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.

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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."

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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

Development

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A Victorian developer has paid $5.4 million for two adjoining residential properties netting the vendors a total of $2.7 million apiece and a possible windfall each of $800,000.
Teska Carson Director, George Takis said the owners of the 2 and 4 Littlewood Street Hampton properties could have expected circa $1.9 million each for their properties as individual sales.
"We are seeing more and more of these developments which have been very popular with residents looking to cash in on their good fortune whilst also increasing catchment for nearby retail centres, and providing councils with both increased revenue and maximisation of the use of local infrastructure. It makes a lot of planning "sense and has been widely accepted by communities,’’ Mr Takis said.
At just under $3,900 a square metre – a record for the area - for the land this is an extraordinary result driven by a robust housing and apartment market, low interest rates, Melbourne’s surging population and the relatively new planning regulations which have given the green light to multi-storey residential development within close proximity of activity centres."
Permission is being sought to develop a multi-level apartment building on the site.
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Developer pays premium for dual residential sites

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Prime land within easy reach of the Sydney CBD has been earmarked for 'affordable' rental apartments following a planning agreement struck between the City of Sydney council and developers Mirvac.
Some 2,500 square metres of Sydney's inner-west Harold Park development site, located on the corner of Ross street and Wigram Road Harold Park, will house 76 apartments slated for for long term rental capped at a total of 30% of household income.
The land was sold for $10.3 million. The rental units form part of a $1.1 billion urban renewal project for the suburb of Harold Park that includes 1,250 new homes.
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Affordable rentals slated for Sydney's Harold Park

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The Malaysian developer Mammoth Empire Holdings has sought out Hayball for a $1.2 billion project in Malaysia, due for 2016 completion.
MEH, which is active in Melbourne, recognised the city architect’s success from both an urban and development point of view.
They were sought for Empire City, with 12 towers along with medium-rise accommodation.
Empire City will cater to Kuala Lumpur’s market need for mixed residential types, from studio apartments to luxury residences.
Premium tenants including 5-star hotel chains, Marriott and Ritz Carlton, have signed lease agreements within Empire City which will also be a retail destination given 200,000 square metres dedicated to mid to high-end fashion brands.
Its lifestyle facilities include an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, 4D cinemas, swimming pool, gymnasium and hospitality venues.
Hayball’s relationship with Mammoth Empire began in 2009 with multi-residential towers MY80 (2014) and Empire (under construction) in Melbourne’s CBD.
Empire City is their first international venture.
Hayball managing director Tom Jordan said Damansara-based, Empire City was the flagship project of the Malaysian developer, with construction of the greenfield site valued at over A$1.2 billion.
"Mammoth’s vision for developing the vibrant and cosmopolitan precinct, the size of which is equivalent to Victoria Harbour in Melbourne’s Docklands, relied on Hayball’s understanding of place making and its importance in creating liveable, dynamic and sustainable places," he said.
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Hayball takes on ambitious Malaysian architectural commission

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Volume sales of units in Tier 1 Chinese cities increased 65% in the four weeks to July 5 2015 when compared to the same period last year, despite the country's economic turmoil. Shenzhen unit volume sales increased 174% when compared to last year.
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According to Macquarie Wealth Management China Property research, 12 developers reported June sales, amounting to 34% month on month growth.
Evergrande’s sales for the first half of 2015 increased 26% year on year.
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Chinese cities property volume sales going strong: Macquarie Wealth Management

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A 163 room hotel development at 65-79 Sussex Street, Sydney is the next mooted Quest offering.
The proposed development has been designed by Fitzpatrick and Partners.
It is close to the Bristol Arms Hotel at 81 Sussex Street.
Garry McDonald, senior heritage consultant at Graham Brooks and Associates, noted the adjacent building 81 Sussex Street contains an 1898 Federation Free Classical Hotel.
The approval is sought for construction of an eight storey development for hotel accommodation comprising 163 rooms, including; hotel lobby, restaurant, retail and licensed bar at level 1; conference centre, function room, and gymnasium costing $36 million by Alfasi Property Development.
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Quest for Sussex Street, Sydney?

