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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Construction

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Residential construction plays a vital role in supporting jobs both on and off building sites across Australia.
It has the second largest economic multiplier of the 114 industries that make up the Australian economy, according to new analysis.
Nine jobs are supported across the economy for every $1 million spent on residential construction, the report, Building Jobs: How Residential Construction Drives the Economy, found.
The data came from the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation’s (NHFIC) research unit which found residential construction contributes around five per cent to annual gross domestic product (GDP) accounting for about 134,000 jobs.
Of the total of nine jobs, around four can be considered on-site jobs, while the remaining five can be considered off-site, people who supply materials and other off-site services.
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The average cost of building a home in Australia is around $320,000.
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Commenting on the research, NHFIC CEO Nathan Dal Bon said this meant that every new home built generated an average of three jobs throughout a range of industries, based on the average dwelling construction cost.
“Understanding how residential construction activity may affect jobs and flow through to the broader economy is increasingly important and timely, given the impact of COVID-19,” Mr Dal Bon said.
It comes at a time when data shows substantial job losses have already occurred in the construction industry following the onset of COVID-19.
Recent ABS payroll data showed that employment fell by 5.8 percent between March and May.
The NHFIC’s research unit, established this year by the Federal Government, has dual roles. It is to undertake independent housing related research and also to monitor housing demand, supply and affordability across Australia.
The Building Jobs report, which draws on the most recent available data from the 2017-18 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) input-output tables released last month, found that $1 million of output in residential construction supports around $2.9 million of industry output and consumption across the broader economy.
Relative to other industries, residential construction activity has strong economy spillovers in terms of economic output and jobs, particularly when there is spare capacity. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/6/19/4_Construction.png" alt="">
The employment impact on construction services such as plumbing, electrical, bricklaying and carpentry is almost four times that of any other industry connected to the residential construction industry, the report found.
Recent insights from internal discussions within the Reserve Bank of Australia highlighted its such a vitally important industry in the Australian economy in terms of its contribution to jobs and economic growth.
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Demand for new housing remains weak. 
Builders of detached housing expect the recent weak demand to weigh on construction activity and cash flow beyond their current pipeline of around four to nine months.
The pipeline of residential construction work in the major east coast markets is at the longer end of this range, the RBA noted.
Builders and developers report that domestic banks and non‐bank financiers have become more conservative in their lending. 
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It assumed 20 per cent of the labour force in the construction sector will be unable to work at some point in the June and September quarters.
The RBA economist Richard Evans anticipated the negative confidence shock higher than that experienced in the global financial crisis.
There was a late April RBA memo indicating demand for new housing had declined substantially since mid-March and was expected to decrease further.
"There have been sharp falls in sales, enquiries and foot traffic following the introduction of stricter containment measures," it noted.
There were increases in contract cancellation rates, particularly for new detached houses and greenfield land, so financial risks had increased for builders and developer as a result of the decline in demand for new housing.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Residential construction is vital to the Economy: NHFIC

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Falls from heights are the number one killer on NSW construction sites so construction sites across north-western Sydney can expect a visit from SafeWork Inspectors this week who will be targeting unsafe working systems across all building trades.  
Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson, said following a number of incidents on worksites throughout the state, inspectors will be on the ground focusing on high risk activities, to ensure workers on construction sites are kept safe. 
“Inspectors will be undertaking a compliance blitz on construction sites to make sure those most at risk from workplace injury are protected by safe systems of work,” Mr Anderson said. 
“Far too often our inspectors identify concerns with the way scaffolding is set up and other dangers involving working from heights so we will be targeting this area in particular.
“Falls from heights are the number one killer on NSW construction sites with most people who are seriously injured or killed falling from a height of four metres or less,” Mr Anderson said. 
Following the NSW Government’s introduction of the strongest workplace legislation in the country earlier this month, heavy on-the-spot fines will be issued to anyone who puts workers’ lives at risk through unsafe or unlicensed work activities. 
“We’re lifting workplace safety in NSW by making it everyone’s responsibility, and sending a clear message that those who puts workers at risk can now face jail time,” Mr Anderson concluded.  
For more information on SafeWork’s operations and work health and safety advice, visit <a href="http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593473055413000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFWwqlyxcsqcO_Nbsrxa32Nns1PuA">www.safework.nsw.gov.au</a>
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Safety inspections planned for north-western Sydney construction sites

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Many countries around the world, including Australia, are looking to the construction industry to help rebuild economies.
