National developer Time &amp; Place appears to have settled on a design for its long-anticipated Potts Point project.

After several years of back and forth with local council and the NSW Government, the developer, which has spent close to a decade targeting the former The Chimes site on Macleay Street, has now progressed its plans.

Following a concept design submission last year by SJB, Time &amp; Place has lodged a full State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government, this time for a scheme designed by Kerry Hill Architects.

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="504d2a27-d65f-4227-8189-1e35e3376e62" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%209.38.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=_XqFKATYHF30KnVByPxhaI9UBzmkmfn7" />

The 16-storey proposal includes 44 apartments, 21 of which will be build-to-sell. These will comprise 19 three-bedroom apartments and two four-bedroom penthouses.

More than 50 per cent of the development will be dedicated to affordable housing, with 23 one- and two-bedroom apartments delivered in line with the NSW Government’s Housing SEPP.

Kerry Hill Architects said the proposal is driven by a strong response to place.

“Our proposal for a new residential building for Potts Point in Sydney is driven by a deep consideration of place,” the practice said in its submission.

“This operates on multiple levels, including a landscape approach that reinstates endemic flora of the Sydney peninsula and provides a ground-floor garden for residents, reconnecting the site to its pre-European history. A brick podium further strengthens this relationship to context, integrating planting and fine bronze detailing that references the predominant material language of Macleay Street.”

The three-level podium will be topped by a communal resident space, featuring a covered pool designed to receive direct afternoon sun in winter, a neighbouring reflection pool, dining and event areas oriented to maximise sunset views, and an outdoor exercise zone.

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8d3eedc1-babb-44a3-bd96-d8a42f3adf1f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%209.37.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Ii7.4dvqNatu5GQi6bhqNjAswrMB998." />

The design also incorporates highly crafted shopfronts and a clearly defined residential entry to activate the street. Juliette balconies to the podium residences will provide passive surveillance and a strong sense of habitation.

Above, the larger apartments are housed within a light-coloured masonry and bronze tower.

“The tower steps back in a series of gently curved volumes that reference the rich Art Deco context of Macleay Street,” the architects said. “Carefully calibrated vertical fins frame the views while providing privacy and a sense of refuge.”

<img alt="Time &amp; Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6fab60f4-3140-4469-b47a-48c781e0a30b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%209.28.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=e5XxrM3kzdASdKlcIACHAHbOSZhSKC9O" />

Time &amp; Place has been one of the most active developers nationally in the last 12 to 24 months. Late last year they completed&nbsp;The Queensbridge in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>, a mixed-use tower with 353 apartments and a hotel. They are currently selling Park Modern, 246 apartments near the famous Botanic Gardens in South Melbourne.

The developer has approval for The Burke, a mixed-use project in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/glen-iris-vic-3146">Glen Iris</a>&nbsp;being delivered in partnership with Woolworths. The 60 apartments, positioned above a new Woolworths supermarket, are expected to launch in the coming months. Time &amp; Place is also progressing plans for the redevelopment of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/northcote-vic-3070">Northcote</a>&nbsp;Plaza, and have recently submitted plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/time-place-unveils-plans-22-storey-south-melbourne-tower">22-storey tower</a>, another in South Melbourne.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw">Sydney</a>, the developer has two projects in Manly: Two Tides, which is currently under construction, and an ultra high-end building on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/shoreline-manly-beach-89-90-north-steyne-manly">North Steyne</a>, fronting the beach. It is also continuing to work through the redevelopment of The Chimes building on Macleay Street in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/potts-point-nsw-2011">Potts Point</a>, as well as Marlborough House, the redevelopment of the original David Jones warehouse building in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/surry-hills-nsw-2010">Surry Hills</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Time & Place settles on design for The Chimes, Potts Point redevelopment

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/develotek">Develotek</a> is joining the likes of TOGA, Deicorp, and One Global Capital, betting on a boom in Five Dock ahead of the 2032 mooted opening of the Five Dock Metro Station.

Develotek, which is currently developing Bianca on the Drummoyne waterfront and has plans approved for a tower in Chatswood, has filed a State Significant Development Application for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">two-building project in the evolving Kings Bay precinct</a>.

The buildings, one more boutique just five storeys and the other 26 storeys, will rise from an 3,158 sqm site across&nbsp;79–81 Queens Road and 2–8 Spencer Street, will home 134 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, above ground-floor retail and five basement levels of parking.

A key component of the proposal is the inclusion of 15 per cent of residential floor space as in-fill affordable housing, unlocking additional height and density under the Housing SEPP.

<img alt="First Look: Develotek lodges State Significant shop top housing project in Five Dock precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3ee31bf7-75ba-4bc5-b190-49885193219f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium_2.png?VersionId=730UbrduuwK3C1sO28RHjiLPUPqXqjkh" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, the scheme adopts a podium-and-tower configuration, with a five-storey street wall along Queens Road transitioning to a 26-storey tower set deeper into the site. The ground plane prioritises activation and permeability, with retail frontages and a new through-site link connecting Queens Road to Spencer Street.