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Humphry + Edwards, the designers behind some of the country’s hottest restaurants, are now set to transform the western corner of the Grosvenor Place Piazza into an outdoor dining space.
It is as part of the building’s $20 million redevelopment.  
The Naked Duck’s new sister restaurant, called the Grand Dūk, moves into the new 125 square metre space next month -  the first of three new retail spaces for the Piazza.
Grand Dūk is designed by Humphry + Edwards (H&amp;E) – the architects and interior designers behind venues like The Winery, Chiswick, The Glenmore Hotel and Opera Bar.  
H&amp;E worked with Grosvenor Place’s architects, Harry Seidler &amp; Associates on a design that merges and extends the modern architectural features of the iconic office tower, using specific architectural devices to maintain a translucent perimeter and offer a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor zones. 
Inside Grand Dūk, a suspended bottle display attached to a glass wall will add definition to the space, allowing light to filter through the bottles to create a sculptural mosaic of colour and light.  
“This sculptural form will conjure a warm feeling of being inside a nest,” said Chris Grinham, H&amp;E Project architect who's ensured a fiddle leaf fig tree will sit in the outdoor area to complement the arboreal structure of the transparent glass rotunda.
There are still limited opportunities available within the North Plaza Piazza for lease, positioned at the gateway of what will be a rejuvenated George Street when the new light rail project is running in mid-2018.
Grosvenor Place has up to 5,000 workers on site, with an additional 3,000 joining the area when construction of 200 George Street is complete.  
City resident numbers are also growing rapidly with 35,000 residents proposed for the Circular Quay catchment by early 2016 – creating a new market for CBD dining outside of business hours, the co-owners of Grosvenor Place, DEXUS Property Group, Investa Office and Arcadia suggest.
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Grand Dūk set for Grosvenor Place piazza

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Marketing of the $300 million Melbourne development, Shadow Play, a 46-level tower at 105 Clarendon Street, comes with no ordinary video.
It is a <a href="https://www.bpmcorp.com.au/" target="_blank">saucy film</a> to help sell <a href="https://www.bpmcorp.com.au/projects/shadow-play/" target="_blank">the 494 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments</a>.
Perhaps 50 Shades of Grey inspired?
The vibrant developer, BPM recently announced a local lawyer buyer had purchased the 712 sq m penthouse. 
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The 45th floor was originally designed as five separate apartments, but will now be amalgamated to form one large apartment, as is often the case with other highrise.
Designed by Ellenberg Fraser, with interior finishes from designers Hecker Guthrie, the project is set for completion in 2018 at the corner of City Road and Clarendon Street, previously home to King Furniture.
The defining feature of the tower will be a sculptural exterior, creating undulations in the building’s facade to create movement with reflected light. 
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Apartments will range from 45 sq m to 101 sq m with prices starting at $371,000.
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The developer had previously focused on medium density residential project in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs with BPM founder Jonathan Hallinan telling the mid-week Sydney launch the high-rise development marked a new direction for the company.
“The launch of Shadow Play represents a new era for BPM and is the realisation of my long term vision to contribute to the architectural impact on Melbourne’s skyline,” Jonathan Hallinan said.
The residential apartment tower, set near Crown Entertainment Complex, is on display this weekend at the Park Hyatt, Sydney through Colliers International.
Ashley Bramich, the sales and marketing director for developer BPM, recently noted that while some Melburnians were still yet accepting of the concept of innercity apartment living, the uber-wealthy were embracing it as a prestige living option, as it is considered in many European and American cities. 
 
