Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Gold Coast

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Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s median house price now sits at $475,000, according to the latest quarterly data from RP Data-Rismark.
Houses in Brisbane and the Gold Coast were up 10.6% from the March quarter of last year. RP Data’s results still put Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s quarterly median house price behind those recorded in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin.
Property Observer takes a look at last quarter’s sales to see just what you can get for Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s median house price.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-runcorn-116188719" target="_blank">26 Premworth Place, Runcorn</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/28/runcorn.jpg" width="460" height="345">
This three bedroom brick house in <a href="/news">Brisbane’s south</a> sold for $463,000 in March. The twenty year old home sits on a 465 square metre block, with buses and local schools within walking distance.
<ul>
<li>Price: $463,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Three</li>
<li>Drive to CBD (Brisbane): 17 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-burleigh+heads-116146079" target="_blank">6 Arbury Hill Close, Burleigh Heads</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/28/image10.jpg" width="460" height="345">
Set on a 715 square metre block, this four bedroom home in <a href="/news">Burleigh Heads</a> was secured for $465,000 last month. The house includes built in robes in all rooms, two bathrooms and open plan living, kitchen and dining areas. The vendors purchased the Gold Coast house for $285,000 in 2002.
<ul>
<li>Price: $465,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Four</li>
<li>Drive to CBD (Gold Coast): 18 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-north+lakes-115624731" target="_blank">2 Kultarr Street, North Lakes</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/28/north%20lakes.jpg" width="460" height="345">
Situated in the outer-northern Brisbane suburb of North Lakes, this four bedroom, two bathroom house changed hands for $472,000. The home has ducted air conditioning throughout and an open plan living and dining area. The 563 square meter plot backs onto a nature reserve.
<ul>
<li>Price: $472,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Four</li>
<li>Drive to CBD (Brisbane): 38 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-chermside+west-116119807" target="_blank">15 Ben Street, Chermside West</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/28/chermside.jpg" width="460" height="345">
This four bedroom home sold in March for $450,000. The property is located in <a href="/news">Chermside West</a>, just over 10 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD. Set on 696 square metres, this home was purchased by the vendors for $197,000 in 2002.
<ul>
<li>Price: $450,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Four</li>
<li>Drive to CBD (Brisbane): 18 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-runaway+bay-115611487" target="_blank">28 Clam Street, Runaway Bay</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/28/main%206.jpg" width="460" height="345">
Vendors picked up $482,000 for the sale of this home in Gold Coast’s <a href="/news">Runaway Bay</a>. It has three bedrooms, a newly renovated bathroom and polished floorboards throughout. The property also includes a well-sized backyard and pool.
<ul>
<li>Price: $482,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: three</li>
<li>Drive to CBD (Gold Coast): 19 minutes</li>
</ul>
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

What can you get for Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s median house price?

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Pure Kirra, a $70 million residential tower for the Gold Coast from Pikos Group, has reached its halfway point with a July completion date expected. It’s also just one of two highrise apartment projects currently underway on the southern Gold Coast.
Launching their furnished display suite for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PureKirra" target="_blank">Pure Kirra</a> over the Easter weekend, they were looking to capitalise on the number of holidaymakers to the city for their 33 beachfront apartments in Coolangatta.
CBRE Gold Coast project marketing agent, Chris Litfin, said that the July completion date is on track.
“The opening of the furnished display suite was well-timed to take advantage of the long weekend, which is traditionally an active period for the local market,” Litfin said.
“The project offers increasingly rare premium-grade apartment product in a blue-chip beachfront position and the market has responded well to this,” he said.
The tower is 12 storeys with two-bedroom apartments with a multi-purpose room, being advertised as convertible into a third bedroom, each with north-east aspects and ocean views. There are just three of these apartments per floor.
The apartments remaining are from 131 to 304 square metres from $829,000. A 134 square metre apartment on level seven is being advertised at $945,000. Some include balconies and decks.
Previous marketing suggested that the cheapest apartment was snapped up for $769,000.
Apartments all include underground carparking, but there is also a ground-floor retail precinct, as well as a swimming pool, barbecue and entertainment space solely for residents.
The display suite is located at 30 Musgrave Street, Coolangatta.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