Industry bodies such as the Master Builders Association are strongly urging governments to bring forward spending on already approved infrastructure projects.
They also want these projects to be unbundled into smaller contract packages so small local businesses and the whole sector get a piece of the pie.
We should not ignore the risks involved in the rush to get the economy going again. We will pay for mistakes made now in the form of debt created by cost blowouts and unscrupulous developers. We will have to live with poor-quality, ill-conceived and environmentally damaging developments for decades.
Of course, construction and infrastructure programs provide us with a powerful stimulus tool. It’s why federal and state governments are looking to this sector to drive recovery. The social impact of investing in more construction and infrastructure could certainly be significant.
Construction is one of the country’s largest employers. The sector employs about 1.2 million people directly, and indirectly much more. It’s one of the largest employers of apprentices, youth and disadvantaged groups such as Indigenous people and refugees.
Investment in construction flows through the broader economy. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates every A$1 million spent on construction output generates A$2.9 million in output across the economy as a whole. Every job created in construction leads to another three in the wider economy.
Knowing this, state and local governments are relaxing hard-won controls to fast-track projects. Planning ministers are being given more power to override many of the statutory timeframes that govern normal planning and approval processes.
This approach creates many risks as well as many opportunities. If we do not control these risks in our rush to stimulate the economy, we are likely to regret this in future.
While the construction industry includes some world-class firms, the government-commissioned Productivity Commission inquiry into infrastructure raised many concerns about the lack of transparency and trust in development and infrastructure approval processes. It noted infrastructure project overruns were common. The extra costs amount to billions of dollars.
We are already battling a crisis of confidence in the residential apartments sector. Poor-quality buildings have devastated people’s lives. In New South Wales, the state government has appointed a building commissioner to clean up the mess.
Relaxing controls also opens the door to unscrupulous developers to exploit the crisis for their own personal gain. Transparency International’s recent submission to a Senate inquiry argues that powerful groups have too often prevailed over public interest. It warns:
Businesses in highly regulated industries, such as transport, mining, energy and property construction, all actively seek to influence politicians, although the channels of influence vary by industry.
In some countries we are already seeing developers exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to argue for relaxation and even removal of regulations put in place to ensure projects contribute positively to the communities in which they are built. A former senior adviser to US President Donald Trump has argued that his administration should trigger an emergency override of America’s environmental protection laws and establish “Australian-style permitting”.
If fast-tracked projects are undertaken without appropriate controls purely to boost the economy rather than meet a real community need, then we will be paying for this crisis for far longer than we expect.
As Elizabeth Mossop warned in her recent Conversation article, our governments are committing taxpayers to further debt to stimulate recovery from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Infrastructure spending is great for economic stimulus, but it still has to be the right kind of infrastructure that meets local community needs.
Mossop argues for small-scale stimulus projects focused on local small businesses, rather than multinationals, to deliver broad, long-term community value. Investing stimulus funding in local businesses means the money recycles in the community, reduces inequality and helps meet real community needs.
Of course we need to move quickly to rebuild our economy. But we must also place the community at the heart of any decisions about which projects we push through the system.
We could learn much from the principles of urban acupuncture, which would advocate a community-based approach to stimulus. It would also warn against awarding contracts to major multinationals. These corporations suck money out of needy communities into the pockets of shareholders with no links to the communities we need to help.
Research shows procuring from local businesses provides a 77-100 per cent economic advantage and an 80-100 per cent increase in jobs compared to procuring from multinationals.
If stimulus programs follow traditional approaches to infrastructure procurement in Australia, then we will miss an unprecedented opportunity to tackle growing inequity. Even before this crisis, many younger and poorer members of our society were already being left behind.The Conversation
Martin Loosemore is a Professor of Construction Management at the University of Technology Sydney
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We may live to regret open-slather construction stimulus: Martin Loosemore

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Construction has now commenced on the first major commercial office development to be delivered in Beenleigh in a decade – the catalyst for a $40 million economic and jobs boom for the area. 
Logan City Council mayor, Darren Power and Beenleigh divisional councillor, Karen Murphy joined project partners investLogan and Alder Developments to break ground last week at 96-98 York Street. 
Mayor Darren Power says that during construction, ‘The York’ will generate more than 100 jobs and an estimated 140 new full-time jobs once complete.
“Working with investLogan, we are able to create 100 construction jobs at a time our local economy and local construction businesses needs them. A key priority for the new Council is driving local job creation and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Mayor Power said the project follows Council’s Beenleigh Implementation Plan to guide the planning and delivery of priority projects and programs in Beenleigh.
