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

Development

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
City and local governments anchor our democracy. They do so by providing opportunities for local communities to address their interests and needs of living in the 21st century. To prepare for the next decade, the City of Melbourne has undertaken public consultations to refresh its strategic goals.
Melbourne City Council has a responsibility beyond those who live and do business in the city. Its capital city role and status have direct impacts across metropolitan Melbourne.
Future Melbourne 2026 provides an opportunity for the city council to recognise its role as a collaborative city. It should be proactive and acknowledge the role of the city across metropolitan Melbourne. This requires increased collaboration working toward a metropolitan authority where our collective futures lie.
All the metropolitan city councils need to work together to achieve a post-carbon and resilient future for all Melburnians.
Melbourne City Council has over recent decades developed and implemented polices to deliver a liveable and sustainable city. The council has set the bar high in undertaking work to become a post-carbon and resilient city. This has received national and international recognition.
The rapid growth of Melbourne’s metropolitan population, from its current 4.3 million to an anticipated 7.7 million by 2051, presents the challenge of working toward a sustainable region. Meeting energy, water, waste, transport and food needs will require whole-of-government collaboration between federal, state and local levels.
<h2>Models of metropolitan governance</h2>
An interim collaborative approach would encourage us to consider governance models such as the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC).
The London Assembly, which comprises 25 councillors plus the mayor of London, governs the GLA. With a population of eight million and encompassing 32 boroughs plus the City of London, the authority may well provide a blueprint for our future.
The New South Wales planning minister has established the GSC to promote the integration of state and local government decision-making for the Sydney metropolitan region. It is led by Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull, a former lord mayor of Sydney. The commission’s membership includes economic, social and environment commissioners, plus six district commissioners reflecting the interests of the current 41 local government authorities.
<h2>Starting the groundwork</h2>
The City of Melbourne should start the groundwork for a Greater Melbourne Authority.
The first step is to identify the city as a collaborative city in Future Melbourne 2026. This means working in partnership with metropolitan city councils to develop projects and activities that make progress towards a post-carbon and resilient region in energy, food, water, waste and transport.
An example of how Melbourne City Council has already initiated metropolitan action is “Resilient Melbourne”. The council delivers this Rockefeller Foundation-funded initiative in collaboration with the other 30 metropolitan city councils. The project began in 2014 and is developing a strategy to:
… foster the long-term viability, safety and wellness of our interconnected communities and municipalities.
The state can drive a metropolitan agenda through Plan Melbourne, the Victorian government’s planning strategy to 2050. It was released in 2014. In October 2015, the state Labor government announced an update known as Plan Melbourne Refresh.
The refresh has focused on climate change, housing affordability and updating Plan Melbourne to reflect current government transport commitments and priorities. In the foreword to Plan Melbourne Refresh, Planning Minister Richard Wynne writes:
"I want to see us build a city that sets an example to the world for environmental sustainability, social equity, enhanced liveability and economic strength."
Such a vision will require the support and actions of all 31 Melbourne metropolitan city councils.
To achieve this vision we need to establish a Melbourne Metropolitan Commission. It would include representation from metropolitan city governments for collaborative decision-making to achieve integrated strategic planning for all Melburnians.
The ministerial advisory committee for Plan Melbourne Refresh recommended that the Metropolitan Planning Authority be retained. However, the board lacks authority, a broad agenda and local government representation.
The OECD’s 2015 report, Governing the City, presents a range of metropolitan governance arrangements. The report provides advice for cities seeking more effective co-ordination for strategic urban growth involving transport and spatial planning. The report says:
A governance model depends on the capability to address three principal challenges: co-ordination, action and trust.
Metropolitan Melbourne needs to provide for a population almost doubling in the next 35 years in a carbon-restrained world. It must be resilient to climatic, economic and social shocks. To achieve those goals, we will need a metropolitan governance structure that delivers a whole-of-city approach.
Martin Brennan is senior research fellow Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL), University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation.
He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/martin-brennan-249474" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Towards a collaborative city: the case for a Melbourne Metropolitan Commission