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Shades of Grey suggestiveness in BPM's Shadow Play highrise marketing

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Coming to the end of June is like closing one chapter of your property investing journey and opening the next. You cannot change whatever happened up until 30 June but July is a good time to start thinking about exactly what you are going to make happen over the next twelve months.   
Thank goodness our financial year falls in the middle of our calendar year, particularly because it's winter and cold and we're not distracted by summer holidays. If our financial year finished in December I definitely could not manage the stress of Christmas and holiday preparations, shopping AND finalising all I needed to on my business and property portfolio. 
But as it's winter, what else do we have to do before 30 June but sit in our offices paying as many expenses as possible and working on our new year's strategy?
My top three tips for getting organised as we enter the new year are:
1.  Tax Planning Strategy. 
A good tax planning strategy is important to have when you're a property investor, so make sure you have a good accountant who is not just going to process  your tax returns,  but also offer some really good strategy advice. You need to start strategising well BEFORE 30 June to give yourself time to make any adjustments to ensure you'll get the best results.  
2.  Investment Action Plan. 
As we move into the new financial year, it's time to plan your investment action. Think about the big picture and what you are trying to achieve. One of my clients has a very clear strategy which is to work hard over the next five years to continue to build his property portfolio so he can 'retire' from his salary job which is also his business and be a full time property developer. 
He's given himself a realistic timeframe which takes into consideration the property he already holds and what developments Property Bloom is managing for him. He was clear when he decided to work with us that he'd be using the experience to learn all he could so that he'd feel confident to then manage his own developments in the future. 
I love helping people help themselves, it gives great satisfaction knowing that you've not only helped someone achieve a financial goal but to educate them so they can continue on their journey. 
Another client has set up a self managed super fund which she plans to expand dramatically with strong yielding property over the next seven years which is when she plans to retire. 
Another younger client is chasing the best depreciation she can get as she's on a high salary and paying a lot of tax, with her Property Bloom development, she'll receive strong depreciation benefits and combined with her rent, will make her completed development cashflow positive and so she will be able to continue to borrow without too much impact to her serviceability. 
3. Schedule in Check points. 
For any plan, you need time during the action period to step back and check your progress. Schedule time into your diary and this will remind you to take stock of your achievements and review your plans and progress. It's best if you can do this with someone who you can share your big picture and review what you've achieved and discuss any adjustments that may be necessary to stay on track. Your financial planner is ideal but if not available, then your partner or a good friend who you can chat to about what you are trying to achieve and the purpose behind it. By simply saying this out loud to another person is a good way of cementing your plans and becoming accountable. 
We all have different things that motivate us. The start of the new financial year is a good time to rev up your plans as before we know it, Christmas and lure of warm, summer holidays will be upon us. 
Jo Chivers is Chief Executive Officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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Three property development tips for the new financial year: Jo Chivers

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Hello Margaret, I am currently seeking (with my partner and my parents) to purchase land and put two dwellings onto it. The land we are looking at is greater than two acres with the houses approximately 200 square meters +. we are thinking sub diving but We are unsure of how to best address this and the processes involved as so many people tell you different things. Are you please able to provide us with an insight into the best was to approach this? Kind regards,
 Ian
 
