Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

City of Melbourne

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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!
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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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