The plan builds on the overall aims of the Beenleigh Town Centre Master Plan and includes outcomes from the Beenleigh Summit from 2017 – an initiative which focused on unlocking the economic potential of Beenleigh. 
Designed by Conrad Gargett, the development comprises a seven-storey commercial building, four SOHO (small office or home office) apartments, ground floor retail space and an underground carpark.
Conrad Gargett Director Tony Jemmott says The York draws upon and contributes to the character of Beenleigh and its historic rural environs while setting a new standard in design for the city. 
“The ground level integrates small scale commercial and retail spaces, linking York Street to John Lane via a pedestrian only laneway that connects directly to Beenleigh Town Square. As a laneway culture develops, The York will become a hub of activity and ultimately a visitor attraction. 
“Stacked wintergardens with a cascading array of greenery will drape from the building softening the façade, while additional living greenery will be planted to further enhance the streetscape.”
investLogan Chair Steve Greenwood says that investLogan is purpose-built to drive economic growth within Logan’s key business centres and the start of construction on The York signifies the next stage in the evolution of Beenleigh. 
“The design and delivery of catalytic projects like The York will contribute to the revitalisation of Beenleigh and encourage further private sector investment,” he said. 
“The revitalisation of Beenleigh is creating a range of opportunities for large commercial activities and small businesses to thrive. 
“The York is delivering more than 4000sqm of commercial space as well as the SOHO apartments which will provide a contemporary tenancy space for small businesses that are the engine room of the economy, to evolve and grow. 
"Long term, The York is set to return significant economic and social benefits to the broader Logan community, a key reason why Logan City Council established investLogan to deliver these catalytic projects.” 
Being built by Alder Constructions in partnership with investLogan and Alder Developments, The York is expected to reach completion by late 2021.
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Construction kick-start ignites $40 million economic and jobs boom for Beenleigh 

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The NSW Government has announced the first tranche of projects to be fast tracked through the Planning Acceleration Program.
The Minister for Planning along with the Department of Planning and Treasury deserve praise for developing strong criteria for assessment of projects and using those criteria to fast track projects which will create employment.
All of the projects in the first tranche released today have the support of Council and were already well progressed. Many are government sponsored projects including Snowy Hydro and projects submitted by the Department of Education.
We are particularly pleased that some of the projects that were caught up in the St Leonards stalemate have been progressed. This is a good start indeed.
We hope that this can be used as a precedent to stimulate activity in other corridors which are supported by new infrastructure including Parramatta Road (supported by WestConnex); Sydenham to Bankstown (supported by the new Metro).
Urban Taskforce supports the publication of a strong set of criteria for assessment of projects which have been submitted for consideration.
These criteria will be used to consider further tranches of projects for fast-tracking in the coming weeks and months.
We welcome the NSW Government’s recognition of the private sector property and development industry to the NSW economy. Representing 10% of the economy, the measures taken to support the industry are critical to tens of thousands of workers.
There are a number of significant projects across greater Sydney and Newcastle that can be fast-tracked to unlock construction activity, employment and provide housing without compromising the integrity of the planning assessment process.
Tom Forrest is the CEO of property development industry group Urban Taskforce.
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Fast-tracked projects are a welcome and much-needed economic stimulus: Tom Forrest

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Australia has <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-debate-turns-to-whether-australia-should-embrace-elimination-strategy-136186" target="_blank" style="font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.15999984741211px;">done better with COVID-19</a> than anyone dared hope. This opens up the prospect of a progressive relaxation of restrictions later this year. Organisations that could participate in an economic stimulus program will need to be in a position then to deliver “shovel-ready” projects to help revive the economy.
The construction sector is the obvious focus of a stimulus plan, and the construction of social housing should be the priority, for reasons that I’ll outline below.
The Rudd government’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-the-gfc-and-me-ten-years-on-what-have-we-learned-103514" target="_blank">stimulus package during the Global Financial Crisis</a> gives us a helpful guide to what does and doesn’t work. The initiatives that failed did so because of a lack of proper planning.
Fortunately, if we get going now, we have months to plan the recovery program. Getting it right will be crucial. By September, one month before <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/general/JobKeeper-Payment/" target="_blank">JobKeeper</a> payments end, many businesses are <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-oecd-estimates-suggest-a-22-hit-to-australias-economy-135026" target="_blank">going to be on their knees</a>.
