The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Country Garden

<html><body>
Bisley, an impressive 4ha English-inspired mature parkland at Mount Wilson, has been sold two years after hitting the market. 
It's been sold by Graham and Beverly Thompson to an Otford couple, who have a small weekender in the Blue Mountains.
The most recent price guidance for the showpiece garden was $2 million to $2.2 million.
Now in autumnal colours, its first disclosed asking price was $2.75 million.
<div id="attachment_18418" class="wp-caption alignright">Bisley is landscaped in the style of an English country park with two lakes, clipped hedges, sweeping lawns and avenues of trees.</div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright"> </div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/11/Bisley1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright"> </div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright">Among the many elements of this superb estate are two natural rock gardens at the location, 4-10 Beowang Road.</div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright"> </div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright">Thee is a 2m tall sandstone sculpture, Motherhood, by Blue Mountains sculptor Tom Coley.</div>
The trees are a feature, especially in autumn.
Gardening critics have suggested there’s a dense backdrop of stringybarks along the boundary and stands of other tall eucalypts by the large lake, creating mesmerising reflections on the water.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/11/Bis5.jpg" alt="">
The tulip trees and gingko dazzle yellow at this time, and nyssas, liquidambers , claret ash, Japanese maples among others wear their brilliant red cloaks.
"Without peer Bisley is Mount Wilson's finest garden property to be offered to the market in recent years," <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mount+wilson-126031122" target="_blank">selling agent Martin Schoedderrt said</a>.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/11/Bis4.jpg" alt="">
"Showing remarkable depth of insight into garden planning and a no-expense spared approach to it's execution, the current owners have transformed this thorn covered paddock into one of NSW's premier properties with over 30 years of love and toil," he said.
The first major plantings commenced in 1984 and have continued ever since, on a grand scale with excellent positioning and emphasis on the art of colour blending. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bisley, Mount Wilson trophy garden estate sold after almost two years on market

<html><body>
Merribee, which has been a popular wedding setting for over 15 years at Numbaa, on the NSW South Coast has been listed for sale.
Merribee's <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi-rural-nsw-numbaa-130915254" target="_blank">autumnal gardens</a> were once part of Alexander Berry's 100 sqm mile estate. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/8/Mer3.jpg" alt=""> The gardens feature seasonal veggies, herbs and fruits, flowering plants and trees.
Over the last 20 years, the owners have created a landscape reminiscent of a grand estate from Victorian times.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/8/Mer2.jpg" alt="">
It has successfully hosted continuous weddings and functions for over 15 years and has a full book of business through to the end of 2020. 
It offers the ultimate lifestyle and has a full book of business through to the end of 2020.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
<div>
<div class="tell-me-more tell-me-more--expanded"> </div>
</div>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Merribee garden estate listed on the NSW South Coast

<html><body>
Country Garden Australia’s first project, ‘Ryde Garden’, in Sydney’s North Ryde, has officially reached completion, with the company stating Ryde Garden's completion represents a very important milestone for the company. The $580m residential development comprises 830 apartments across three high-rise towers of 12 to 28 storeys, situated on a 17,580 sqm site within the North Ryde Station Urban Activation Zone. 

Construction of Ryde Garden commenced in May 2016 with <a href="/developments?builder=Watpac">Watpac</a> delivering the expansive <a href="/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a>-designed development, with buyers now moving into the first of three towers, with settlement of the other two towers also recently announced. Ryde Garden will ultimately become home to around 2,500 residents, who will enjoy uninterrupted views encompassing the city and the surroundings.

The development is set around a central landscaped 4,000 sqm park designed by Aspect Studios also designed the landscaped rooftop gardens which come complete with BBQ’s. Further resident amenity has been provided by way of parking for 730 cars and 336 bikes, a private 30-metre lap pool, gymnasium, childcare facility, street level retail and concierge.

Ryde Garden is also conveniently located in close proximity to Macquarie Centre, restaurants, cinemas and other lifestyle facilities and well served by the North Ryde (underground) Station connecting the development to Macquarie University and Chatswood.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/ryde_garden_0252.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The development is centred around a 4,000 sqm park. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ryde_garden_0252.jpg?itok=nrPWNZE2" title="The development is centred around a 4,000 sqm park. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The development is centred around a 4,000 sqm park. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
Ryde Garden is a fine example of Watpac’s expertise in delivering multi-use developments and we’re pleased to have been able to bring this project to life for Country Garden Australia. The construction process required disciplined project management capabilities, given at its peak 550 workers were working on site each day, contributing to a monthly turnover of around $21 million.

The complexities of building three towers in a two and half year period required meticulous planning and engagement, and I congratulate the Watpac project team for their efforts and commitment to delivering an outstanding development for Country Garden Australia. Country Garden Australia envisioned a precinct that would be enjoyed by residents and the local community alike, and I congratulate them on achieving this.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with their team and thank them for entrusting Watpac with their first project in the country. We look forward to continuing this relationship into the future and hope there are many more projects together to follow.