At the upper levels, the tower façade has been conceived using a modular system to support prefabrication and reduce construction waste, while improving build efficiency. The splayed form draws on the geometry of surrounding industrial rooftops, reinterpreting the area’s heritage in a contemporary expression while also helping to reduce solar heat gain to east and west-facing apartments.

“This project aspires to transform a former industrial site into a connected, resilient and people-focused urban community, grounded in Country, shaped by history, and designed to enrich everyday life within the evolving Kings Bay Precinct,” said John Walsh, Principal at Plus Studio.

The proposal reflects the broader transformation of the Kings Bay Precinct under the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, marking a shift from its industrial past to a higher-density, mixed-use urban neighbourhood.

<img alt="First Look: Develotek lodges State Significant shop top housing project in Five Dock precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abde734c-1e31-4a97-a1d2-fa9bcf31c380" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/building%20podium.png?VersionId=fNUupP6u146yEytQT31kKVRxwtACgPpP" />

Develotek is emerging as an active participant in the state’s affordable housing-led uplift pathway. The developer recently secured approval for a 34-storey mixed-use tower in Chatswood, where it similarly leveraged the in-fill affordable housing provisions to increase scale and deliver a 101-unit scheme with dedicated affordable apartments.

Their entry into Five Dock places them alongside a growing list of developers targeting the suburb ahead of its anticipated transport uplift, with Sydney Metro set to extend into the area. Major players including TOGA, Deicorp, and One Global Capital are all progressing large-scale precinct-style developments nearby, collectively reshaping the low-rise industrial fabric into a higher-density mixed-use corridor.

The Five Dock site sits within the Kings Bay Precinct, a key renewal area under the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, where planning controls support significant uplift tied to affordable housing delivery. The consolidated 3,158 sqm site is currently occupied by low-rise industrial uses, including warehouses and vehicle workshops, earmarked for transition.

First Look: Develotek joins in Five Dock apartment boom

Ascot’s Racecourse Road continues to be a hive of activity for Brisbane developers.

Following Fortis and GRAYA, which are both preparing new projects along the key strip connecting Kingsford Smith Drive and Eagle Farm Racecourse, local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skyhold">Skyhold</a> is the latest to lodge plans for its own development.

The group is proposing One One Two Residences, a boutique project comprising just seven apartments, named after its address at 112 Racecourse Road.

The proposal outlines a five-storey building on an 810 sqm site. The built form slightly exceeds the four-storey expectation under the neighbourhood plan, aligning instead with the emerging character of the strip. As the planning report notes, “the locality is characterised by a transition toward medium-rise residential development, with a number of recent developments… above the stipulated height limits.”

<img alt="First Look: Skyhold lodges plans for boutique Ascot apartments as Racecourse Road revival gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec577631-8c51-4163-960e-e7b3a77d655b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Ascot.png?VersionId=iAzQ46D4Uu1UqiS0mVnlcy9jeFKBpJIj" />

Designed by 111 with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/paul-bangay-garden-design">Paul Bangay Studio</a>, the scheme adopts a layered architectural approach with strong articulation and a subtropical response. Deep balconies, integrated planters, and a mix of masonry and textured finishes define the façade, while upper-level setbacks reduce perceived bulk. The architectural statement describes “a series of horizontally expressed layers, defined by deep balconies and a consistent robust material palette,” aimed at delivering a refined streetscape presence.

Apartments are configured as large-format residences, including multiple three-bedroom layouts and a full-floor penthouse, supported by ground-level parking. A rooftop terrace will provide communal amenities including a pool and landscaped recreation areas. The design prioritises privacy, natural ventilation, and greenery, with planting integrated across all levels to soften the building form and contribute to the public realm.

<img alt="First Look: Skyhold lodges plans for boutique Ascot apartments as Racecourse Road revival gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1e1219bd-b45a-4d7f-bbc7-7207d7b2fc94" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Ascot%20entry.png?VersionId=JIoUOLMgQ5xWpEF0etEI3ffIoIVjD7gO" />

The proposal sits within the Racecourse Road precinct, a key mixed-use spine in Ascot that continues to attract renewed development interest.

Later this year national developer Fortis will launch its own boutique development, which, pending council approvals, will be 16 apartments designed by Koichi Takada Architects, just down the street.

“Racecourse Road is going through a massive revitalisation and we’re proud to be a part of that transformation,” said Fortis's QLD General Manager, Dan Boman.

Nearby, GRAYA is advancing its larger-scale The Gallery, a mixed-use shop-top housing project designed to act as a “catalytic project for Racecourse Road.”

First Look: Racecourse Road, Hamilton revitalization to continue as Skyhold joins the party

Twenty-five years after launching one of Australia’s most visionary and successful masterplanned beach communities - Casuarina on the Northern NSW Tweed Coast - developer Consolidated Properties Group has unveiled plans for an $800 million sister project located 10 kilometres south, at Cudgera Creek near the coastal town of Pottsville.