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GUEST OBSERVER
Mixed-use developments are back in favour and a growing trend, with many developers opting to incorporate several property uses into new projects.
Many factors are driving this trend including uncertainty in the residential market, growth in the hotel sector, the continuing scarcity of prime sites and the creation of activated lifestyle precincts.
Today’s mixed-use development model is emerging as a modern fusion of commercial, retail, residential and even hotel uses to maximise planning criteria. 
Rather than relying on one “star performer” property type, such as residential over the last five years, risk is now being reduced with developments incorporating several uses. 
In addition to risk being minimised by using the mixed-use development model, another core benefit for developers is that mixed-use projects are a highly efficient way to unlock the best value out of land and potentially increase return on investment. 
I liken it to a return to the good old-fashioned mixed business retail model we all grew up with. A bit of this and a bit of that for sale, and not all the eggs in “one basket” so to speak. 
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Rather than asset classes having to independently compete against each other in silos to generate the highest return, a mixed-use project enables different property types to work together and collaboratively deliver maximum value. 
Interestingly, hotels are now being proposed on the lower levels of new high rise residential towers where solar and ventilation criteria can't be met for residential uses. It’s an organic move, a bit like complimentary planting to create a sustainable garden, but rather complimentary planning where property uses complement each other to safeguard their individual on-going survival. 
In this case the hotel can be constructed on the lower levels not suited for residential development and create an opportunity for on-going cashflow or immediate sale, yet the upper levels with views can be developed as apartments and derive higher profit margins. 
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The on-going trend toward the creation of lifestyle precincts is also another factor influencing the surge in mixed-use developments. This is particularly evident in CBD and fringe environments with the focus in activating beyond the traditional “9 to 5” hours of an office building. 
Mixed-use developments have the added benefit of creating active and connected communities where people can work, rest, sleep and play. This supports the property sector’s fascination with sustainability and also ensures further opportunities for developers to maximise returns on investment are not missed. 
The benefits of mixed-use developments are far-reaching and transpire beyond developer profits to improve communities and ensure efficient use of our space. We certainly have not seen the end of mixed-use projects and will see more interesting combinations of property uses in new developments over the next few years as developers become more experimental in their planning. 
Drenka Andjelic is managing director of Construction Assignments and can be contacted <a href="https://www.constructionassignments.com" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The secret is in the mix: Mixed-use developments cut risk, deliver value 

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<div>Quest Apartment Hotels has started building its $16 million 68 apartment complex Quest Griffith in the Riverina region of south-western New South Wales.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Developed by Joss Group, the property will feature a mix of studios and one, two, and three bedroom apartments and is set to open January 2017.</div>
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<div>Quest Griffith has opened the expressions of interest for franchisees.
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<div>L-R: James Shields, Shaun Deaton, Mayor John Dal Broi, Richard Stamp</div>
 
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Quest begins $16 million construction in NSW's Griffith