Why construction?
Most of the successful elements of the Rudd package focused on construction. The reason is simple. Nearly <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1718/Quick_Guides/EmployIndustry" target="_blank">one in ten Australians</a> work in the construction industry. Many more are employed locally in the production of building products.
Both construction and building product manufacturing provide jobs for people with varying levels of skill, including people who are unskilled. The vast majority of concrete and steel reinforcement, bricks, wall framing, building boards, windows and doors, roof tiles and metal cladding are still made here. A substantial portion of domestic electrical and plumbing products, including stainless steel sinks, copper pipes and electrical cables are also made here.
It’s important to realise that the type of building being constructed will affect its local stimulatory impact. For buildings up to three storeys high, over 50 per cent of their cost is labour on site. Of the remaining cost, the vast majority is Australian-made materials and components. (Although the Australian Bureau of Statistics stopped its series on Australian-made construction products in 2014, the employment impact can still be estimated from <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/8155.02017-18?OpenDocument" target="_blank">ABS manufacturing statistics</a>.)
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/329988/original/file-20200423-47815-af48fv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/329988/original/file-20200423-47815-af48fv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
For typical single and double-storey housing, more than half the cost goes into labour and locally made materials account for most of the rest of it. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/new-suburban-homes-currently-under-construction-261423332" target="_blank">Shutterstock</a>
However, the taller a building gets, the greater the percentage of imported components – lifts, mechanical components and facade systems are mostly imported.
Why social housing?
What sort of construction projects should the government consider for a stimulus package? While the response so far has been to focus on “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-flags-company-tax-cuts-ir-reform-as-key-to-covid-19-economic-recovery-20200417-p54kvq">fast-tracking” infrastructure</a>, the current crisis has highlighted a number of pressing social needs. Various aspects of social housing top the list:
<ol>
<li>
Housing to reduce the number of people living in <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-insecurity-of-private-renters-how-do-they-manage-it-77324" target="_blank">precarious private rentals</a>. A substantial program to increase the stock of social housing would be a great legacy.
</li>
<li>
Housing for people who are homeless. They will not be able to go on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/sa-hotels-policy-shows-homelessness-not-intractable/12113682" target="_blank">living in hotels</a> once the lockdown ends.
</li>
<li>
Affordable housing for workers in health, emergency services, education and retail who cannot afford to live close to the communities they provide vital support to. It turns out they are essential workers, some of the most important people in Australia, so we need to look after them.
</li>
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Housing construction is a very effective way to create jobs, both directly and downstream. <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2019/sp-dg-2019-10-17" target="_blank">About 6 per cent of Australian jobs</a> are related to housing.
What other construction work is needed?
There are other opportunities for well-targeted construction stimulus.
In many areas of Australia, public schools and kindergartens still rely on low-quality portable buildings or buildings that have exceeded their economic life. A program to replace them with new and efficient buildings would produce substantial social benefits, cut maintenance costs and improve sustainability.
Improving the deteriorated state of community buildings and parks, particularly in disadvantaged areas, would also deliver social benefits and potentially employ a lot of unskilled labour. Having decent parks and exercise facilities close to where people live will allow social distancing to continue as long as needed.
A Victorian government <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/flammable-cladding-removal-fund-victorian-government/11311518" target="_blank">plan to remove combustible cladding</a> from residential and community buildings could also be extended to all states. It’s essential work that would also create jobs.
The government could also consider a program to replace or refurbish university teaching and research buildings that are over 40 years old. Incredibly, as we have found at ARINA in our consultancy work, these older buildings still provide more than half of the 11.8 million square metres of gross floor space occupied by the higher education sector.
These ageing buildings are not well suited to supporting the research into solutions to SARS-CoV-2 and other pressing medical and economic problems. Replacing or refurbishing them would improve outputs, cut maintenance costs and improve sustainability, plus give a much-needed boost to the higher education sector.
Plan now to be shovel-ready
Anglicare SA is already thinking of what it can do to deliver more social housing. Its CEO, Peter Sandeman, told me he is making sure Anglicare has “shovel-ready projects that can be rolled out the moment a stimulus package is announced. There is no better way of stimulating the economy than by constructing social housing.”
This is stimulus that also meets critical social needs, Sandeman says.
There is a desperate shortage of social housing. Our waiting list and the number of people who are homeless demonstrates that.
Social housing provides a long-term benefit to everyone. It adds stability to the lives of the occupants and this is a particular benefit to their children and their education. Safe, affordable housing is the foundation stone that gives people a chance in life.