CPG has taken the wraps off Caldera, a 78-hectare masterplanned village that builds on the legacy of Casuarina and aims to help address Northern NSW’s coastal housing shortage via the delivery of 550 homes built in a sustainable manner and addressing affordability and housing diversity, while also focusing on architectural and ecological merit.

Caldera is being brought to life by the same creative team that delivered Casuarina, led by Consolidated Properties CEO and chairman Don O’Rorke, Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson and renowned urban designer Brian Toyota, of architectural practice Bureau Proberts.

CPG has lodged a rezoning application with Tweed Shire Council for the Caldera site, which has been designated since 1991 as the Dunloe Park Urban Release Area, the final land release area within the Pottsville locality and one of only four remaining growth areas along the entire Tweed coastal strip. Preliminary plans for Caldera feature a 13-hectare retail and commercial precinct at the core of the village, surrounded by meticulously planned residential areas comprising around 550 homesites.

The retail hub will be anchored by a Coles Supermarket and will offer 7000 sqm of retail and 23 commercial lots designed to serve the local community and bring together curated shopping, dining, gym, wellness, childcare, medical and other essential services.

<img alt="Cons prop" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fca7dc71-4b71-45b1-bb04-5a60bd7158d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%208.34.04%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=vAKwIvLuwmTKj6blHJRYIEeXS_8lCgUx" />

The project will create more than 1500 jobs over its development cycle, according to its economic modelling, and significantly address the shortage of employment land in the Tweed.

The residential areas will encourage a sense of community via a cohesive urban design that encourages walking, cycling, enhanced resident connectivity and reduced reliance on cars via bike paths and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Homesites will include a range of options from premium ridge-top homes to affordable housing options, ensuring a community that is inclusive of different income levels and designed to appeal to a wide demographic from baby boomers to families, singles and professionals. Architectural and planting covenants on home building will support the village’s built form and protect its character.

O’Rorke says CPG intends Caldera to be a model project delivered efficiently in a dedicated urban release area and ‘very much for this region and for this time’.

“Our vision for Caldera is to create a modern coastal village with its own unique northern NSW identity,” he said.

“Building on our legacy of Casuarina, 25 years on, this new village is designed to stand apart, offering the future of modern living, balancing the natural beauty of the region with contemporary amenities and convenience.

“Caldera will be more than just a place to live - it will be a welcoming, inclusive coastal village neighbouring Pottsville that invites visitors and embraces new residents. With its strong ties to the land, vibrant lifestyle and sense of place, Caldera will set a new standard for village living in Northern NSW.”

<img alt="CPG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9a5a7cf4-5f76-4ddf-bd05-c8fb77d0a787" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-20%20at%208.33.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=J1CzCGD7kE7fcAMd41V4pKAf_sI4L5Jv" />

The project’s centrepiece is environmental sustainability, with comprehensive wetlands protection measures and planting of native trees, parklands, village greens and communal grounds to enhance the natural beauty of the area.

CPG will also deliver a developer-funded wastewater treatment plant to ensure zero ocean outflows and provide high quality long-term infrastructure for Tweed Shire.

A key focus is wildlife management planning, including extensive conservation controls for the West Pottsville koala population, aligned with Tweed Shire Council’s Koala Plan of Management and designed to enhance koala habitat connectivity and future population growth.

Caldera will extend the existing koala corridor by connecting koala precincts west of the Pacific Highway with populations in the north and east precincts. A koala underpass will be created under Pottsville Road to complete the connection of this important corridor. Native tree plantings will expand essential koala food sources, while approximately eight kilometres of exclusion fencing will be constructed to safeguard the koalas from urban threats.

The Caldera site is nestled in the hills of Cudgera Creek and benefits from its rich natural surroundings including the Pottsville Wetland, Cudgera Creek Nature Reserve and nearby Pottsville Beach.

It takes its name from the surrounding Tweed Shield Volcano and Caldera, the vast bowl-shaped depression stretching from Byron Bay to the Queensland border that 20 million years ago was the world’s largest shield volcano and which has shaped the region’s striking landscape, with Mount Warning standing as one of its most iconic features.

The development is a joint venture between CPG and Pottsville Development Corporation, which made its first investment in Pottsville more than 45 years ago and is the developer of Black Rocks By the Sea, a masterplanned community now part of the fabric of Pottsville and which was the catalyst for the construction of a bridge across the Pottsville Estuary, providing direct access to the beach.

CPG’s $1.5 billion Casuarina Beach township, 10 kilometres to the north of Caldera, commenced construction in 2000 and has become the model for modern Australian, eco-sensitive beachside development.

Consolidated Properties unveils $800m coastal village Caldera in Casuarina

Growing national developer Time &amp; Place has announced its fifth new apartment development.

With two projects in Manly and two upcoming in Surry Hills and Potts Point, the developer, which expanded beyond Melbourne just a few years ago, is now heading to Mosman. It is planning 53 new apartments on Redan Street.

The 3,233 sqm site, spanning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-48-redan-street-mosman-nsw-2088">40–48 Redan Street</a> with frontage to Redan Lane, is located just under 400 metres from Spit Junction Town Centre. It is reported the developer paid around $100 million for the five-site amalgamation.