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As Queensland's population grows, the need to provide services and community facilities such as schools and hospitals also grows.
Due to this growth, it is sometimes necessary for the state government to acquire land for public purposes.
The Acquisition of Land Act 1967 authorises constructing authorities to acquire land for public purposes related to their business. The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) has the power to acquire land for public purposes. It is the constructing authority for various Queensland Government agencies.
<h2>Legislation</h2>
Legislation that provides for the resumption of land are the: 
<ul>
<li>
Acquisition of Land Act 1967 for the acquisition of freehold land </li>
<li>
Land Act 1994 (and various other Acts) for the acquisition of state leasehold land.</li>
</ul>
The Acquisition of Land Act outlines the purposes for which land can be acquired.
<h2>Land resumption for transport and roads</h2>
You can find out if the government requires your property by doing a property search.
If your property is required for a road or transport project, you will receive a ‘Notice of intention to resume’.
If you agree, you can negotiate for compensation or may choose to object.
<h3>Making an objection</h3>
As the landowner, you have the right to object, have the objection heard, and have your proposal considered by the government.
Your objection must: 
<ul>
<li>be in writing </li>
<li>be made within a specified time </li>
<li>provide supporting details for your objections.</li>
</ul>
After considering your objections, we may: 
<ul>
<li>go ahead with the resumption </li>
<li>change the portion of your property required for the project </li>
<li>change the project so we do not require your property.</li>
</ul>
If your land is resumed, we publish a ‘Taking of land notice’ in the Government Gazette (the gazette). This process normally takes approximately 3 to 6 months.
<h3>Claiming compensation</h3>
You can claim compensation if you are the legal owner, lessee or licensee of the property.
You must make the claim within 3 years from the day we publish the ‘Taking of land notice’ in the gazette.
You will receive a copy of the gazette notice, and a compensation claim form to complete and return to us. You may engage a registered valuer and/or solicitor to assist you.
We will reimburse reasonable costs as part of the overall settlement of compensation.
<h3>Advance payments</h3>
You can apply for an advanced payment against compensation at any time after lodging your claim.
This does not affect your right to negotiate additional compensation or have the matter independently determined by the Land Court if we fail to reach an agreement.
<h3>Property value assessment</h3>
Assessment is based on the market value of the property (or your interest in the property) at the date of the gazette notice.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads will have the property independently valued and a property officer will then contact you to discuss compensation.
<h3>Offer of compensation</h3>
If an offer of compensation is made to you, and you are satisfied with the offer, we will arrange settlement.
Compensation payments made as a result of the resumption of property do not attract GST.
<h3>Correction of property title</h3>
The Department of Transport and Main Roads will correct the title for the remainder of your land to reflect the new boundary at no cost to you. 
<h3>Rejecting the compensation offer</h3>
If you choose not to accept the compensation offer, a property officer will arrange a conference with you to resolve differences in an open and conciliatory manner.
If you do not reach an agreement on compensation, you can refer the matter to the Land Court for an independent determination.
<h3>Vacating the property</h3>
The government can take possession of the property at any time following publication of the gazette notice.
If you refuse to vacate the property from that date, we can arrange to take physical possession of the property, with the costs to be met by you.
Alternately, where practicable, you may remain at the property for a set period of time under certain conditions.
Our property officers will be pleased to assist if you have any queries on resumption matters. Please phone 1800 806 414 (toll free) for further information or for a hard copy of the brochure.
<h2>Reclaiming coastal wetlands and marshes</h2>
Reclaiming land under tidal water involves filling land to a level above the high water mark to make it suitable for your purpose.
The impact of this on coastal wildlife, habitat and scenic values must be considered carefully.
<h3>Guidelines</h3>
You should read the guidelines (Owners consent for development assessed under the coastal Act – document currently under review) and related government policies on this issue before lodging an application for a licence or permit.
<h3>Pre-design/pre-lodgement meeting service</h3>
This service is for projects that need a high level of assessment. It includes a meeting with a departmental project manager to discuss the information that you need to include in your application.
For more information please refer to the Pre-design conference fact sheet.
Contact Permit and Licence Managemen<a href="https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/contact_details">t</a>, or email, or complete a Pre-design conference application form.
Find out more about coastal development.
<h3>Permits and approvals</h3>
The approval you require will depend on the type of project.
For more information, <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Property 101: When the Queensland Government reclaims land

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Developer Tim Gurner has acquired his fifth development site in Collingwood.
His plans are for about 170 luxury apartments will be targeted at owner-occupiers.
Mr Gurner acquired 23-33 Johnston Street in a $12 million off-market deal struck with the Martino Family.
Angelo Martino of Martino Properties will stay on as a joint venture partner of the 1800 sqm site.
It is the third Melbourne acquisition for the BRW Young Richlister this year.
He has also acquired sites in Fitzroy North and one in Prahran in partnership with the Smorgon family.
The latest acquisition adds $130 million in end value to Gurner's $2.6 billion development pipeline split between Melbourne and Brisbane.
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Tim Gurner to joint venture in Collingwood residential project

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The Australian Government’s new Smart Cities Plan has been given the green light from the Green Buildings Council of Australia who believe the  priority will be placed on investments that improve environmental outcomes, with the Australian Government promises to encourage the use of rating systems such as Green Star.
Green Building Council of Australia chief executive officer Romilly Madew, said living in the century of the city – and this demands fresh thinking, smart policy and committed political leaders.
“The Smart Cities Plan acknowledges that Green Star can improve the sustainability, quality and efficiency of buildings and precincts… what we’d like to see are clear commitments to ensure sustainability is a central pillar of any City Deal project around the nation," she said
“Put simply, cities can’t be ‘smart’ if they aren’t sustainable. The Prime Minister has repeatedly said his government wants to be a ‘partner, supporter and collaborator’ in the development of cities – something the industry has been calling for over many years – and the signs so far are very promising.
“Industry called for a federal minister for cities for many years – and we got one. We have called for strong, integrated policies that deliver solutions to the social, economic and environmental challenges we face as a nation."
 The Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) has launched the Brickworks Living Building Challenge design competition, pressing the go button for designers, built environment professionals and students around the world to conceptualise what the world's most sustainable retail centre ought look like. For more information, <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/tools/ebooks-and-webinars/52152-australia-aspires-to-global-green-leadership-the-living-building-challenge" target="_blank">download our eBook here</a>.
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Smart cities are sustainable cities: Green Buildings Council