July completion date for Pure Kirra tower on southern Gold Coast

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has posted a photo across social media of himself in the grounds of his new Gold Coast rental home.
Locals have concluded it is a two-level luxury house on a quiet section of the Nerang River on the Isle of Capri.
“Mornin’ greetings from the Gold Coast, Australia ... #RiseAndGrind #AussieLove” he tweeted and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DwayneJohnson" target="_blank">facebooked</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/04/22/the-rock-april-22-one.jpg" alt="">
The Rock is on the Gold Coast in the starring role of the $100 million adventure epic, San Andreas.
He is believed to be paying $20,000 a week in rent for the sprawling mansion with living space totalling 1,630 square metres with 705 square metres of outdoor living areas.
The home, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-isle+of+capri-115255947" target="_blank">currently listed for McGrath sale at $15 million plus</a>, boasts:
<ul>
<li>
Six kingsize bedrooms, each with an ensuite and with a dressing room off the master suite  
</li>
<li>
A kitchen with a butler’s pantry and a cold room 
</li>
<li>
A gymnasium and a lanai overlooking a waterfront pool 
</li>
<li>A jetty and pontoon </li>
<li>A sandy beach </li>
<li>A home theatre and billiards den </li>
<li>A sauna and heated spa </li>
<li>
A wine cellar for 4000 bottles  
</li>
<li>Basement six car parking. </li>
<li>A lift </li>
<li>A maid’s quarters.</li>
</ul>
The house was built by surfwear industry pioneer Doug Spong and then-wife Mara in the 1990s to a design by architectural firm Hamilton Hayes Henderson.
Real estate agent John McGrath has described the home as one of the best he has seen in Australia.
 
Thousands of Queenslanders are working on Hollywood’s latest blockbuster, San Andreas.
 
Arts Minister Ian Walker, suggested San Andreas was employing more than 3,000 local crew and actors during the course of production.
 
“In 2013-14 there have been two international productions, bringing in $52.2 million to Queensland, including Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, and Modern Family. San Andreas will bring in significantly more income.
 
“This compares to zero off-shore film investment in the previous financial year.
 
“The indirect benefits include the films buying goods and services from Queensland suppliers, such as transportation, retail, food services and accommodation, and that benefits all Queenslanders.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson takes up Gold Coast residence in $15 million offering

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Brookfield Multiplex has recently reached a contractual agreement with Singapore-based Ho Bee Land to create a $120 million, 41-storey highrise residential offering to be constructed over the next two years.
This is the first residential highrise to be constructed in the past two years, and will be on the former Red Rooster site – on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Main Beach Parade.
Project marketing agent for the development, Deborah Provost, said that this is a new era for the area.
“This project signals a new era of high-rise development on the Gold Coast so we are delighted to have one of Australasia’s leading construction companies take the reins,” said Provost.
While it’s currently unnamed, it will include 223 units, a rooftop garden, gym and retail space, with 500 jobs to be generated during construction.
Regional managing director for Queensland at Brookfield Multiplex, Rod McDonald, said that it’s an effort to meet the demand being seen on the Gold Coast.
“Queensland’s residential market is gaining pace and it’s fantastic to be back on the Gold Coast and delivering this project which will see cranes returned to the Surfers Paradise skyline for the first time in two years,” McDonald said.
“Ho Bee Land’s unique building will revitalise the Gold Coast’s residential property market by providing new, high quality apartments that meet the highest standards of sustainability and design.”
The project architect will be DBI Design.
Early works commenced in late-2013, and it appears construction will be completed in late-2015.
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New era of highrise development signaled for Gold Coast