Time &amp; Place, founded by Tim Price and backed by James Packer’s private investment firm NPACT, has submitted the project as a State Significant Development through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

Of the 53 apartments, 42 will be released to the market, with the remaining 11 allocated as affordable housing in line with NSW Government requirements.

fjc Studio has designed the building. In its Design Report, the architect said the diverse mix of dwelling types and sizes, including 11 two-bedroom affordable housing units, 40 three-bedroom apartments, and two four-bedroom residences, will support a broad demographic, including families, downsizers, and key workers.

The development will rise to nine levels, a height encouraged by the NSW Government due to the site’s proximity to Spit Junction, which has been identified as a low- to mid-rise centre. Developments within a certain proximity to these centres are permitted increased height.

fjc said the project “achieves an appropriate density outcome for its setting by balancing increased housing supply with strong amenity performance,” adding that it “makes a measurable contribution to NSW housing supply targets through the delivery of additional dwellings and dedicated affordable housing.”

The new development will replace five existing two-storey homes.

“By aligning with the objectives of the Housing SEPP and applying careful architectural and urban design principles, the development provides high-quality residential accommodation that integrates sensitively within its established Mosman context and delivers enduring benefits to residents and the wider community.”

Mosman has become increasingly popular with developers in recent years.

Developer Abadeen has been particularly active, with Mosman Residences currently on the market and under construction on Clifford Street. It also has an upcoming Burran Avenue project, comprising just three apartments on the Balmoral Slopes, and recently secured the Midas and Honeysuckle nursery site on Military Road.

Prosker Property has a project on Redan Lane, just a few doors down from Time &amp; Place’s proposed development.

Developers including Toohey Miller, DARE Property Group, and WINIM also have projects underway in the area. In 2024, a five-year target was set for the Mosman LGA to increase housing supply by 500 dwellings by 2029.

Time &amp; Place entered the Sydney market with Two Tides, its under construction Manly development. Given its sales success, it has secured another development in the area, more boutique, facing the beach on North Steyne.

They are hoping to launch their redevelopment of The Chimes in Potts Point this year, and next year will look to take to market Marlborough House, an adaptive re-use of the landmark David Jones warehouse in Surry Hills.

Time & Place to take on Mosman apartment market

Green space

Neue, the Macquarie Park apartment development by COLI Australia, is to set a new benchmark for apartment living in the northern Sydney suburb.

Set across two towers, the development boasts 285 residences in one, two, three and four-bedroom configurations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175522]

Every aspect of these apartments is the result of a refined creative process, inspired by native Australian flora to provide a crafted retreat that residents will enjoy coming home to.

Urban takes a look at five things we love about Macquarie Park&rsquo;s newest apartment towers.

1. Reputable developer

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175524]

Delivered by COLI, residents at Neue can feel confident at having a home developed by a property development arm of the world&rsquo;s largest construction company.

Established in 1979, COLI has proven their successful ability to deliver high quality, innovative and progressive developments all around the world, including Macquarie Park&rsquo;s tallest residential tower.

One in 15 people living in Hong Kong reside in a home built by COLI, according to the project marketing.

2. Strong location

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175540]

&ldquo;When we saw this location, we knew it had so much to offer. As a former site for Macquarie University, it was recognised as a gateway to this neighbourhood&rdquo;, the project developers said.

Standing tall at the entrance to the thriving Macquarie Park neighbourhood, Neue has an inviting feel thanks to its open corner position but delivers the perks of privacy thanks to leafy native trees that screen the property.

The home is located next to Macquarie University, ranked among the top two per cent of tertiary institutions in the world, and Macquarie University Station, one of Sydney&rsquo;s largest transport intersections.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175526]

Investors will feel confident knowing their property is placed in a new emerging CBD and the strategic centre of Sydney&rsquo;s growth plan, as well as NSW&rsquo;s second-largest shopping centre, Macquarie Park.

3. Distinctive fa&ccedil;ade

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175521]

The native Banksia is found throughout the grounds at Neue, but they can also be seen in the unique character of the two buildings&rsquo; architectural form.

&ldquo;The two buildings rise out of the ground, like the spikes of a Banksia flower. The breezeways act as the stem, with each apartment a distinctive floret. As you move your eyes upwards the colour shifts and blends, just as a flower in bloom&rdquo;, the project marketing illustrates.

Designed by SJB Architects, the pure concrete and glass anatomy display subtle tones of green and gold with every architectural detail carefully considered.

4. Green surrounds

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175537]

Rising above native gum trees, Neue stands tall at the gateway to Macquarie Park.

Beautifully landscaped, the project boasts green borders and an expansive central green area, curated to provide ample space to breathe, walk, and relax beneath the shade of verdant greenery.

COLI has delivered areas to enhance social interaction and a sense of community, with barbeques, play areas and quiet spaces to enjoy amongst friends, family or new neighbours.

