<p>Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.</p>

<p>A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.</p>

<p>Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.</p>

<p>“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.</p>

<p>Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.</p>

<p>“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.</p>

<p>The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.</p>

<p>It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.</p>

<p>The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.</p>

<p>One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.</p>

<p>Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.</p>

<p>The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.</p>

<p>Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.</p>

<p>Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.</p>

<p>Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.</p>

<p>“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”</p>

<p>Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.</p>

<p>Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.</p>

<p>Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.</p>


Joel Robinson

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

<p>Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.</p>

<p>The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.</p>

<p>Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" /></p>

<p>“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.</p>

<p>The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”</p>

<p>The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" /></p>

<p>The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.</p>

<p>According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.</p>

<p>“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.</p>

<p>A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.</p>

<p>Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" /></p>

<p>All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.</p>

<p>The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.</p>


Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

<p>Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.</p>

<p>The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.</p>

<p>Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" /></p>

<p>Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.</p>

<p>The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.</p>

<p>"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.</p>

<p>The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.</p>

<p>The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" /></p>

<p>Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.</p>

<p>Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.</p>


First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

<p>The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.</p>

<p>The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.</p>

<p>The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" /></p>

<p>The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.</p>

<p>“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.</p>

<p>“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.</p>

<p><img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" /></p>

<p>“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.</p>

<p>“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.</p>

<p>“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”</p>

<p><img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" /></p>

<p>Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.</p>

<p>“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.</p>

<p>“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.</p>

<p>“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”</p>


$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

<p>Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.</p>

<p>John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.</p>

<p>The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.</p>

<p>In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.</p>

<p><img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" /></p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.</p>

<p>DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.</p>

<p>“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.</p>

<p>The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.</p>

<p>“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.</p>

<p>At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.</p>

<p>The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.</p>


First look: Winx billionaire’s beachfront Surfers Paradise apartment development greenlit

