Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

Infrastructure

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GUEST OBSERVER
In Australian homes, reliable hot water supplies for taking showers or bathing the kids are taken for granted. But this has a significant cost – conventional hot water heaters can account for up to 30% of household energy use and can be significant carbon emitters.
One alternative is solar hot water, which can supply more than 90% of household hot water and reduce energy bills by 50-85%, as well as lowering carbon emissions.
Unfortunately, it is likely that households are not getting the most from their solar hot water systems. In Australia and overseas, there is evidence that the potential of solar hot water is not being realised.
So how can you can get the most out of your solar hot water system?
Missed opportunities to reduce energy use
Solar hot water systems use solar energy to heat water using the familiar roof-mounted solar panels. This water can then be stored in an insulated tank. While these systems can produce up to 90% of a household’s hot water needs, the system may need a boost with gas or electricity when the sun isn’t shining or hot water demand is high.
Moreover, an Australian study highlighted installation problems that led to “zero solar performance” or “dramatic underperformance”.
With this information in mind, and with our research already showing that being green is not always as straightforward as it may seem, we went out and talked to householders about their experience of owning a solar hot water system.
We assessed the efficiency of the systems themselves and found them to be highly variable. But the key thing we found was that people struggled to fit solar heating into household routines. While solar heating is conceptually simple, households often inadvertently heated water with electricity or gas instead of letting the sun do the work.
The task was made more complex by variable weather, electricity tariffs, high hot water demand by teenagers, and deeply ingrained habits. Families treated hot water systems as background “infrastructure” that they expected to deliver hot water regardless of circumstances.
The quality of the actual installations was also variable. Basics, notably pipe insulation, were often lacking or substandard. The most motivated households actively experimented with their solar hot water systems. But, after a few cold showers, significant numbers gave up and relied on mains energy to boost their system.
The result is that the energy and carbon savings potential of solar hot water is not being realised.
Eight tips to get the most from solar hot water
We argue that policy needs to look beyond installation and that installation practices need improving, but what can you do to get an effective installation?
First, seek out independent advice from sources such as local sustainability events and organisations. They can help you understand what suits your circumstances and what characterises an effective installation.
A good organisation is the Alternative Technology Association. They provide free advice to members, sell a solar hot water guide, and organise open house events where you can see and discuss domestic sustainability technologies.
Second, consider whether solar hot water is the best option. It may be that a hot water heat pump or an instant gas system is a suitable choice, depending on where you live, how much cloud cover you have, or what sort of building you are in.
Third, make sure all your hot water pipes are insulated, especially the pipes that go to and from the tank and solar panels. You typically need insulation to be 15 mm thick. Without proper insulation you could lose half the energy you are trying to collect.
Fourth, get a booster switch installed in a convenient place inside, so you can easily turn the booster off if there is plenty of sun, or on if it’s cloudy or you need more hot water.
Fifth, if you go solar, install a system that has a sufficiently large tank matched with a sufficiently large solar array for your needs. Water is very good at storing heat. A large tank could help you store solar energy for those rainy days.
Sixth, you may need to change electricity tariffs if your booster is electric, to ensure the sun gets a chance to heat the water before the electricity does.
Seventh, you may need to change your peak hot water use habits so that the tank water is at its coldest after morning use, after which the sun can then heat it during the day. The booster can “top up” overnight, ready for morning showers.
Eighth, before you install solar hot water, examine and discuss household expectations around hot water use. Will they need to change? Are members of your household prepared to make that change?
This may be the most profound change you can make, but also perhaps the most challenging.
 
Nicholas Gill is associate professor in Geography, University of Wollongong and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-gill-112077" target="_blank">here</a>.
Chris Gibson is director, UOW Global Challenges Program &amp; Professor of Human Geography, University of Wollongong and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-gibson-9277" target="_blank">here</a>.
Gordon Waitt is professor of Human Geography, University of Wollongong and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gordon-waitt-191636" target="_blank">here</a>.
Lesley Head is director, Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research (AUSCCER), University of Wollongong and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lesley-head-10224" target="_blank">here</a>.
Peter Osman is scientist, Energy Efficiency &amp; Renewables, CSIRO and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-osman-191799" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Solar hot water giving you cold showers? Eight tips to warm you up