Most apartments also offer unique, 180 &ndash; 270&deg; views across Sydney&rsquo;s skyline to the native treetops of Lane Cove National Park.

5. Considered interiors

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175525]

Every aspect of Neue aims to connect residents with the outside world, from the spacious lobby framed in natural stone and timber, to the material finishes within your own home.

Kitchens have&nbsp;been designed with stone island benchtops, integrated appliances, and smart pantry storage.

Refined finishes allow in natural light, while handmade joinery serves to deliver a simple and noble interior concept.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7149 project_image_fid=175536]

Inspired by handmade artisanal techniques, colours have been perfectly balanced to reflect a sense of restrained elegance and continuity as you walk through each apartment.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=7149]

Set across two towers, the development boasts 285 residences in one, two, three and four-bedroom configurations

max.kwok_55688

The top five things Urban loves about Macquarie Park apartments, Neue

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Creating more quality green spaces closer to homes and increasing the tree canopy by planting one million trees in Greater Sydney by 2022 is a policy announced today by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
She said the first of the priorities is to increase the proportion of homes in towns and cities across NSW within a reasonable walking distance of quality green, open and public space. 
“Planting trees and creating new parks is just as important as building new roads, rail lines, schools and hospitals,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Green and public open spaces should be accessible to everyone across the State, no matter where they live.
“That is why, for the first time, I have made it a priority to make sure more people are within walking distance of quality public space.”
Ms Berejiklian joined Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes in Sydney’s South West to also announce planting one million trees across Greater Sydney by 2022 is another Premier’s Priority.
Mr Stokes said the program will contribute to the Government’s long-term target of planting five million trees by 2030.  
“We’re backing councils like Campbelltown City Council to increase the tree canopy cover across Sydney through funding and support,” Mr Stokes said. 
“More trees means more shade, cooler suburbs, more oxygen and a better urban environment for communities to enjoy.”
The plans announced are on top of the NSW Government’s decision to appoint a dedicated Minister for Public Spaces and the $340 million Open Spaces and Greener Sydney package.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

A million more trees by 2022 under Premier Gladys Berejiklian

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Construction of the first stage of the Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street transformation project will begin this month. The project which will be undertaken in stages will create 2.5 hectares of new public open space on Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street, with the first stage expected to take 18-months to complete.

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, City of Melbourne's aspirations for Southbank Boulevard are to transform it into one of Australia’s most pedestrian-friendly places. The Concept Plan was drafted to recognise the history of the site and is based on extensive community and stakeholder engagement.

The transformation project will provide Southbank, which is Melbourne’s most densely populated suburb with critical public open space.

Beginning on 16 July, 2018, Southbank Boulevard will be closed to all traffic between St Kilda Road and Sturt Street. Trams will continue to operate and the precinct will remain open to pedestrians.

As a part of stage 1 works 39 trees will require removal however, over 65 new trees will be planted, along with approximately 300 new trees across the entire project.

The Concept Plan, which was adopted by the  Council in 2017, outlines a new vision for Southbank that will:

<ul>
<li>Create 2.5 hectares of new public open space;</li>
	<li>Prioritise pedestrians, public transport and cyclists;</li>
	<li>Deliver a new, accessible tram stop on Sturt Street;</li>
	<li>Enhance the gateway into the Arts Precinct;</li>
	<li>Create a living link, connecting the Domain Parklands to the Yarra River;</li>
	<li>Create a ‘Melbourne Experience’ for Southbank;</li>
	<li>Build a new civic square for the precinct;</li>
	<li>Deliver a series of new neighbourhood parks for the community.</li>
</ul>
Additionally, the project will weave together other projects mooted for Southbank including the upgrade of City Road, Sturt Street Civic Spine as part of the <a href="/news/back-to-the-noughties-melbournes-arts-precinct-set-to-get-a-major-makeover">Arts Precinct Master Plan</a>, <a href="/buildings/australia-108-southbank-70-southbank-boulevard-southbank">Australia108</a>, the Queensbridge Square upgrade as part of Crown &amp; Schiavello's One Queensbridge development, and <a href="/news/southbank-by-beulah-designs-to-be-revealed-via-a-public-symposium">Beulah International's $2bn 58 Southbank Boulevard</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/southbank_boulevard_project_staging.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Boulevard Project Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_boulevard_project_staging.png?itok=1wvNGCNY" title="Southbank Boulevard Project Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Boulevard Project Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Upcoming works include:

<ul>
<li>Early works construction from July involving the removal of 39 trees to enable construction of the new carriageway, tram line, and tram stop.</li>
	<li>Main tram construction period from 22 to 30 September 2018 this requires the demolition of existing tram infrastructure, construction and recommissioning of new tram line and tram stop on Sturt Street.</li>
	<li>Civil construction works from October 2018 to August 2019</li>
</ul>
For more information visit <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbankboulevard">participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au</a>

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Laurence Dragomir

Stage 1 of Transforming Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street commencing this month