Construction

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<div class="column"><span>Dwelling approvals may have eased in August but it was largely driven by the volatility in apartment approvals. More encouragingly house approvals lifted by healthy 4.4 per cent August. From a longer term sense the lift in home building over the past couple of years has been extraordinary. </span></div>
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<div class="column"><span>Over the past year a record 225,406 new homes were approved – a boom that will continue to support economic activity over the next 12-18 months. Interestingly with the tightening in bank lending standards and news of another bank pulling back from investor loans in the last day, it is pretty clear that the lift in supply should result in a much more balanced housing sector.</span></div>
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<span>There is no housing bubble, rather an imbalance between supply and demand in key markets like Sydney and Melbourne. When demand exceeds supply, prices can soar at an unsustainable rate. But the homes are being built to meet demand, it just takes time. Investors clearly must tread warily.</span><br><p>Private sector credit remains healthy with lending lifting by 0.6 per cent in August. From an annual sense, credit growth is holding at the best levels in over six years. The key driver remains housing and in that context it is investor housing in particular that has driven the strength.</p>
<p>Investor finance is up 10.7% on a year ago. However it is <span>likely that investor demand eases over the coming year.</span></p>
<span>More encouraging was the lift in business credit. There is no doubt that businesses are still rather tentative but the lift in borrowings is certainly encouraging and resonates with the lift in business confidence and conditions. The key driver of future lending will be an ongoing improvement in labour market conditions, rise in business hiring intentions and lift in consumer confidence.<br><br></span><span>The disappointment in the latest result lies with the consumer borrowings which have been weak for the most part of this year. Interestingly the consumer credit figures may not be painting a true picture with some home owners likely to dipping into home equity to borrow at cheaper rates, rather than tapping personal </span><span>loans. </span>
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<p><span>What do the figures show?</span></p>
<p><span>Building Approvals:</span></p>
<p><span>Dwelling approvals fell by 6.9% in August after rising by 7.9% in July. In trend terms, approvals fell by 0.7% in August.</span></p>
<p><span>House approvals rose by 4.4% in August (private sector rose 4.9%). Meanwhile ‘lumpy’ apartment approvals fell by 16.9% in August after rising by 20% in July. Private sector apartment approvals fell by 11.4% in August.</span></p>
<p><span>Dwelling approvals are up 5.1% on a year ago with house approvals up by 2.2% while apartments are up by 8.4%.</span></p>
<p><span>Across states and territories in August: NSW approvals rose by 27.1%; Victoria rose by 8.3%; Queensland fell by 17.2%; South Australia fell by 8.1%; Western Australia fell by 1.1%; Tasmania fell by 24.7%. In trend terms, approvals rose by 7.3% in the Northern Territory and rose 4.4% in the ACT.</span></p>
<p><span>The value of all commercial and residential building approvals fell by 5.6% in August after rising by 9.2% in July. Residential approvals fell by 3.5% with new building down by 3% while alterations &amp; additions fell by 7.9%. Commercial building fell by 10.1% in August but was still up by 6.6% over the year (up 10.6% over the year in trend terms).</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Private sector credit</span></p>
<p><span>Private sector credit (lending) rose by 0.6% in August after a 0.6% gain in July. Annual credit </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">growth rose from 6.1% to 6.3% – a 61⁄2-year high.</span></p>
<p><span>Housing credit grew by 0.6% in August after a similar rise in July. Housing credit is up 7.5% on a year ago – the strongest annual growth since September 2010.</span></p>
<p><span>Owner occupier housing credit rose by 0.6% in August to stand 5.6% higher than a year ago – the fastest annual growth since January 2012. Investor housing finance lifted 0.7% in August. Investor housing credit was up by 10.7% over the year.</span></p>
<p><span>Personal credit rose by 0.1% in August after a flat result in July. Personal credit was up 0.7% over the year.</span></p>
<p><span>Business credit rose by 0.5% in August. Business credit is 5.3% higher than a year ago.</span></p>
<p><span>Term deposits held with banks fell by $2.2 billion in August to $509.9 billion. Term deposits are down 5.7% on a year ago – the sharpest decline in 12 years. Term deposits have been regularly falling in annual terms for 21 months – the longest period in records going back almost 30 years.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">What is the importance of the economic data?</span></p>
<p><span>Private sector credit figures are released by the Reserve Bank on the last working day of the month. Credit is separated into three categories – housing, other personal and business. </span></p>
<p><span>Private sector credit is effectively the amount of loans outstanding in the economy. If growth in lending is strong then it suggests that credit from financial institutions is freely available, underlying demand for assets such as cars and houses is firm and that the price of credit (interest rates) is attractive.</span></p>
<p><span>The Bureau of Statistics' monthly Building Approvals release contains figures on local council approvals to build residential structures such as homes and units as well as commercial premises such as offices and shops. Approval is one of the first stages of the construction ‘pipeline’ and is thus a key leading indicator of future activity. An increase in approvals would point to stronger future activity for </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">construction-related companies.</span></p>
<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">What are the implications for interest rates and investors?</span><br><p><span>The home building boom will support the economy over the next 12-18 months, and the benefits will last longer in Sydney given that high rise apartments take longer to build.</span></p>
<p><span>The Reserve Bank is unlikely to shift interest rates in any direction. Rather an extended period of time on the sidelines is the most likely outcome. </span></p>
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<p> <em>Savanth Sebastian is an economist for <a href="https://www.commsec.com.au" target="_blank">CommSec</a>. </em></p>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

There is no housing bubble: CommSec's Savanth Sebastian

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<div><span>Melbourne developer Kalex will release pre-sales late September of their 26 apartment project 166 Gertrude in Melbourne's Fitzroy.</span></div>
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<span><span>166 Gertrude will include </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">26 one-, two- and three-bedroom residential apartments, priced from $580,000 to $2.2M, with a 600sqm retail space on the ground floor. </span>
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<div><span>Construction is due to commence 2016.</span></div>
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<div>For more information, <a href="https://kalex.com.au/selling/166-gertrude-st-fitzroy/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

166 Gertrude pre-sales released soon in Fitzroy

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<p><span>The </span>apartment market in Coffs Harbour has turned around, with dwelling construction ramping up and key suburbs seeing considerable new unit development, according to Herron Todd White.</p>
<p><span>Herron Todd White's September Month in Review found </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">popular beach and harbourside suburbs around Coffs Harbour typically have prices ranging from $350,000 to in excess of $1 million, with average prices around $450,000 to $700,000.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">"The high end of the market of $700,000 plus does see sales dramatically reduce due to limited local demand for this price range," the report noted.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">"These units are generally purchased by high net wealth individuals with long selling periods required to attract potential purchasers. </span></p>
<p>"Several modern townhouse complexes have been constructed which generally provide three bedroom, one or two bathroom accommodation in complexes of five to ten units ranging in price from $350,000 to $400,000. The majority of purchasers have been investors with rental returns of $360 to $400 per week being achieved."</p>
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Coffs Harbour construction ramping up: Herron Todd White