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
The change to foreign ownership of Australian companies and critical infrastructure continues with the takeover offer for rail and ports operator Asciano from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, a Bermuda-based company listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges.
The offer, which values Asciano at US$9 billion, is a part cash (75%) and part scrip (25%) bid. While it has the blessing of the Asciano board, the offer is yet to be approved by both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Foreign Investment Review Board.
Australians appear relatively unconcerned about major transfers of ownership such as these - yet it is at odds with the assiduous strategies of larger economies such as the United States and China, to secure their supply chains.
Asciano was a spinoff of the Toll Group, formed in 2007. It has a rail division, Pacific National, acquired by Toll from the federal government-owned National Rail Corporation in 2002, and a port and logistics division, Patrick Terminals and Logistics.
Patrick is a long-established Australian company. It was originally started by the owner of coastal trading vessels before morphing into a number of other shipping and stevedoring companies. Although known for its role in the 1998 waterfront dispute, it has since become a leader in the stevedoring sector. It was acquired by Toll in 2006.
The Brookfield name is not completely unknown in Australia. The company already owns Brookfield Rail – a 5,500 km rail network in Western Australia – and the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal in Queensland.
Brookfield’s interest in Asciano is partly driven by a goal of positioning itself for the mooted sale of the federal government-owned Australian Rail Track Corporation, the owners of 8,500 kilometres of critical rail track across Australia.
If the Asciano sale goes ahead, approximately 95% of all Australian containerised imports and exports will be handled by foreign-owned companies including Dubai Ports World (based in the United Arab Emirates), Hutchinson Port Holdings (based in Hong Kong) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (based in the Philippines), with only the Adelaide container terminal still in Australian hands.
On the other hand, a potential benefit for Australia is that Brookfield has indicated it will utilise Patrick’s world-leading expertise in automation across stevedoring operations it owns in other countries.
The general public may not be fully aware of the extent and ramifications of this shift in ownership in businesses critical to Australian trade. The main driver for overseas owners is to maximise return on the considerable investment they have made to acquire the assets, with in some instances, applying creative means of getting around Australian laws and regulations. For example, the recent Senate Committee inquiry into tax avoidance highlights just one of the issues, that of tax avoidance by overseas companies operating in Australia.
Many countries are grappling with how to manage the increase in foreign ownership, but in some cases public opposition has prevented a takeover going ahead. In 2006, a number of North American container terminals and logistic centres were up for sale but Dubai Ports World, one of the bidders whose ownership is concentrated in the Middle East, was ultimately excluded from the process due to the public’s fear that such a sale would compromise port security.
The US is also fiercely protective of its coastal shipping regime where all coastal cargo in North America has to be shipped by American owned and crewed vessels. This is in stark contrast to the current Australian coastal trading policy where increasing amounts of cargo on the Australian coast are being carried by foreign flagged and crewed vessels.
China is taking the security of their supply chains even further. Chinese companies, with the help of the government, are in the process of acquiring interests in ports and port-related businesses in the Indo-Pacific, East Africa and the Mediterranean along the shipping routes from China to Europe, the so-called “Maritime Silk Road”.
This project is part of the “One Belt, One Road” policy, which is an undertaking to secure China’s supply lines to and from Europe. It also includes a land-based route the “Silk Road Economic Belt”, which more or less runs along the centuries old former Silk Road and is developed to allow China’s landlocked western provinces to access the markets of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The other aim of this initiative (backed by a US$40 billion fund) is to shape China’s regional periphery by exercising economic, cultural and political influence.
Australia could learn something from other economies – to carefully assess the long-term harms and benefits of allowing the sale of critical assets.
Peter van Duyn is maritime logistics expert, Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics at Victoria University and author for The Conversation. You can contact him <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-van-duyn-22412" target="_blank">here.</a>
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Aussie ports in foreign hands could hurt security