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Major universities across Australia are installing ‘greenwalls’, which involved wrapping facades of buildings with plants, in an attempt to improve concentration levels and promote overall wellbeing.
The Greenwall Company, which has pioneered the greenwall, uses design techniques across both residential and commercial projects. 
It has worked with a number of universities, including The University of QLD and La Trobe University, to design and install their patented greenwall technology. 
Mark Paul, horticulturist and founder of The Greenwall Company, said studies have proved the benefits of greening community spaces, one of which is improved concentration levels. 
“Over the past three years we have been working closely with a number of universities to create bespoke designs to work within the architecture of the buildings,” Paul said. 
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/25/LaTrobeGreenwall.jpg" alt="">
A study by Dr Kate Lee from the University of Melbourne revealed that glancing out at a greenroof for only 40 seconds boosts concentration. 
Beyond the increase in concentration levels, greenwalls help to improve air quality, are aesthetically appealing, lower power bills and even act as an insulator. 
In 2013, The University of Queensland introduced their new Global Change Institute Building, which features The Greenwall Company’s unique greenwalls as the key design feature and achieved a six green star rating. 
A 70 sqm panelled greenwall was installed over the air- conditioning vent. This formed part of the air filtration system, allowing the greenwall to clean and purify the air. 
The greenwall design also included a pond of native rainbow fish with waterplants and a vertical wetland to strip nutrients from the pondwater — a simple ecological system. 
More recently, The Greenwall Company have completed the installation of a greenwall at La Trobe University in Melbourne. 
The Healthsciences building features a mainly native planting covering 20 sqm.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Greenwalls to improve the concentration and wellbeing of university students 

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Toorak Park is the outcome of a decade of development overtones for an expansive and formerly underutilised site abutting Toorak Station.

Few projects across Melbourne are larger in terms of site size, with developer Lendlease over recent months applying the finishing touches to 446 apartments and 18 townhouses across a host of buildings. What makes Toorak Park particularly impressive though is the extensive greenery and public permeability across its ground plane.

Often by necessity the vast majority of Melbourne's apartments buildings find themselves in a truly urban context; surrounded by other buildings they are small in footprint and often lack expressive, inclusive or even interesting public realm outcomes.

Toorak Park is at the opposite end of the scale; it is not an outwardly flashy development but when roughly 35% of the site's 2.5 hectares has been seeded to green areas or parkland, it becomes an excellent public outcome.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_8283.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A direct and publicly accessible link to Toorak Station"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8283.jpg?itok=p4iYKuQw" title="A direct and publicly accessible link to Toorak Station" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A direct and publicly accessible link to Toorak Station</figcaption></figure>The development team consists of Lendlease as developer/builder, Denton Corker Marshall as architect, Carr Design Group account for interiors and Tract Consultants who devised the project's landscaped areas.

Various buildings up to 12 levels dot the site, and generally present with the same architectural form and expression. Whilst they may not rank as among the most impressive buildings in Melbourne, the format and execution across the project's ground plane is deservedly worthy of praise and equal to any that Apartments.com.au has reported on in recent years.

The development is bound by Orrong Road, Toorak Railway Station, Osment Street, Toorak Park and Victory Square Reserve. Greenery, permeability, and wayfinding are all present, as is a new alternative route in accessing Toorak Station and Beatty Avenue via the heart of the site.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_8289.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Toorak Park's built form outcome"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8289.jpg?itok=lj6VXMkj" title="Toorak Park's built form outcome" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Toorak Park's built form outcome</figcaption></figure>Toorak Park is a shining example of the accord that can be achieved when new development is inclusive of publicly accessible green spaces.

Wide, clear and well-signed paths, an immense number of plantings right across the development and the separation between vehicle access and pedestrian space are all on show; the latter is especially noticeable and makes for a quiet and safe experience when walking through the finished product.

The pre-existing pedestrian link from Orrong Road to Toorak Station which flanks the site's northern border is a prime example of what effective landscaping can do. The narrow passage formerly lined by cyclone fencing now enjoys stepped layers of greenery that provides a lit and safe pedestrian space, whilst also masking the necessary security and privacy measures for residents directly behind.

During the project's sales campaign Tract director and landscape architect Mike Stokes was quoted as saying "We create landscapes that grow old gracefully. We were mindful of the spaces between all the buildings, and responded to leafy surrounding suburbs, such as Toorak, Armadale, and Prahran."

Once the new plantings reach maturity and the overall development is 'worn in', it will be interesting to see just how gracefully the landscape around Toorak Park ages, given how impressive it is right now.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_8270.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Plantings are in contrast to what was cyclone fencing"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8270.jpg?itok=FOdRPTYe" title="Plantings are in contrast to what was cyclone fencing" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Plantings are in contrast to what was cyclone fencing</figcaption></figure>See below various images of Toorak Park taken during August.
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silvermb