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<p><img src="/images/2015/09/17/Holdencapital_banner.jpg" alt="" width="622" height="131"></p>
<p>SPONSORED POST</p>
<p>Following continuing pressure by APRA on the major banks to ensure that they comply with their obligations under the Basil III accord, the banks recently reacted by reducing their appetite for construction lending, dramatically reigning in their marketing to developers and in some instances actually reducing the level of staff in their relationship management teams. </p>
<p>This conflict between their requirements to satisfy capital adequacy levels under the accord coupled with their need to improve their return on shareholding to remain competitive with their peers has created a significant problem for many of their developer clientele. </p>
<p>To achieve their objectives, the banks have raised the bar for developers in terms of their condition precedent requirements, reduced gearing levels and increased their pricing on debt, effectively implementing a flight to quality and leaving many of the their traditional but more marginal clients in terms of credit strength, looking for alternative funding sources.</p>
<p>This has resulted in a significant shift in the construction lending landscape with some developers quickly adjusting to the need to re-focus their attention on where they source their debt and its not just the smaller more marginalised developers who are making changes. <span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p>HoldenCAPITAL is currently settling an average of more than 1 transaction per week but recently there has been a noticeable change in the ratio between the traditional bank sourced debt and those alternative funding options now being opted for by developers who don’t want to miss a market opportunity just because their banks have their own problems. </p>
<p>In FY15 we settled 64% of our deals with the major banks but this has quickly changed with 62% of the $300mil of project debt settling between now and Christmas likely to be set with alternative funding sources.</p>
<p>Through managing the tender process on behalf of its clients, HoldenCAPITAL has been at the forefront of both the bank and non-bank markets and can quickly identify where a client can secure the best outcome for their project needs.  He says that the majors are still a strong force in the sector but there are very real alternatives emerging as strong contenders for new projects. </p>
<p>While there are additional costs associated with these alternative funding sources rising up to the meet the market demand, these alternatives do offer their own distinctly different benefits to developers who do not want to be restricted in their ability to meet identified market opportunities due to the constraints placed on their traditional bank which have no direct relevance to their market sector. </p>
<p>By way of example, non-bank money can cost as low as 9-10% per annum, which, which when compared to the traditional bank cost (if it was available) on a medium sized projects of say 30 product, would add as little as ~$170,000 or 10% variance on normal finance costs to a project with a total cost of $6M. </p>
<p>What this alternative product does offer the developer is the potential for significant savings in other areas such as the opportunity to commence the project without the need for pre-sales. It also allows the developer to lock in a construction price and minimise escalation risk as well as the benefit of selling product which has a more certain delivery date, rather than the more speculative "off the plan" route required to satisfy the banks pre-sale requirements. This in turn gives the developer the edge when selling any completed residual stock, which will be competing with stock still under construction by those competitors who chose the pre-sale option.</p>
<p>The changing landscape in the construction finance arena has also given rise to an increase in private investors looking to invest in development opportunities. With the uncertainties surrounding the investments in shares, reduced superfund returns and tightening investment yield in investment property, investment in well structured and risk mitigated developments was providing investors with a very attractive alternative. We currently manage over $70mil of private investor funds and the enquiry from new investors is getting more frequent. </p>
<p>So what is the future for construction lending? There is no doubt that many of these changes have been seen before but the reality facing the banks is that many of the revisions driving how they participate in the construction market are permanent rather than the cyclical as in the past and as such, it would appear that the rise of the alternative lenders is more than a passing fad and could represent a real paradigm shift in this sector.</p>
<p><em>This article was written by Dan Holden of <em>bespoke construction finance firm </em>HoldenCAPITAL. To discuss your project finance requirement please call (07) 3171 4200 or <a href="https://www.holdencapital.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.</em></p>
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Banks tightening developer credit heralds rise of alternate funding options: HoldenCAPITAL