Other organisations that could be part of the stimulus package should be getting ready, too, and making sure the government knows what they are doing.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/geoff-hanmer-90647" target="_blank">Geoff Hanmer</a>, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119" target="_blank">University of Adelaide</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-focus-of-stimulus-plans-has-to-be-construction-that-puts-social-housing-first-136519" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why the focus of stimulus plans has to be construction that puts social housing first

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The property development sector has so far proven to be more insulated to the broader economic chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with developments pressing on where possible.
But the reality is it is only a matter of time before development itself starts to feel the pinch. The normal processes of business are being disrupted and even disabled. This will become fatal to some businesses if action is not taken rapidly.
It’s critical that developers and other industry stakeholders work together now to find mutually beneficial solutions that allow our industry to keep moving in these difficult times.
Planning approval authorities like local Councils in particular need to come to the party.
As supply chains become increasingly disrupted, materials that are critical to meet development compliance are becoming harder to acquire.
If compliance can’t be met, and subdivisions are not completed then titles are not issued – stakeholders don’t get paid and work ceases. It’s a simple domino effect, and all parts of the industry will feel it.
One idea would be to implement a sort of “remaining works schedule” – the idea being that any remaining works that that aren’t complete, as a result of missing materials, can still be issued with an amended statement of compliance – this way settlements and payments keep moving and the industry keeps turning.
If we don’t rise to the challenge presented by this pandemic then we might not have an industry in the foreseeable future.
Our industry has always been renowned for its innovation and agile thinking. It’s needed now more than ever.
FRANCO BEVACQUA is the Managing Director at Charles Lloyd Property Group
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Planning authorities must adapt if construction sector is to survive COVID-19

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Construction hours have been extended today by the New South Wales Government in a bid to "encourage businesses to keep going".
Construction sites can now operate on weekends and public holidays under new rules introduced to support the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the move allows workers to abide by social distancing rules while keeping construction projects progressing by allowing building work to be spread across more days of the week.
“The construction and development sectors, which make up almost ten per cent of NSW’s economy, will be vital in keeping people in jobs and keeping investment flowing over the coming weeks and months,” Mr Stokes said.
“We’re doing what we can to support the industry in line with the current medical advice by extending weekday construction site operating hours to weekends and public holidays.
“The extended hours allow the industry to facilitate social distancing on construction sites, while minimising the potential for lost productivity during the pandemic.”
The Environmental Planning and Assessment (COVID-19 Development – Construction Work Days) Order 2020 is now in place and will continue until the COVID-19 pandemic is over, or the advice of NSW Health changes.
“In NSW there are almost 400,000 people employed in the property and construction industry and we are committed to doing everything we can to keep each of them in work, but most importantly, to keep them safe and healthy,” Mr Stokes said.
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 was amended on 24 March to enable Mr Stokes to issue orders that override normal planning controls during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health, safety and welfare of communities.
Compliance with this Order will be monitored and reviewed if there are any adverse impacts on the community or from a <a href="https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/preparing-workplaces-covid-19/building-and-construction-minimising" target="_blank">public health perspective</a>.
Construction workers have been concerned for their health safety and job security after tradespeople from two sites tested positive for coronavirus. 
As <a href="http://lmip.gov.au/default.aspx?LMIP/GainInsights/IndustryInformation/Construction" target="_blank">the sector employs 9.2 per cent of the workforce</a>, a shutdown of the sector would have led to catastrophic job losses. 
In the aftermath of the housing downturn in 2019, approximately 50,000 construction jobs were lost when the total labour market decreased from its peak of 9.5 per cent a year earlier. 
<a href="https://www.curbed.com/2020/3/30/21199753/coronavirus-covid-19-construction-industry" target="_blank">Industry lobbyists</a> have also argued that building sites need to keep function in spite of deferral restrictions in order to support such critical infrastructure as new health facilities.
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Construction hours extended to support industry during COVID-19

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The credit squeeze, and its impact on home building, weighed heavily on the Australian economy last year, according to HIA senior economist, Diwa Hopkins.
Figures from the ABS show that $65.35 billion worth of construction work was done on new Australian housing in 2019 - 8.5 per cent less than the record-setting heights of 2018.
“This home building contraction has just about run its course. Confidence returned to the overall housing market at the end 2019, buoyed by interest rate cuts and house prices returning to growth,” Hopkins said.