Toorak Park delivers where it matters most

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/77393/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Half of the world’s people now live in urban areas. This creates competition for resources and increases pressure on already limited green space. 
Many urban areas are still experiencing active degradation or removal of green space. To reverse this trend and ensure the multiple benefits of green space are realised, we urgently need to move toward on-ground action.
However, there is no clear guidance on how to translate the evidence base on green space into action. There is limited information to guide green-space practitioners on how much is “green enough”, or on how to manage and maintain green space. There is also a lack of guidance on how to deliver the multiple benefits of green space with finite resources.
<h2>Why we need green spaces</h2>
A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report aims to provide guidance on how to tackle the uncertainties of providing such spaces.
There is a substantial evidence base to show that green space is good for us. It is associated with many health benefits, both physical and mental – including reductions in illness and deaths, stress and obesity – and a range of positive social, environmental and equity outcomes.
Providing adequate green space within our urban areas is therefore paramount. We need to preserve, enhance and promote existing green spaces and create new spaces.
Various political frameworks underscore the need for these spaces in our cities. For example, the New Urban Agenda calls for an increase in safe, inclusive, accessible, green and quality public spaces. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development pledges to:
… provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular, for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
<h2>Moving toward action</h2>
The WHO report carried out a systematic review of the published evidence on green-space interventions. The review found a variety of intervention types have strong evidence for delivering a range of health, social and environmental outcomes.
These intervention types range from smaller green spaces, such as street trees and community gardens, to larger, more interlinked spaces, such as parks and greenways. This signals the need to think beyond the traditional urban park when considering how to meet the demand for green space among growing urban populations.
Another finding of the review was that urban green-space interventions seem to be most effective when a physical improvement of the space is coupled with social engagement.
This highlights the importance of understanding the intervention’s target audience. Sufficient time and resources must be devoted to engaging with this audience. This should happen both during the design and implementation phases and when the intervention is completed – and promoted.
<h2>Learning from others</h2>
The WHO report compiled case studies of urban green-space interventions from across Europe, and documented the common lessons from these. 
This unearthed a range of findings. For example, fostering multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations during planning, implementation and evaluation is a key factor in creating a successful green space.
Another key finding was the importance of understanding that urban green-space interventions are long-term investments. They therefore need to be integrated within local development strategies and frameworks – such as urban masterplans, transport policies and sustainability and biodiversity strategies.
An example of an urban green-space intervention that showcases good practice, and which features as a case study in the WHO report, is the Connswater Community Greenway in Northern Ireland. This project adopted a bottom-up approach and emphasised community engagement. A full-time community support officer was employed. 
Having public engagement embedded from the start ensured the local community’s needs were well understood. The intervention’s design was responding to these identified needs. 
Coupling this local understanding with the latest thinking on good practice led to an evidence-based design that was fit-for-purpose in the local context.
The project was also understood to be a long-term investment. A 40-year management and maintenance plan for the greenway was developed from the outset. 
The WHO report represents an important step forward. As worrying trends in mental ill-health, obesity, social isolation, health inequalities and environmental degradation grow globally, there is a pressing need to implement equitable solutions – and green space has a key role to play in this. 
Urban green-space interventions can deliver health, social and environmental benefits for all population groups – particularly among lower socioeconomic status groups. There are very few – if any – other public health interventions that can achieve all of this.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anne-cleary-310766" target="_blank">Anne Cleary</a> is nature and health PhD Candidate, Griffith University.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ruth-hunter-376963" target="_blank">Ruth Hunter</a> is lecturer, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Green space – how much is enough, and what’s the best way to deliver it?

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Over the course of the last week <a href="/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a> has released images of a <a href="/news/southbank-set-to-gain-a-new-park">new Southbank park</a> within its Melbourne Square development. The large public park will occupy more than 20 per cent of overall site and will be one of the first stages of the project to be delivered.

OSK Property engaged landscape architects, Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL) for the park, who are perhaps best known locally for their award-winning work at Birrarung Marr, the Australian Garden in <a href="/developments/cranbourne-vic-3977">Cranbourne</a>, Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the National Arboretum in <a href="/new-apartments/canberra-act">Canberra</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/oskh9386_melbourne_square_ea05_park_boulevard_entrance.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Square's towers rising behind the new park designed by landscape architects TCL. Image: OSK Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/oskh9386_melbourne_square_ea05_park_boulevard_entrance.jpg?itok=EqECtm-t" title="Melbourne Square's towers rising behind the new park designed by landscape architects TCL. Image: OSK Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Square's towers rising behind the new park. Image: OSK Property</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Melbourne Square’s dynamic public realm will be a centerpiece for Southbank, one that can be actively programmed for events, or enjoyed at leisure. The park is part of a network of gardens inspired by Melbourne’s iconic Royal Botanic Gardens and qualities from other cities such as Paris, Berlin and Spain.

As this is such an urban environment, we have created vistas and seating nestled among the greenery. Generous promenades and plazas encourage the Italian tradition of promenading – taking an evening walk with family and friends. It’s about creating opportunities for residents of Melbourne Square and other buildings in <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a> to engage with nature.

- TCL Managing Director, Perry Lethlean
</blockquote>

An amphitheatre-inspired space is created via a gently rising slope which includes a water feature, cascading down the pathway leading visitors up to the café terrace, providing a gateway for visitors into the development. Stairs connect to an elevated terrace, with views over the lawns and gardens and a number of retail and alfresco dining offerings.