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The starter’s gun has fired on the countdown to the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Queensland’s Gold Coast and the positive impact of this major catalyst event is already being felt in the local commercial property market.
History shows that cities around the world have seen a pick-up in property activity up to four years out from global events such as the Commonwealth Games, and the Gold Coast will be no exception.
Indeed, the momentum of the approaching games is already evident and is likely to surpass that experienced by other host cities, given it is the first time a global event of this magnitude has been held in a regional Australian city.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games is the trigger for increased activity across the board for the Gold Coast commercial property market.
On the sales front, the Gold Coast is again back on the radar of domestic and overseas investors and the increasing weight of money entering the market will drive continued investment activity. This can be seen in the increase in enquiry for prime development sites, particularly in key locations such as Southport overlooking the water.
In terms of leasing, some national and international firms have already made the move into the Gold Coast and more are expected as global attention on the city increases in the lead up the Commonwealth Games. Vacancy rates are tightening and both commercial office and retail leasing enquiry has been strong in the opening moments of 2014, and is expected to continue to rise.
Importantly, the catalyst effects of the Commonwealth Games coincide with a period of renewed infrastructure activity on the Gold Coast, namely the light rail project and major new hospital and health developments.
All of this activity, and indeed much of the focus of the Commonwealth Games including the athletes’ village and new aquatic facilities, is centred on the Southport precinct which has been designated as a priority development area (PDA) by the Queensland state government.
This PDA status is crucial to the emergence of Southport as the true CBD of the Gold Coast, as opposed to the undisputed standing of nearby Surfers Paradise as the city’s tourism capital, and allows for development approval fast-tracking and innovation.
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The Gold Coast is again back on the radar of domestic and overseas investors and the increasing weight of money entering the market will drive continued investment activity.
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Southport is the business and administrative heart of the Gold Coast and its maturing into the city’s official CBD is long overdue. All regions need a recognisable CBD, just as much as capital cities do, to attract national and international firms, create a distinct employment hub and facilitate all the commercial, social and community benefits of agglomeration.
The Southport CBD is the key to unlocking the future economic sustainability of Gold Coast and positioning it to fully capitalise and build on the attention and flow-on benefits provided by the Commonwealth Games.
The Gold Coast is Queensland’s, and indeed Australia’s, premier tourist playground and that is not going to change. It is an exciting coastal city, blessed with surf, sand and good weather and has been the focus of tourist attention, both domestic and international, for decades.
By its very nature of being driven mainly by tourism, the region can be more prone to booms and busts than those cities with more diverse economies.
However, with a permanent population of circa 550,000 residents, the Gold Coast is now home to a growing number of diverse industries and services that stand it in good stead for the future.
This is clearly reflected in the evolving nature of the Gold Coast commercial office market, which is far more mature than in was in the 1990s as the scope of local businesses now spans much more than just pandering to the tourist market. There are now local and national firms across all industry sectors represented in the region, which are well positioned for sustainable future growth.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games is a once in a lifetime catalyst moment for the Gold Coast and the ongoing maturing of its local economy and commercial property market. Combined with a number of important infrastructure and planning initiatives centred around the Southport CBD, the games will deliver a great boost to a wide range of existing and new businesses in the region.
We are already seeing this starting to translate to increased investment and leasing activity, with more much to come over the next four years.
Paul Day is <a href="https://www.savills.com.au/" target="_blank">Savills</a> Queensland head of research.
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Gold Coast to ride wave of Commonwealth Games momentum