“The coming home building cycle is likely to be a fairly modest affair, with growth in home building forecast to be slow.”
“We estimate the industry commenced construction on 174,770 homes in 2019, and we are forecasting for activity to rise only marginally (by 0.6 per cent) in 2020.
“International factors may however impact on the volume of home building in Australia over the medium term,” she concluded.
Nationwide, the total value of construction work done on new housing in 2019 declined in New South Wales by 15.5 per cent, in Queensland by 10.1 per cent, in South Australia by 7.4 per cent, and in Western Australia 14.0 per cent.
Elsewhere the value of work done on new housing increased, with 0.1 per cent of growth in Victoria, 5.4 per cent in Tasmania, and 9.6 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory.
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Real Estate construction experiencing significant contractions; HIA economist

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EXPERT OBSERVER
An extraordinary amount of construction work has occurred in Australia over the past five years. In fact work done in both NSW and Victoria soared by over 40 per cent from 2014 to 2019. But now work flows are adjusting to more balanced supply-demand metrics.
Residential work peaked around 18 months ago and is now down 15 per cent from the highs.
Commercial work hit record highs in the September quarter but eased in the December quarter. Still, on the work yet to be done, commercial work will test record highs in the next year while residential work softens – at least for the next six months. Bushfire reconstruction work will slowly pick up over 2020.
Construction-dependent firms won’t be short of work in 2020, but businesses may have to travel a bit further to tap into the opportunities. The good news is that price pressures are well contained. In fact building costs (residential and commercial) are rising at the slowest annual pace in around seven years.
The data hasn’t been updated since mid-January, but the latest reading showed $144 billion of construction work still to be completed. Engineering work totals $74 billion with around $38 billion of residential work and a record $32 billion of commercial work.
What do the figures show? Construction work done – December quarter
Construction work done fell by 3.0 per cent in the December quarter – the fifth fall in six quarters. The value of construction work done is down by 7.4 per cent on a year ago.
Public sector construction work rose by 0.7 per cent in the quarter after a 3.6 per cent lift in the September quarter.
Private sector activity fell by 4.2 per cent in the December quarter – the fourth successive quarterly fall.
Construction work fell across six states and territories in the December quarter: NSW (down 4.6 per cent); Victoria (down 2.8 per cent); Queensland (down 3.4 per cent); South Australia (down 5.4 per cent); Western Australia (down 2.9 per cent); Tasmania (down 6.6 per cent); Northern Territory (up 0.6 per cent); ACT (up 1.5 per cent).
Engineering work fell by 1.5 per cent in the December quarter – the sixth straight decline. Work done is down by 8.0 per cent over the year.
Commercial (non-residential) building fell by 3.4 per cent in the December quarter after rising 7.5 per cent in the September quarter. Work done is up 3.3 per cent on the year.
Residential building fell by 4.6 per cent in the December quarter – the sixth straight decline. Work done is down 12.8 per cent over the year – the biggest annual fall in 18 years.
Alterations &amp; additions fell by 1.3 per cent in the quarter to be down by 5.8 per cent over the year. And new residential work fell by 5.1 per cent over the quarter and by 13.7 per cent over the year to December
Construction costs rose by 0.2 per cent in the December quarter, with building costs up 0.1 per cent and engineering costs up by 0.3 per cent.
Over the year, construction costs rose by 1.2 per cent (slowest pace in three years) with building costs up 0.7 per cent (slowest pace in seven years) and engineering costs up by 1.9 per cent (slowest in 2½ years).
Bushfires
The ABS noted: “Bushfires resulted in minor disruption to data collection activities during the December 2019 quarter in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Quality assurance undertaken by the ABS confirmed that these disruptions did not result in any impacts to Construction activity statistics. Whilst it is expected that bushfire rebuilding and recovery activity will have some impact on future Construction activity estimates this activity is not yet present in the December estimates.”
What are the implications for interest rates and investors?
There is still plenty of construction work to go around. In fact some firms like Monadelphous continue to highlight the difficulty in attracting and retaining good skilled workers for engineering projects.
In terms of the outlook for home building, the Housing Industry Association said “We estimate the industry commenced construction on 174,770 homes in 2019, and we are forecasting for activity to rise only marginally (by 0.6 per cent) in 2020.”
The fall in residential work in the December quarter means that dwelling investment will be drag on economic growth in the December quarter. We will get another piece of the ‘GDP puzzle’ tomorrow with business investment data. The data will likely show an easing of building/construction investment by Aussie businesses.
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