Melbourne Square will add to the area’s continuing transformation along with the City of Melbourne’s commitment to create a new parkland development for Southbank Boulevard. The large park will be actively programmed upon completion to host events for Southbank residents such as markets and cultural activities.

Citing the City of Melbourne's 2015 Places for People report, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said one of the key drivers for projects such as Council's Southbank Boulevard Rejuvenation and OSK Property's Melbourne Square park was to address the imbalance in the number of residents in the densely populated suburb with access to green open space.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sthbnk_blvd.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="City of Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard rejuvenation. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sthbnk_blvd.jpg?itok=d-jAlw_7" title="City of Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard rejuvenation. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>City of Melbourne's Southbank Boulevard rejuvenation. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
In the past 25 years, I’ve seen Southbank go from a wasteland of old factories and warehouses to Melbourne’s densest suburb, and the only City of Melbourne suburb in Australia’s 20 densest suburbs. That has meant that Southbank has less open space than any other postcode in the municipality, at just three square metres per resident.

Our 2015 Places for People report revealed that just 18 per cent of Southbank residents accessed open space locally compared with 90 per cent in Docklands and 31 per cent in the central city.

That’s why the City of Melbourne tries, wherever and whenever possible, to turn asphalt into green open space in the inner city: it’s for the benefit of those residents who are purchasing with the confidence of employment and recreation but not always on the basis of open space

- Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, "Rejuvenation of Southbank Boulevard to reinvigorate suburb with green space" Domain, May 19, 2017 
</blockquote>

<h2>IN BRIEF</h2>

• Large public park spanning 3,700 sqm will provide Southbank with much-needed green infrastructure 
• On completion Melbourne Square will comprise six towers, retail outlets including a supermarket, childcare and health services 
• Residents will have access to a 48-metre long swimming pool, private gardens, gymnasium, entertainment facilities and more

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/osk_property_melbourne_square_aerial_park_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Square's 3,700sqm park will help add to Southbank's livability. Image: OSK Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/osk_property_melbourne_square_aerial_park_2.jpg?itok=qFfIzF42" title="Melbourne Square's 3,700sqm park will help add to Southbank's livability. Image: OSK Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Square's 3,700sqm park will help add to Southbank's livability. Image: OSK Property</figcaption></figure>
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Melbourne Square to add some much needed green infrastructure to Southbank

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SPONSORED POST
The relationship between people and their environment can affect how they feel, perform and interact with others, so it’s important to ensure that the workplace is designed with these aspects in mind.
A recent report by Human Spaces, ‘Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace,’ has found a significant link between natural elements available in the physical office environment and workers well-being, productivity and creativity levels. The report collected responses from 7,600 office workers from 16 countries around the world, including Australia, the US and the UK.
According to this report, workers with higher levels of sunlight and green spaces:
<ul>
<li>Display a 15 percent higher level of well-being</li>
<li>Are 6 percent more productive </li>
<li>Are 15 percent more creative overall </li>
</ul>
It puts in perspective the importance of incorporating simple natural elements in the workplace, which provides a significant benefit to the bottom line of any company through worker productivity and well-being.
In addition, office design is an important tool in recruiting and retaining staff, with the Human Spaces survey revealing 33 percent of respondents globally state that the design of an office would affect their decision to work for that organisation.
Putting thought into practice
At Savills, we have recently incorporated these learnings into the new Savills Sydney office fit-out. The new office space is on a higher level than the previous space, the windows are larger and there will be more access to daylight. Also, the majority of work positions have been designed to be less than 6m from a window, and no work positions further than 12m from a window. 
With regards to green elements, the new office design features a larger scope of greenery than the previous space, including more than a hundred pot plants and wall mounted plants over two floors.
Improvements such as these will ensure the best performance and well-being of our employees.  
Little steps to achieve success
Unfortunately, the Human Spaces survey also revealed that globally many workplaces still lack natural light and more than half have no live plants. In Australia, 28 percent of workers reported their workplaces having no windows.  
But even for offices that do not have windows, or are unable to make huge changes, employers can still improve their conditions through minor alterations to the workplace.
In fact, research suggests it is the variation in patterns, textures and colours of nature that brings us pleasure, so we should consider how best to recreate these within the indoor environment when access to a window is not feasible.
These alterations could include:
<ul>
<li>The addition of plants to the office</li>
<li>Large scale scenic images on the walls</li>
<li>Painting the walls with some brighter colours, (specifically, accents of green and blue have been shown to improve creativity and productivity)</li>
<li>The creation of social areas that provide employees with access to natural light and a place for respite</li>
<li>Wall-mounted video screens displaying images or real-time video of natural scenes</li>
</ul>
If you would like any advice on how natural elements can benefit your fit-out, contact the Savills Project Management team.
Savills is a leading global real estate service provider offering the full spectrum of services from strategic advice to managing assets and projects and transacting deals. To learn more about Savills, visit <a href="https://www.savills.com.au" target="_blank">savills.com.au</a>.
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