.'

What chances of devising a similar program charting Melbourne's built form?
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silvermb

Urban Forest Visual

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No great surprise that inner Melbourne and the CBD in particular is experiencing a population boom; we hear about it just about every week via various media outlets.

Within their capacity, the City of Melbourne maintain a comprehensive monitor of all major new commercial and residential property development in their municipality. Figures for the current <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/enterprisemelbourne/Tools/publications/Pages/DevelopmentMonitor.aspx" target="_blank">Development Activity Monitor</a> to May 2014 are impressive or worrying (depending upon your perspective of course).

For the year to date Melbourne’s residential apartment stock has experienced unprecedented growth, with 2,800 new dwellings built to this point. Forecasts show that in the vicinity of 5,800 residences are are expected to be built by the end of the year, whereas the average over the last decade has been 2,100 apartments per annum.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image39com.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="City of Melbourne's boundary and suburbs. Image courtesy melbourne.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="557" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image39com.jpg?itok=-qq3lTG6" title="City of Melbourne's boundary and suburbs. Image courtesy melbourne.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>City of Melbourne's boundary and suburbs. Image courtesy melbourne.vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>Council's response to recent robust population rises:

<blockquote>
We have known for some time that inner Melbourne is booming. The City of Melbourne is working hard to ensure that with this growth, we have diversity and quality in our housing stock as well as infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing community.

We have recently released a Draft Housing Strategy, which is one example of how we are working to maintain a good standard of living for future generations. We don’t know how long this increase of supply will be sustained, or how many of the proposed developments will proceed. What this research does is show us what Melbourne could look like in the next decade.
<cite>Cr Stephen Mayne, Deputy Chair of Planning</cite>
</blockquote>

Released twice a year, the Development Activity Monitor's highlights for the May 2014 cycle include:

<ul>
<li>There are 44 residential developments currently under construction which are anticipated to result in 9666 new properties by the end of 2017.</li>
	<li>There are an additional 99 developments with town planning approval yet to commence construction. If these all proceed they could result in 18,737 new dwellings.</li>
	<li>One per cent of new dwellings are designed to be studio apartments, 44 per cent to be one bedroom dwellings, 51 per cent two bedrooms and four per cent to have three or more bedrooms.</li>
	<li>A further 48 developments are currently seeking town planning permits which, if approved, could add an additional 23,216 dwellings for construction to commence in three to five years.</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/IMG_6951.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The changing face of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="619" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/IMG_6951.jpg?itok=QIR-ZX4q" title="The changing face of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The changing face of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>In other sectors, the Development Activity Monitor also forecasts that by end of 2014, 51,622 m² of retail floor space is likely to have been completed, the lion's share held between The Strand redevelopment and Emporium Melbourne. There is currently 23,362 m² of retail space under construction and 35,776 m² is expected to commence construction in the next two years.

In terms of commercial developments, there was 346,797 m² of new office space under construction in May. The forecast monitor also notes that 228,999 m² of new commercial space over a number of new buildings has town planning approval and is expected to commence construction in the next two years.
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The numbers behind Melbourne's apartment boom

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In response to community feedback regarding City of Melbourne's heritage strategy, a number of steps have been taken to ensure Council are at the forefront of heritage strategy and conservation. Last week City of Melbourne endorsed The Local Heritage Planning Policies Review Paper, which is now open to public feedback.

After identifying a number of areas where heritage conservation tools could be improved, the Paper seeks to enhance the way heritage planning decisions are made, provide transparency to the process and provide consistency with State Government requirements.

<blockquote>
City of Melbourne is experiencing rapid growth and we need to ensure we have the best tools available to preserve the city’s heritage. With 7000 buildings covered by a Heritage Overlay in the City of Melbourne, the Melbourne Planning Scheme contains a legacy of Council’s long term commitment to heritage conservation.