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The new assistant minister for cities and digital transformation, Angus Taylor, spoke last week of his enthusiasm for a “new vehicle” for creating partnerships between all three levels of government to drive the sustainable growth of our cities.
This “tried and tested” vehicle is based on the UK government’s City Deals model, which has been running in England since 2012.
In a nutshell, this model encourages city councils or groupings of councils to work together more effectively in identifying local economic development opportunities. They then strike a deal with the central government to secure the funding necessary to realise these opportunities.
Part of the UK government’s so-called “localism agenda”, this approach was designed to give more power and freedom to localities so they could do what they thought best to achieve growth in their area.
This approach has been heavily spruiked in Australia by KPMG and by the Property Council of Australia to Taylor and his ministerial predecessor, Jamie Briggs. The Property Council’s Ken Morrison and KPMG’s Paul Low helpfully set out in their joint pamphlet nine reasons why this approach provides a model for Australian urban policy.
How do the City Deals stack up?
So let’s look at each of these reasons. How do they stand up to scrutiny? That includes the scrutiny of the UK National Audit Office (NAO), which in July 2015 published a progress review of the first wave of English City Deals.
<ol>
<li>It’s a contract – the deal is a deal! In Australia the deals will be more complicated if the partners have to come from each of the three levels of government. And, as we know, federal and state governments have been known to tear up deals struck by their predecessors.</li>
<li>The focus is on productivity and growth. The NAO review found that deal partners can struggle to agree on measures of growth and productivity. The Treasury and the Greater Manchester partnership took two years to agree the terms of their “earn back” deal.</li>
<li>They encourage local leadership and good governance. While it is a sensible move for some local councils to come together in combined authorities, some of these now look remarkably similar to the English Metropolitan Country Councils abolished in 1986 by a previous Conservative government. Creating a more efficient profile of local governments in Australia is a challenge many state and territory governments shy away from.</li>
<li>They use smarter tools for making infrastructure investment decisions. There is certainly scope for making infrastructure decisions on the basis of more comprehensive and rigorous criteria. It is somewhat incongruous, though, to prosecute a localism agenda while at the same time insisting on assessment by a central unit located within the Treasury.</li>
<li>They unlock innovative financing. The NAO review found that ministers often quickly published high-level ambitions, sometimes before departmental officials had agreed to specific funding packages. Haven’t we learnt to be cautious of policy rhetoric outstripping careful implementation planning?</li>
<li>They help join up economic, social and sustainability goals. While the goals might be joined up – an excellent ambition – it has proved extremely difficult to set up evaluation frameworks that can demonstrate with any rigour what the long-term impacts are and what would have happened without the deals.</li>
<li>They promote powerful political leadership. Directly elected mayors are already common in some parts of Australia and local councils are typically much smaller than in the UK. Whether a formal partnership of local councils in Australia would find it easy to allow one mayor to be first among equals is a moot point.</li>
<li>They promote financial literacy skills at the local level. City Deals did not provide any extra funding to build local management capacity. Local partners were expected to pool their resources to achieve this. The NAO concluded that this approach was not sustainable in the context of continuing reductions in central funding to local government.</li>
<li>They rely less on inefficient taxes. Without specifying what these inefficient taxes might be, we can safely assume this approach won’t involve any reform of negative gearing or capital gains tax on property holdings.</li>
</ol>
New titles, same old song
City Deals have been sold in the UK as a significantly new approach to urban policy, but they look remarkably similar to measures that have been promoted over the last 40 years.
Every UK urban policy initiative introduced since the mid-1970s has spoken of the importance of partnerships, cross-departmental co-ordination, multi-sectoral intervention and local leadership. While the titles of these initiatives may have changed, the song has remained the same.
And here lies the biggest challenge. We know that:
<ul>
<li>the problems are inter-related and the all levels of government need to work productively together and with other sectors;</li>
<li>departmental silos within government get in the way of strategic planning; and</li>
<li>scarce public resources need to be invested wisely.</li>
</ul>
And we know that to overcome these problems we need a much greater degree of policy stability and long-term, bipartisan commitment. What we do not need is to jump on yet another urban policy bandwagon from overseas – one that is already being tinkered with in its country of origin.
 