- Martin Monro, Watpac Managing Director
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
It’s incredibly exciting to see a labour of love come to fruition after a lot of hard work from our internal team and all of our project stakeholders. We are extremely proud of this project, especially given it’s our first in Australia.  It’s proof of our capabilities in delivering masterplanned communities that locals are proud to call home.

It’s also testament to our versatility and capacity to deliver across various asset classes, as we are better known for large-scale house and land communities featuring major infrastructure and amenity, such as our ‘Windermere’ project outside Melbourne, which has just commenced site works.

We are really looking forward to the Ryde Garden community developing as all three towers become inhabited.  For us, it’s not just about building houses, but more about developing engaging communities... that’s why we build.

- Dr Guotao Hu, CEO of Country Garden Australia
</blockquote>
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Laurence Dragomir

Watpac delivers Country Garden Australia’s first project

<html><body>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The Australian head of a Chinese property developer mentioned by a NSW government MP caught up in a corruption inquiry says Country Garden has "zero tolerance" for illegal behaviour.
Country Garden Australia chief executive G.T. Hu declined to comment to Fairfax Media on the explosive recording of MP Daryl Maguire's conversation with former Canterbury City councillor Michael Hawatt, after it was played in Friday's hearing of an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry.
The Operation Dasha ICAC hearing was played a recorded telephone conversation from May 9, 2016, in which Mr Maguire claims to be the ­middle man between Country Garden and investors.
Maguire was recorded saying Country Garden could pay him “a couple of grand a day” to facilitate meetings.
Maguire resigned from the parliamentary Liberal Party with pressure on him quit the State Parliament where he represents Wagga Wagga. 
Maguire has held the safe seat since 1999 when he took over from Joe Schipp.
Gladys Berejiklian, the NSW premier is urging disgraced state MP Daryl Maguire to reconsider his position in politics after secret phone recordings of him discussing potential developer “dividends” were played at a Sydney corruption inquiry.
In a phone tap, Maguire said the developer was a "client" of his.
He discussed making a commission from the sale of a Campsie development site to the company.
"I need to talk to my consultants and my lawyer first," Mr Hu told The Australian Financial Review on Sunday. "What I can tell you is that Country Garden is a responsible company and we have zero tolerance for any illegal things [by] any employees."
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Hu declined to say anything when asked why Maguire was heard to be asking Hawatt about shovel-ready sites that Country Garden could acquire in the May 2016 conversation</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"I think you'd better ask him," Mr Hu said. "Because he mentioned our company. You'd better be asking him."</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The Hong Kong-listed Country Garden, the largest Chinese developer by sales last year, entered Australia in 2013.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">It hit the headlines in 2014 when Country Garden was in discussions to take over Sydney-based Meriton from Harry Triguboff.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The developer owns 429ha in Wollondilly, along with sites in Canterbury-Bankstown, Campsie and Ryde.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
It was also revealed last month paying $69.88 million to secure Cawdor Road, Cawdor land it knew would benefit from the M9 orbital, months before the route of the orbital was known to locals.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
It expanded into the house-and-land market last year, with a record-breaking $400 million purchase of a 363-hectare site in Melbourne's west.
In 2017, Fortune magazine released its list of Global 500 companies for 2017 with Country Garden included in the authoritative list for the first time.
Country Garden is a property development company based in Guangdong Province, China, owned by Yang Guoqiang's family. It focuses on building high-end residential property.
Founded in 1992 and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange since 2007, it is controlled by China’s richest heiress, Yang Huiyan.
As a strong advocate and supporter of China's new urbanization process and a creator of green, Country Garden has reshaped over 500 Chinese towns from tier 1 to tier 5.
The Chinese property developer has over 900 projects ongoing outside of its home market.
Country Garden was not the only developer with links to Maguire.
In 2015 he visited the headquarters of Aoyuan International, the developer of Sydney's 38-level ONE30 Hyde Park development. 
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
An Aoyuan press release says Mr Maguire met the company's chairman Guo Zi Wen at its headquarters in Guangzhou in southern China in 2015.
Maguire told Hawatt, a key figure in the current ICAC inquiry into suspected corruption at Canterbury Council, that his client was "mega big", had "mega money" and was hungry for development sites with permits in place.
"I need a few things to feed my friends," Maguire tells Hawatt in the 2016 recording.
"They want 30 projects, rolling, and ideally they want something that's DA approved, a couple that are DA approved and ready to go. How much per unit site are they asking?"
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Maguire told Hawatt that the commission of 1.5 per cent that the owner of the Canterbury Road development site was willing to pay Hawatt was not enough. </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
"One point five per cent isn't enough divided by two, if you know what I'm talking about," Maguire said. "Three per cent's a lot better."
The Sunday Telegraph reported Maguire set up a meeting with Country Garden executives and the NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts last August.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Wagga Wagga State MP Daryl Maguire organised an “introductory” meeting for Mr Roberts to meet with two CEOs from Country Garden on August 9 last year.
Staff advised a 15-minute meeting could occur only on the condition Country Garden observe the minister’s office protocol of not discussing any site-specific projects or proposals, and that a disclosure form be completed by the company prior to the meeting.
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