This review highlights the need to ensure there is clarity and consistency in the decision making process.
<cite>Councillor Ken Ong, Chair of Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee</cite>
</blockquote>

The review proposes replacing the existing grading system applied to heritage properties with the new best practice approach, while also developing ‘statements of significance’ for those heritage precincts outside the Capital City Zone that currently don’t have them. The paper itself is the result of recommendations from recent heritage planning panel hearings and consultation with users of the policy and peak heritage organisations according to its dedicated web page.

<h2>The next step</h2>

The Future Melbourne Committee will be presented with a report during October advising on the results of the initial consultation and an implementation plan. Further consultation will occur during the implementation period, in particular developing statements of significance for the precincts outside the Capital City zone which currently aren't covered.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/CelticClub1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Celtic Club. Image © The Collector"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/CelticClub1.jpg?itok=HOVrOKav" title="The Celtic Club. Image © The Collector" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Celtic Club. Image © The Collector</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

One of the major benefits I see of City of Melbourne's heritage strategy adjustment is the alignment of City and State on the issue, but having said that I'm no aficionado when it comes to heritage. From the outside looking in, do I think these changes will have a profound impact on what structures are retained/protected from development, such as the Celtic Club pictured above? Probably not.

There's plenty of readers out there with their finger on the heritage pulse, feel free to share your thoughts on the ramifications for City of Melbourne's Local Heritage Planning Policies Review Paper, which can be seen in detail at <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/BuildingandPlanning/Planning/Pages/Localheritagepolicies.aspx" target="_blank">City of Melbourne's website</a>.

Lead image courtesy AV Dynamics.
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City of Melbourne's new view on Heritage

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The City of Melbourne last week released their draft housing strategy that fundamentally deals with the expected challenges, requirements and future expectations for Australia's fastest growing municipality. Council maintains that housing, which into the future will predominantly consist of apartment living, plays a large role in the health and quality of life for residents, communities and the economy. As such City of Melbourne considers it to be one of the largest, most complex issues that requires considered and continual attention.

Titled <a href="http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/homesforpeople" target="_blank">Homes for People</a>, the strategy is now reliant upon community feedback in order for City of Melbourne to:

<blockquote>
Achieve our established aspiration for an inner and central city where housing is affordable, well-designed and meets the diverse needs of our residents. It concentrates on new housing in our growth areas (our urban renewal areas and the Hoddle Grid) where the majority of new housing will occur. The strategy focuses on apartments as they are, and will continue to be, the predominant housing choice in the municipality.
</blockquote>

Since 2001, Melbourne's residential population has doubled to beyond 116,000. Projections show Melbourne's 2021 resident population will swell to over 150,000 people and near 200,000 by 2031. With this in mind the provision of "Good quality, affordable housing is one of the biggest and most complex issues" City of Melbourne must grapple with.

Chair of the Future Melbourne Planning Committee, Cr Ken Ong on the topic

<blockquote>
Housing plays a big part in the health and quality of life of our residents, our communities and our economy. Affordable and high quality housing in the inner city is good for the economy because it brings people close to where they work and encourages investment and job growth. Through Homes for People the City of Melbourne is taking steps to ensure Melbourne has diversity in its housing stock to preserve our liveability.

As our city gets bigger, our apartments don’t need to get smaller. High density doesn’t mean low quality.
</blockquote>

<h2>Housing challenges as defined by Council</h2>

<ul>
<li>There is a need for more affordable (subsidised) housing in the municipality</li>
	<li>The number of vacant apartments is increasing, without a drop in rental prices</li>
	<li>Tax structures favour homeowners and property investors</li>
	<li>Our problem is not land supply</li>
	<li>High land values and construction costs are impacting affordability, housing mix and design quality</li>
	<li>Development finance and viability are crucial to deliver new housing</li>
	<li>Investors have a dominant influence on the (lack of) housing mix and quality</li>
	<li>Buying a home in the inner city is outside the reach of many households</li>
	<li>High levels of housing supply isn’t delivering a good housing mix and social diversity</li>
	<li>Quality, amenity and performance are decreasing while density is increasing</li>
	<li>The majority of high-rise housing in our municipality delivers poor environmental performance</li>
	<li>Mix and affordability impact on long-term community building and support for a vibrant cultural life</li>
</ul>
<h2>Housing for People goals</h2>

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image45.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Three key factors. Image courtesy Homes for People"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image45.jpg?itok=ukmXW-8v" style="height:135px; width:580px" title="Three key factors. Image courtesy Homes for People"></a>

Chair of Future Melbourne People City portfolio, Cr Richard Foster has on behalf of Council invited the community to get involved.