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GUEST OBSERVER
Construction activity surprised to the high side, advancing by 1.6% in the June quarter. Expectations were for a decline (Westpac and market median –1.5%).
Private infrastructure, dominated by mining, was the source of surprise, jumping 10.2% in the quarter, centred on a 35% spike in WA.
Total construction work ex WA infrastructure was weak in the quarter, declining by 5.3%.
<a href="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.40.50%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.40.50%20PM.png" alt="">
The construction report reads more like an update from 2011, when the mining investment boom was in full swing. However, this spike in infrastructure work will not be sustained. Rather prospects are for sizeable falls ahead, even more so given this burst of work.
The positive, is that the construction sector (which accounts for around 15% of the economy) will add to growth in the June quarter 2015. This will provide a partial offset to the drag from net exports, which have swung from a positive contribution in Q1 of 0.5ppts to an estimated subtraction of –0.4ppts in Q2.
<a href="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.42.42%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/26/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-26%20at%2010.42.42%20PM.png" alt="">
Infrastructure work in WA jumped to $11.3bn in the quarter, a $2.9bn increase on Q1 or a rise of 35%.
Construction of the $10bn Roy Hill iron ore project and the $61bn Gorgon LNG project will have contributed to this spike. It appears that there has been a ramping up of work in an effort to make up for past delays. 
Elsewhere, it was a weak quarter for construction.
Public works fell further, down a sharp –8.4%qtr, to be 15% lower than a year ago. In the year ahead, public infrastructure is likely to improve as state governments begin work on new transport projects.
Commercial building was little changed, ahead of likely falls with approvals falling sharply in 2014, particularly in the mining states.
Private new residential building surprised, declining by 3.6% in the quarter. Although, this dip follows a 16% rise over the past year, including a near 8% increase in Q1. With approvals hitting fresh record highs early in 2015 new home building activity is set to strengthen in coming quarters.
Private home renovations strengthened, up 0.9% in the quarter to be 4% higher than a year ago. This is likely the beginnings of a modest upturn, following a period of softness, consistent with the upturn in the housing market more generally.
By state, Q2 construction work was: up sharply in WA, +25.5%qtr, 14%yr; broadly flat in NSW; edged lower in Victoria, -2.8%qtr, but was still up over the year, +7%; and fell further in Qld, -11%qtr, -32%yr.
Andrew Hanlan is senior economist for Westpac and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-hanlan/3/222/430" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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June quarter construction activity surprising: Westpac's Andrew Hanlan

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GUEST OBSERVER
Infrastructure investment at the mature operating stage provides predictable revenue and growth in revenue above the rate of inflation, providing high levels of inflation protection.  
Infrastructure is classified as either economic or social. Economic infrastructure includes assets that facilitate transportation and telecommunications or utilities that generate and distribute power, water and gas. Social infrastructure includes assets in which services such as education, health and correctional facilities are provided.   
The majority of infrastructure assets operate in regulated environments with revenue increases linked to inflation through long term concession agreements and government contracts. There are usually high barriers to entry through large upfront establishment capital costs. Established infrastructure assets have monopoly/quasi-monopoly market positions with long useful lives of 20+ years and low operating costs.  Infrastructure assets provide services where demand is consistent or functions where demand exhibits resistance to business cycles and are linked to non-discretionary spending as a result. These attributes generate stable income returns.
Access to investment in infrastructure assets with these investment characteristics may be achieved through listed securities and unlisted funds. Listed infrastructure securities are available on the ASX and consist of companies that own economic infrastructure assets. Unlisted infrastructure funds may invest in listed securities or a portfolio of infrastructure assets either directly or through unlisted funds. Investors may also gain exposure to the infrastructure asset class through superannuation funds that invest in infrastructure through unlisted funds.
Listed and unlisted infrastructure is similar as the characteristics of the underlying physical assets are the same. Over the medium to long term returns are expected to converge between the two. Over the short term differences in pricing of listed and unlisted infrastructure investments will result in different returns and volatility of returns. Liquidity profiles differ with listed infrastructure securities readily tradeable on the ASX while unlisted funds are not liquid. Listed infrastructure securities also have a more diverse portfolio of assets both in location and type which will also affect the profile of returns.  
Australian infrastructure assets have outperformed Australian shares over the long term. In chart 1 (below) is shown the growth in value of $100 invested over 20 years from March 1995 to March 2015 in listed Australian infrastructure securities and Australian shares.
<a href="/images/2015/06/30/ev.owa.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/06/30/ev.owa.jpeg" alt="">
 
Source: UBS Infrastructure and Utilities Accumulation Index, S&amp;P ASX 200 Accumulation Index
Chart 1 shows that listed infrastructure generated a higher cumulative return than Australian shares over a 20 year period to 31 March 2015. Listed infrastructure generated a return of 16.4% p.a. while Australian shares generated a return of 10.4% p.a. 
Infrastructure assets provide stable and predictable cash flows with inflation linked revenue. Exposure to the infrastructure asset class can be achieved through listed securities, unlisted funds or superannuation funds that may invest in infrastructure. Listed and unlisted infrastructure is similar and has return profiles that differ over the short term and converge over the long term.  
Lev Driker is an Investment Analyst for Atchison Consultants. He can be contacted <a href="https://atchison.com.au/our-team/" target="_blank">here.</a>
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Infrastructure investment key to stable returns: Lev Driker