Hi Ian,
Your first port of call will be to the local governing body, the council, to find out their individual policy on subdivision.  It's useful to note here that, while all local councils subscribe to their state's planning rules, each one will have different local rules surrounding what you can and cannot subdivide.  These rules will relate to the original zoning of the block, minimum lot sizes allowed, and a  whole host of other things.  For example, in some areas, apparently residential land may actually have a rural or semi- rural zoning, and this would mean that you may not be able to further subdivide at all, while in others you may be able to make this 2 acre block into two x one acre blocks, or even more. If the current zoning allows the subdivision you are after, you can commence, if it does not then you need to seek the council's advice around your chances of having that original zoning amended to allow the subdivision you want. A frank and open discussion with the local council should give you a good idea of what the current zoning is and their attitude to the plans you have for the land. Once you know what you are allowed to do, it's my advice that you contact a local town planner for phase two. A town planner will be able to clearly advise you on whether your ideas for this subdivision will progress smoothly through council, whether you face objections which may be overcome, or whether the entire idea is so far out of what is allowed that you have no hope. It's a worthwhile expense to have this feasibility study done as it could save you not only a lot of money, but time in satisfying the lengthy progress of seeking subdivision approval, only to find that your proposal is rejected. If the planner agrees that you have a hope then they will also oversee the obtaining of the required surveys, site and engineering plans. Remember that the town planner's fees will be on top of the fees that you pay each of these independent contractors. I have found that town planners usually know the rules intimately, and many have previously worked for council, so they are in the best position to develop a proposal with the greatest chances of success. I want to point out that the costs of subdividing are rarely accurately able to be forecast - in other words, whatever you think you will pay for all of this is likely to be so far below what you will actually end up paying that you will be surprised and possibly a little stressed out by the resulting project cost. These potential costs include, but are not limited to: drainage and sewerage, connection of services, access driveways if they are needed, cutting and levelling to prepare the site for building, potential retaining walls, connection of services, drafting fees, application fees, surveys and reports, environmental studies, permit fees, council contributions... the list goes on.  You will need to fund all of these costs yourself, and it's likely that such fees cannot be included in any bank loan you plan to get for the construction. My advice is to prepare a complete list of all possible costs with the guidance of the town planner, and then add at least 20% to the bottom line. You should also include what you believe to be the total costs of building the houses - and don't go by the advertised prices of houses built by the major project home builders.  My recent experience with this saw a property with an advertised price of $290,000, which purportedly included site costs, end up at a final price of $450,000, and this did not include much in the way of upgrades to the tile allowances and basic provisions - in my opinion project home building is a total rort that you only discover after you have signed the contract. If you can get a good understanding around what the homes will cost you to build, and add this to your projections on the subdivision costs, you'll then know if all the headaches of subdividing are actually worth it in the end. Being forewarned is being forearmed, so it's well worth your time to spend a great deal of time figuring all this out before committing to the deal. Have a property question?     <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Ask Margaret: The key to purchasing land

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Luxury apartment developer Fridcorp, and its partner Wingate, have sold a Sydney apartment site adjoining the EVE development in Erskineville.
Set in inner city Sydney's Erskinville, it sold for more than double the purchase paid less than a year ago.
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The offshore-backed B1 Group has paid just under $70 million to secure the 1.2 hectare site which could accommodate around 230 units. 
Despite the sale, the Melbourne-based Fridcorp says it is "no site-flipper" with fresh plans held by Sydney managing director Paul Fridman.
It is only the second project site Fridcorp has sold in its two decades. Its Melbourne projects often saw joint partners with previous alignments including Trafalgar Corporate and the Crawford Group. 
 "We are committed to our growth in the Sydney market and together with Wingate have seen great success from the launch of Eve in Erskineville and will continue to explore more opportunities here," he said. 
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Fridcorp bought the two parcels of land in October last year. </div>
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Together with the site where EVE is being built it paid $56 million, with the recently sold unbuilt EVE site accounting for nearly half of that sales figure. </div>
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<a href="/expert-insights/buying/eve-in-erskineville-secures-100-million-in-sales">EVE was Fridcorp's first Sydney development</a>, a sell-out success with all 197 apartments sold off the plan.
The $145 million development is due for completion next year. 
The Sydney-based B1 Group, headed by Anne Bi, already has a number of existing Sydney residential projects but was keen for an inner-city site. 
The deal was brokered by McGrath Projects agents Steven Chen and Michael Chen who negotiated the sale for their buyer within a 48-hour period.  
Paul Ephron, who heads the sites &amp; acquisitions within McGrath Projects, had the off-book listing.
The northern part of the site has approval for 112 apartments and 17 townhouses and the section at the rear comes with an approval pending for 93 apartments. 
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Fridcorp’s first Sydney project, Eve, included one, two and three bedroom apartments, situated on the corner of Eve and Macdonald Streets.
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With interiors from Hecker Guthrie and dKO Architects, <a href="https://www.evebyfridcorp.com.au/" target="_blank">Eve</a> is 250 metres from the train station and 10 minutes to the CBD.
It includes views of Sydney Park to the CBD, wide frontages and balconies, storage space and a communal rooftop leisure deck with private central courtyard.
One bedroom, one bathroom apartments were priced from $525,000; two bedroom, one bathroom apartments from $750,000; two bedroom, two bathroom from $780,000; three bedroom, two bathroom from $1.1 million. 
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