Paul Burton is professor of Urban Management and Planning &amp; Director, Urban Research Program, Griffith University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-burton-5155" target="_blank">here</a>.
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City Deals: nine reasons this imported model of urban development demands due diligence

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Several office suites in Royal Como, a mixed-use development in Melbourne’s South Yarra, are up for sale.  
The strata office suites at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-south+yarra-501792134" target="_blank">663 Chapel Street</a> range from 86.9 sqm to 242 sqm. 
Royal Como has been designed by Bruce Henderson Architects and will include 109 apartments and retail space as well.
The office spaces incorporate floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chapel Street and allow for plenty of natural light.
The property is close to South Yarra Station, the Monash Freeway and Citylink. There are bike paths and basement car parking for each office.
Also, stamp duty savings with depreciation benefits.
The suites are being marketed by Knight Frank agents Matt Romanin, Danny Clark and Andrew Hansen.
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Office suites in Melbourne’s South Yarra mixed-use development site for sale

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The Andrews Labor Government has decided to reward big-end-of-town developers Leighton Holdings and the money grubbing bean counters at the Uniting Church, by approving the demolition of the historic Princess Mary Club to make way for a 34 level office tower.
Now we know that high profile developers can simply click their fingers and get what they want out of the Andrews Labor Government. Damn the heritage consequences and damn the historical and architectural significance it seems. Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s decision to allow Leighton Holdings and the Uniting Church develop the Princess Mary Club site is a disgrace.
If you donate enough, it seems you get the Premier and Minister’s ear – and in this case their approval.
I have lobbied to save the Princess Mary Club since coming to parliament at the end of 2014.  
The site has been at the centre of a heated heritage discussion for some time. 
Minister for Women Fiona Richardson said earlier this year that the site had “historical and social significance” and would relate development concerns to the Planning Minister saying that it was a “valuable service to women…at a time when there were very few safe places available to them.”
The Princess Mary Club was known as a safe-haven for women.
At a time when this government has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to address the issue of family violence following the recommendations of the Royal Commission, you would have thought that keeping this building as a testament to our commitment to helping women fleeing violence and indeed using the building to help women, not big party donors, would have been a huge statement. It’s just so very, very disappointing.
The Uniting Church should be held to account.
The Uniting Church, which was gifted this building to help the vulnerable in the first place and receive massive tax breaks from the state and federal governments, is in the development game, not the religion game. They are feathering their own nest at the expense of the Victorian taxpayer.
This just goes to prove that the church is more interested in cash flow than helping the vulnerable. Ordinary Victorians, whether of faith or not, should demand that the government make the church pay their fair share of tax – especially when it comes to their number one priority of property development not spiritual development.
Fiona Patten MP, Member for Northern Metropolitan and can be contacted <a href="https://fionapatten.com" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Property development not spiritual development: MP Fiona Patten

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SPONSORED POST
The materials and techniques used to build a retail centre will have a significant effect on the development’s sustainability over time.
Trends towards sustainable development are shifting the way the property industry thinks about the materials used in construction to focus on their entire life span from extraction or manufacture to disposal, rather than solely the period during which they are used in a building.
To meet the highest standards of sustainability, builders are eliminating products that harm the environment and human health – such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons that were once common in air conditioning and refrigeration units, toxins such as lead, mercury, and wood treatments containing creosote, arsenic or pentachlorophenol.
The Living Building Challenge standard includes a “Red List” of materials or chemicals that cannot be used in developments seeking to meet its criteria.
But sustainability is affected by more than the choice of materials: the way in which products are sourced also plays a role. Sustainable development emphasises selecting locally sourced materials where possible to support and invest in the local economy as well as to eliminate unnecessary transportation. This also includes contractors and consultants who advise on the project.
The LBC standard, for instance, requires projects to source at least 20 percent of the materials they use from manufacturers located within 500km of the construction site. A further 30 percent of the materials construction budget must come from within 1000 km. Another 25 percent of materials must be sourced from within 5000km, and only 25 percent can be sourced from further afield.
Consultants must come from within 2500 km of the project location.
The Living Building Challenge’s focus on a sustainable, regenerative future considers the use of materials from the design phase through to the end-of-life deconstruction phase. The Challenge allows only for minimal disposal, requiring waste to be eliminated or diverted. Leftover products are collected for reuse and recycling.
On the 5.8 hectare Central Park site in Sydney, developed by Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House, 93 percent of demolition waste was recycled.
Lendlease’s development at Barangaroo South targeted diverting 97 percent of its construction waste away from landfill.
Other examples of sustainability during the construction phase include employing building practices to minimise dust, noise and disruption to the surrounding community during construction, and seeking community input and engagement during development.
For more information, download our eBook <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/tools/ebooks-and-webinars/52152-australia-aspires-to-global-green-leadership-the-living-building-challenge" target="_blank">here</a>.
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