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<p><span>Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews performed a sod turning ceremony marking the imminent construction of a $1.2 billion commercial precinct, Merrifield Business Park, in Melbourne’s north.</span></p>
<p><span>Strategically positioned in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, the $1.2 billion, 330ha Merrifield Business Park will commence construction later this year, and is expected to generate up to $3.5 billion annually for Victoria.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/09/10/KH_003_CH2_5642_090915.jpg" alt="" width="286" height="318"></span></p>
<p><span>Merrifield Business Park is part of the broader Merrifield project, the largest master planned community in Victoria, spanning 770ha in total, including 4,000 homes, a 110-hectare city centre and the 330ha business park.</span></p>
<p><span>The broader Merrifield project will deliver 25,000 direct jobs, while the business park alone will accommodate up to 11,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs once complete.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/09/10/KH_004_CH2_5655_090915.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="280"></span></p>
<p><span>Statistics also show Merrifield Business Park will account for 16-26% of future employment growth in the City of Hume.</span></p>
<p><span>Iconic Australian paint manufacturer Dulux is the first company to announce that it will be moving into Merrifield, alongside businesses from the food services, logistics and warehousing sectors, as well as white collar industries also showing interest in commercial land in the north.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/09/10/KH_005_CH2_5719_090915.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="508"></span></p>
<p><span>Merrifield Business Park’s positioning near major transport infrastructure – Hume Melbourne International Airport, Somerton Intermodal Terminal - enables the delivery of goods and services to over 80% of the Australian population within 12 hours.</span></p>
<p><span>Merrifield is a joint venture between MAB Corporation and Gibson Property Corporation.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/09/10/KH_009_CH2_5791_090915.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="332"></span></p>
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<p><em>Pictures: Kit Haselden Photography</em></p>
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Premier announces $3.5 billion annual boost to Victoria‏

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<div>Now the construction sector is expanding again per AIG.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Some good analysis from AIG that is well worth a read - apartment construction is an obvious strong point, which makes the drag on second quarter GDP by dwelling construction something of a mystery.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Perhaps the residential construction industry is operating at or close to its full capacity?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In any case, I expect dwelling construction to contribute to the economic growth in the third quarter.</div>
<p><a href="/images/2015/09/09/PCI.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2015/09/09/PCI.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>All three of </span>AIG's Performance Indices<span> are now in expansion territory - manufacturing, construction and services.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/09/09/AIG.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2015/09/09/AIG.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Source: AIG</p>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Construction expands in August: Pete Wargent

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<p><span>The first sod has been turned for the construction of Doncaster's $77 million Gardenhill development by Manningham Mayor Cr. Paul McLeish.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The ground breaking ceremony at </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/project-gardenhill-vic-doncaster-600006123" target="_blank">5 Elgar Court</a>, Doncaster was also attended by </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Victorian Minister for Finance Robin Scott and Malaysian Minister for Industry and Trade Dato’ Lee Chee Leong.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Gardenhill is a joint venture between Malaysian-based Fajarbaru Group and Melbourne-based Beulah International.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The </span>apartment<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> development is designed by </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Woods Bagot-designed development, with 70% of the 136 apartments sold up in the first three months of release. C</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">onstruction is slated for completion late 2016.</span></p>
<p>Key features include a Jack Merlo-designed garden, a <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">rooftop terrace, teppanyaki </span>barbecue<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> and a private enclosed dog park on the ground floor.</span></p>
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Construction starts on Doncaster’s $77 million Gardenhill