<blockquote>
We want to work with stakeholders to help provide more affordable housing and develop good housing design standards. We also want to ensure both renters and buyers have the know-how they need about good quality homes. We want to help provide more than 1700 affordable homes for low and moderate income earners by 2021.
</blockquote>

See City of Melbourne's ideas, wants, intentions and questions for current and future Melbourne apartment dwellers and get involved by providing feedback at <a href="http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/homesforpeople" target="_blank">http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/homesforpeople</a>.
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Homes for People - influencing apartment living for tomorrow

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By now we have all heard that, for the first time in history, half the world’s population is living in cities. And the forward estimates indicate that this trend will only continue to increase.

In Australia, we have seen a gradual, but continuing shift away from the quarter acre block to more compact living spaces like apartments. In the municipality of Melbourne, this trend is captured in the statistics:

<ul>
<li>In 2012, 80% of homes were apartments</li>
	<li>From 2006-12, 93% of new homes built were apartments</li>
	<li>Our population is set to double by 2031, that’s an additional 80,000 people moving into City of Melbourne</li>
</ul>
While some Melburnians might be willing to give up their back yard, what’s becoming increasingly clear is that they are not willing to sacrifice quality. While high rise development is booming, prospective occupants have particular expectations around their quality of life as residents of the most liveable city in the world. City of Melbourne’s recent Future Living research clearly demonstrated that good quality design and amenity is high on the agenda of Melburnians.

We also know that residential mid and high-rise buildings are energy intensive, currently contributing 13% of carbon emissions in the city. Improving the efficiency of apartment buildings is therefore an important component of Melbourne’s Zero Net Emissions by 2020 strategy (February 2014).

What most apartment dwellers don’t realise is that high-rise apartments have been shown to be the most energy intensive dwelling type, using approximately 25 per cent more energy per person than standalone homes or townhouses. This is due in large part to the energy consumption of shared services and common property such as hallway and car park lighting, ventilation, pools, heating and cooling. Ultimately, this is costing apartment owners money in the form of higher utility bills.

New green buildings are changing this equation. However, given the lion’s share of Melbourne’s built environment is already constructed, retrofitting existing building stock is essential to keeping household running costs down and reducing emissions. That’s why we are offering the <a href="http://smartblocks.com.au/" target="_blank">Smart Blocks</a> program to our building managers, strata managers, apartment owners and residents.

Smart Blocks is helping apartment owners and their managers to improve the energy efficiency in apartment buildings, preventing money being wasted on unnecessarily high energy bills. At the core of Smart Blocks is an interactive online toolkit that helps people discover what energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements can be made to common property in their own buildings and make clear the steps to get projects approved.

Apartment living is seeing us live in closer physically proximity to each other, ironically this does not necessarily result in a stronger social fabric within the building. However, building improvement projects can only be realised when owners, building managers and apartment owners work closely together – and so we hit the residential building retrofit conundrum.

Our research clearly indicates that negotiating complex strata rules and regulations is a primary barrier to creating change in strata buildings. This is only amplified when it comes to coordinating a common area retrofit across an entire building, which often requires a significant financial investment. This is exactly the problem that Smart Blocks solves. It guides users through strata rules and regulations, and proves a shared online project management platform that can be accessed by owners, managers and renters alike.

One of the best things about Smart Blocks is that it brings people together and helps them make change on their own terms for the betterment of their building. Once they’ve made one change and demonstrated value, it’s easier to make the next one – and it feels good. This is the sweet spot because we see people coming together around projects that are relevant to their day-to-day life.