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New data from the National Land Survey Program has revealed that Gainsborough Greens, a Pimpama development from Mirvac, is the fastest selling land development on the Gold Coast.
The house and land masterplan is set to be <a href="/news/qld/gold-coasts-largest-masterplanned-community-underway">the Gold Coast's largest masterplanned community</a>, in an area that 'virtually doubled' from 2006 to 2011, and in February Property Observer reported that interest was at an "all time high" in the area.
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The development was reported as having an 11% market share of the land sales in the area over the past three quarters, at 88 of a total 822 sales. This was for between April and December 2013, of which the December quarter was the busiest period for the house and land development – with 43 sales.
In September last year <a href="/news/mirvacs-gainsborough-greens-records-record-quarter-of-sales-totaling-8-1-million">Mirvac announced a record number of sales in the development for Gainsborough Greens</a>, which will include 2,200 homes upon completion. The <a href="/news">Pimpama</a> community concept launched in late-2010.
Russell Berlee, the masterplanned communities Queensland development director for Mirvac, said that location, affordability and quality were at the heart of <a href="https://www.gainsborough-greens.mirvac.com/masterplan" target="_blank">Gainsborough Green</a>'s result, with the northern part of the Gold Coast performing well due to the ready availability of land.
"Gainsborough Greens is well positioned to benefit from this growth, and our home and land prices - starting from just $370,000 - are among the most affordable on the market, so we are getting a lot of interest from young couples and families looking to live in a brand new community at great value,” said Berlee.
The site includes a gold course, recreation centre and parks, with over 65% of the site for green spaces.
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The fastest selling land development on the Gold Coast is… Gainsborough Greens

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The Gold Coast is set to have a new central business district at Southport, which is to undergo an economic and commercial transformation.
The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney, has put out the draft development scheme, which looks to establish the Southport Priority Development Area. This is, Seeney notes, a joint vision between the Queensland government and the local council.
Now, however, it is open for public consultation.
“Our government is committed to growing the economy of the Gold Coast and a key strategy to achieve this is building on the potential of Southport as the CBD,” Seeney said.
“We are also achieving this goal through a number of other initiatives including the Gold Coast Light Rail and investment in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which will bring in an estimated $2 billion to the coast."
Southport was announced as the next CBD in October 2013, with the priority development area spanning 195 hectares of land including Southport CBD, Broadwater Parklands and some residential communities.
“Development will include opportunities for residential and non-residential development and the draft scheme was prepared by council with assistance from Economic Development Queensland," he said.
Meanwhile, Member for Southport, Rob Molhoek, said that this would be a 'coming of age' for the area.
“In the lead up to the Commonwealth Games and coincidently Southport's centenary, the declaration of this PDA ensures development and investment proposals have every chance of success," said Molhoek.
“My number one priority is to work with local business leaders to facilitate the reinvigoration of Southport as a centre for health, knowledge and business. I want to see new jobs created and opportunities maximised and this PDA will deliver that.”
The Mayor of Gold Coast City, Tom Tate, said that this CBD would be the "definitive centre".
“It has already attracted a large amount of investment and the proposed development scheme aims to attract more through a streamlined and facilitated approach to planning and development," he said.
“Southport is already a hub for commercial activities and community services, but the proposed development scheme wants to shape an appealing and active urban lifestyle for local residents as well.”
The final scheme is looking to be in place in late-2014. Those wanting to make a submission can do so until 22 May.
According to the plan, zones with high density highrise dwelling opportunities will be permitted. Highrise towers will be set above podiums or perimeter blocks, open spaces and roof terraces, and will open up some opportunities of 16-storeys plus in Precinct 2.
In Precinct 3, the Garden Residential Neighbourhood, opportunities for high density medium-rise developments will be available. This includes townhouses to medium-rise, and appears to span to a maximum of 15 storeys.
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New Southport, Gold Coast CBD plans open for comment

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Queensland’s Great Start Grant, offered to first home buyers buying or building a new house, townhouse or unit valued up to $750,000, saw 5,200 grants paid out, with 500 more approved and ready to be paid. This grant was announced in the 2012/2013 budget.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls said that Great Start Grants have seen the government pay out $79 million in grants through this scheme.
Of the buyers, almost 50% were in the greater Brisbane area, while almost 20% went those in north Queensland and more than 10% to those on the Gold Coast.
“We’ve had 24 consecutive months of growth in the total number of trend dwelling approvals,” said Nicholls.
“Approvals in January this year were 64.3% higher than in January 2012 in trend terms. 
“We expect that the construction sector will continue to improve in 2014 with sustained low interest rates and stronger household income growth,” he said.
The Great Start Grant offers $15,000 to eligible first home buyers.
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