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<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We're at the pointy end of a development and I'm in the middle of coordinating the last three weeks so everything falls into place efficiently. Our job as project managers is to save our clients time and money and sometimes a development can really drag out at the end of construction.</span></p>
<p>I thought I'd share all the things that need to happen as a Property Bloom project nears completion and why it's so importance to manage this carefully. </p>
<p>We have a dual occupancy project that is three weeks out from completion. I can say three weeks confidently as I've worked back from the date of Handover to right now and listed everything that needs to happen. </p>
<p>We define completion not by the construction work finishing, but by the dwellings being tenanted and earning income for our clients. It's one of the most important stages because our clients have been paying the builder's draw downs through the development and now it's time for them to reap the financial rewards. </p>
<p>Our process aims for a zero vacancy period and we do this by using something that is intangible yet very valuable. Strong relationships. </p>
<p>So in these last few weeks we need to micro manage the builder, our client and their bank, a valuer, our property management agency, our private certifier, a landscaper, the estate guidelines manager and our quantity surveyor. </p>
<p>The first step towards the end is to conduct the Practical Completion (PC) inspection  as soon as we can, but not too soon that the builder is not ready. This is when we'll walk through the villas and compile a list of items that still need finishing off. These may include paint touch ups, cleaning, any damage to exteriors (I always check the gutters and fascias closely as sometimes they harbour dents), chips in anything, landscaping, fencing, blinds, carpet and built in robes, shower screens all installed, sliding door and window tracks cleaned of all dirt (my pet hate is dirt left in tracks!) and I make sure everything works right down to a strong flush to the toilets. </p>
<p>The builder has a week to address the items on the PC inspection list and then we'll come back and reinspect. In the meantime, we need our client to send the final builder's invoice to their bank for payment. Before releasing the final funds, the bank will send their valuer to check works have been completed. We must ensure the valuer is booked in quickly and has no problems with access otherwise the final payment can be held up.  When the money is released to the builder, keys can be handed to tenants. So no keys, means no tenants, means no income. </p>
<p>At the same time we ensure that the Private Certifier conducts their final inspection. Once they have done this and have all related documentation,  the Occupation Certificate (OC) will be released.  No OC, means no tenant, means no income.</p>
<p>We've cut a deal with an agency who is going to lease the villas (whether a tenant has actually moved in or not) from the day the OC is received. So it's important we get this as quickly as possible but all Conditions of the DA must be met before the Certifier will release the OC. </p>
<p>We are also coordinating with an external landscaper who is responsible for the front landscaping and it must meet stringent estate guidelines.  This work has to be completed before the OC can be issued.</p>
<p>We brief our Quantity Surveyor to prepare Depreciation Schedules for our client to use at tax time as soon as we've received the builder's final invoice as this completes the actual build costs. However, the Depreciation Schedules cannot be completed until we have a Handover date. Handover is officially when the builder has received the final payment into their account and keys are released. </p>
<p>We need to ensure our builder has completed all works in time and there is a good measure of trust as the builder allows our management agency on site to show the villas to prospective tenants before Handover has occurred. Our client also trusts us to ensure the builder gets everything finished after they've submitted the builders final invoice to the bank. </p>
<p>Communication through this period is key. We talk a lot to our client, their bank and the contractors to ensure everyone completes their tasks when they should - all it takes is for one not to and it can hold up the entire process. </p>
<p>So in exactly three weeks time this dual occ project will be completely finished, our client will be happy with tenants in place, our builder will be happy they've been paid quickly and we'll be happy that it all came together nicely. </p>
<p><em>Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.</em></p>
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What happens in the last three weeks of a development? Jo Chivers

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<div>The ABS released its Construction Work Done figures for the June quarter, which showed total construction for the quarter rebounding by +1.6% to a seasonally adjusted $49.8 billion.</div>
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<div>Over the last year total construction remained at historically very high levels at $198 billion, although this is now down from a sky-high annual figure of $211 billion one year ago.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div>As any good politician would, of course, smiling Treasurer Hockey immediately took to Twitter to claim credit for the rebound.</div>
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<div>But in fact public infrastructure work has been very weak. </div>
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<div>Furthermore, against recent trends the rebound in the June quarter was not driven by residential construction either, rather it was a punchy quarter for engineering (i.e. resources) construction works, with expenditure rebounding by +5.6 per cent to a seasonally adjusted $25.6 billion.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/a2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div>Despite this positive blip, engineering construction work done was -8.8 per cent lower than a year ago, and will doubtless resume its downward trajectory in due course, as considered in more detail below.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mining rebound in WA</span></strong><br><div> </div>
<div>The driver of the engineering construction rebound was an increase in spend of nearly +$3 billion in Western Australia to $11.3 billion for the second quarter.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/A3.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>
<div>In fact, anyone who was paying very close attention might have anticipated this.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Recall that the so-termed "record trade deficit" in April 2015r actually included an <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/trade-deficitwtf" target="_blank">anomalous spike</a>in Western Australian imports from Korea. As I <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/trade-deficitwtf" target="_blank">noted at the time</a>:</div>
<br><div><span><em>"<span>No further detail is provided by the ABS, but given that there was a kahuna $1.5 billion spike in merchandise imports in Western Australia, and we can assume that this was probably related to a major mining project.</span></em></span></div>
<div><span><em> </em></span></div>
<div><span><em>In all likelihood, one might hazard that this was rail capex for Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill iron ore project (which typically a business would treat as an investment in a fixed asset for the generation of revenue streams, rather than trading expenditure)."</em></span></div>
<br><div>In all probability, therefore, the June quarter rebound was capex driven with a large asset purchase accounting for most of the spike.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Moreover we can expect that the September quarter will see engineering construction work resuming its inevitable decline.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Building by state</span></strong><br><br><div>At the state level, Victoria has been the king of residential building across recent years.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>However New South Wales is now the one state which is benefitting from a material public sector and non-residential building contribution, thereby thrusting total building work done in the Premier State to its highest ever level in the June quarter.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A8.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div>
<span>Indeed, the New South Wales economy in generally is in very fine shape at the present time.</span><br><br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Residential building by state</span></strong><br><br><div>Looking at specifically residential buiding we can see that the +7.4 per cent year-on-year increase has been overwhelmingly a function of "other residential" building - which is to say, the construction of units, townhouses and apartments.</div>
<br><div>As denoted by the green line below, outside Sydney major renovations activity has been very subdued through this cycle.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/A4.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Although new house building has responded to low interest rates almost everywhere to a greater or lesser extent, the trend has been looking increasingly peaky over the past four quarters.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Victoria continues to lead the way on the house building front, a state which appears to suffer less from greenfield land supply constraints than other states and territories do.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A6.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/A6.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span>On the other hand the higher density sector building work continues apace, particularly in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, which is a trend you can see everywhere from West End, South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley and Newstead (Brisbane), to Mascot, Wolli Creek and Zetland (Sydney). </span></div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/a7.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
<div><span><img src="/images/2015/08/27/a7.jpg" alt=""></span></div>
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<div>The latest building approvals figures suggest that the cycle for unit and apartment approvals may also be set to peak in due course, thoughthe duration of higher density projects from approval to completion may run to several years.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Consequently the elevated levels of building activity in this sector may have quite some way to run yet.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The wrap</span></strong><br><br><div>Overal this was a positive result for construction in the June quarter which masks an ongoing decline in resources construction that is locked and loaded for the next few years. </div>
<div>
<br>Residential building remains strong for the time being, but even here Australia can only build new apartment projects for so long.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Of more significance will be today's capex intentions for the 2015/16 financial year, and specifically whether businesses are becoming more inclined towards investment plans.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>If not, in a nutshell, interest rates will have further to fall.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Construction rebounds...for now: Pete Wargent