In recognising that working together is key to retrofitting buildings (and indeed the city) for sustainability, City of Melbourne have come to the table, and we’ve brought cake. Smart Blocks is here for the taking, along with support from the Smart Blocks officer here at City of Melbourne and a $3,000 rebate for energy efficient lighting upgrades and solar installations for common areas.

Whether it’s to drive down electricity bills (investing in energy efficiency could save your owners corporation up to 20-30 per cent in energy costs) or contribute to an Eco City, the need for energy efficient and renewably powered buildings have never been clearer.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Arron%20Wood%20Image-21.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="City of Melbourne Councillor Arron Wood. Image supplied."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Arron%20Wood%20Image-21.jpg?itok=HZDi_59p" style="height:812px; width:580px" title="City of Melbourne Councillor Arron Wood. Image supplied."></a>

Cr Wood is Chair of the Environment portfolio and Deputy Chair of the Economic Development portfolio. He sits on the Victorian Adaptation &amp; Sustainability Partnership Ministerial Advisory Committee, the Parks and Gardens Advisory Committee, the Yarra Park Advisory Committee and is a board member of the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/35527156@N04/8761118550" target="_blank">Flickr</a>, CC BY-SA
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arronwood

Adding value one block at a time

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Like them? Loathe them? The taxi has been part of the Melbourne streetscape for over a century and have been subject to as many changes as Melbourne itself. Some readers would have only even known a local taxi to be a familiar shade of yellow thanks the 'war' waged by then Premier Jeff Kennett during the mid 1990's.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/374881-zisiss-kontsiostis.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image courtesy Herald Sun"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/374881-zisiss-kontsiostis.jpg?itok=Eu0nFQJB" title="Image courtesy Herald Sun" width="580"></a>
It turns out the humble taxi has a varied and interesting history in Melbourne, well beyond the pale yellow form we now associate them with. With that in mind a new exhibition will commence this Wednesday at Melbourne Town hall visualising the highs and lows of this form of transport that began way back when in 1909.
<blockquote>
	A new exhibition at <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/citygallery">City Gallery</a> will transport audiences on a journey from 1909, when the first motorised taxi was introduced in Melbourne, to the present day.
	Curated by Christine Eid, Hello Yellow explores Melbourne’s taxi story and includes photographs, placards from taxi driver protests, a taximeter, a 3D installation and other artefacts from the City of Melbourne’s Art and Heritage collection.
	Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said taxis are an important part of Melbourne’s story. “Taxis are a vital component of Melbourne’s transport system and hold a special place in our history,” the Lord Mayor said. “The Hello Yellow exhibition chronicles this history and offers a unique insight into the stories behind the wheel.”
	Chair of Arts and Culture Councillor Rohan Leppert said City Gallery is a great space where people can find out the untold stories of Melbourne. “From the story of Melbourne taxis, to Melbourne’s gardens in 1940’s, the history of the city’s signs to the Royal visit – City Gallery gives a fantastic insight into the stories that make Melbourne such an interesting and culturally rich city. I encourage Melburnians and visitors to stop by and take a look,” Cr Leppert said.
	<cite>City of Melbourne media release: <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/MediaReleases/Pages/TakearideintothestoryofMelbournestaxis.aspx">Take a ride into the story of Melbourne’s taxis</a></cite>
</blockquote>
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/687736-unicab.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The taxi of tomorrow. Image courtesy The Advertiser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/687736-unicab.jpg?itok=DYJGMp4o" title="The taxi of tomorrow. Image courtesy The Advertiser" width="580"></a>
While the <a href="http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse/Our%20Organisation%2FDesign%20and%20Social%20Context%2FSchools%20and%20groups%2FArchitecture%20and%20Design%2FNews%2FNews%2F;ID=iwaxoglzel0b;STATUS=A" target="_blank">RMIT-led Taxi 2020</a> concept may remain just that for the foreseeable future, all things relating to Melbourne's taxi industry past and present are on display this week at Melbourne Town Hall.
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