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<p><span>GUEST OBSERVER</span></p>
<p><span>Construction activity surprised to the high side, advancing by 1.6% in the June quarter. Expectations were for a decline (Westpac and market median –1.5%).</span></p>
<p><span>Private infrastructure, dominated by mining, was the source of surprise, jumping 10.2% in the quarter, centred on a 35% spike in WA.</span></p>
<p><span>Total construction work ex WA infrastructure was weak in the quarter, declining by 5.3%.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.40.50%20PM.png" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.40.50%20PM.png" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>The construction report reads more like an update from 2011, when the mining investment boom was in full swing. However, this spike in infrastructure work will not be sustained. Rather prospects are for sizeable falls ahead, even more so given this burst of work.</span></p>
<p><span>The positive, is that the construction sector (which accounts for around 15% of the economy) will add to growth in the June quarter 2015. This will provide a partial offset to the drag from net exports, which have swung from a positive contribution in Q1 of 0.5ppts to an estimated subtraction of –0.4ppts in Q2.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.42.42%20PM.png" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.42.42%20PM.png" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>Infrastructure work in WA jumped to $11.3bn in the quarter, a $2.9bn increase on Q1 or a rise of 35%.</span></p>
<p><span>Construction of the $10bn Roy Hill iron ore project and the $61bn Gorgon LNG project will have contributed to this spike. It appears that there has been a ramping up of work in an effort to make up for past delays. </span></p>
<p><span>Elsewhere, it was a weak quarter for construction.</span></p>
<p><span>Public works fell further, down a sharp –8.4%qtr, to be 15% lower than a year ago. In the year ahead, public infrastructure is likely to improve as state governments begin work on new transport projects.</span></p>
<p><span>Commercial building was little changed, ahead of likely falls with approvals falling sharply in 2014, particularly in the mining states.</span></p>
<p><span>Private new residential building surprised, declining by 3.6% in the quarter. Although, this dip follows a 16% rise over the past year, including a near 8% increase in Q1. With approvals hitting fresh record highs early in 2015 new home building activity is set to strengthen in coming quarters.</span></p>
<p><span>Private home renovations strengthened, up 0.9% in the quarter to be 4% higher than a year ago. This is likely the beginnings of a modest upturn, following a period of softness, consistent with the upturn in the housing market more generally.</span></p>
<p><span>By state, Q2 construction work was: up sharply in WA, +25.5%qtr, 14%yr; broadly flat in NSW; edged lower in Victoria, -2.8%qtr, but was still up over the year, +7%; and fell further in Qld, -11%qtr, -32%yr.</span></p>
<p><em>Andrew Hanlan is senior economist for Westpac and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-hanlan/3/222/430" target="_blank">here</a>. </em></p>
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