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Parts of Western Sydney are set to be switched over to the National Broadband Network, with small businesses being urged to contact their phone or internet provider as the switchover isn’t automatic.
Around 3,600 premises in Penrith will be switched over on 20 February, with a further 1,200 being cut over on 17 April. On 20 March, 2,600 premises in Blacktown, 3,600 in Homebush and 2,600 in Riverstone will be moved over. Then on 17 April, 6,100 premises in Windsor/Richmond and 2000 in Lidcombe will be cut over.
Businesses and commercial property owners with an emergency lift phone and/or a fire indicator panel need to register their details with the NBN Co before the cutover date by calling 1800 687 626.
Small businesses with an EFTPOS terminal, fax or alarm system need to contact their service provider (for example, the bank that supplies their EFTPOS terminal) to check whether the NBN is compatible with their devices.
Meanwhile, owners of medical alarms and medical alert systems need to register the devices by calling 1800 227 300 or completing the online form at nbnco.com.au/medicalregister.
“We are particularly urging people with special equipment including EFTPOS terminals and medical and security alarms which operate using a landline phone connection to contact their preferred phone company and internet service provider as soon as possible,” NBN Co spokesperson Darren Rudd said.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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NBN switchover date approaches for Western Sydney suburbs

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Note: This is the second part of Peter Chittenden's 2015 outlook. 
To read Part 1, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-residential-property-outlook-for-the-year-ahead">click here</a>.
Looking further into prospects for 2015: currently, the collapse of commodity prices is making hard work of local economic policy settings.
An interest rate cut looks to be more firmly on the agenda and employment prospects look shaky. Consumers are hesitant, but there is good news at the petrol bowser.
Beyond these leading factors, the residential market and in particular the demand for new apartment projects may slow at the margins in 2015, while remaining strong in key areas.
While the health of the wider economy will have an impact, there are a number of specific policy areas that will more directly influence demand. These include a review of taxation policy, the delivery of major infrastructure projects and planning policy. The falling dollar may, however, act as an incentive for off-shore buyers. This time last year, the AUS$ to US$ exchange rate was $0.89. Today it’s $0.81. Although this is a four and a half year low, the Reserve Bank has suggested the possibility of a greater fall, with the dollar valued closer to US$0.75.
Looking towards 2015, it appears that everything financial will have an impact on the residential property market.
The influence of lower rates for anyone with a home loan or looking to finance will be positive. However, with more caution now apparent in the market, lower rates are not likely to push up demand and hence prices.
What lower rates will do is make it easier to service loans, and as history shows, people tend to use lower rates to boost their mortgage repayments. Cheaper home loans may help to boost spending in other areas, and so benefit the wider economy. Currently, bad residential mortgage loans are at historic lows, which further reinforces how cautious and conservative this market is.
Henry &amp; Murray
In 2010 we had the Henry Review of the Taxation System. Now we have had the Murray Review of the banking system, and it appears that 2015 will at last be a time to act. The Murray Review was wide ranging, but areas impacting superannuation, competition and the taxation system may hold particular focus for the residential market.
While an increase to the GST does not look to be an immediate prospect, the reality is that an increase in the GST would lead to almost irresistible pressure to reduce other taxes, such as stamp duty, which for NSW has delivered a wind-fall in revenue this year.
Already the Federal Government has signaled such a structural change is not possible, given the state of the Federal budget.
However, the Murray report does create pressure for tax reform, that may well involve changes to negative gearing and how superannuation is taxed. Changes here would impact the residential market. Buyers would, of course, welcome a reduction of stamp duty, but any changes to negative gearing could cause investors some pain.
The growth in self managed super funds, and the flow of funds into property, in part highlight the sensitivity of this sector. There are some concerns that over-regulation could have the long-term affect of reducing the pool of savings people can access in their old age.
I think there is a natural tendency for many people to be anxious to manage the fate of their own investments, and so property will remain a popular choice with this group of retirees.
While the banking and tax systems have been under the spotlight, I wonder if there is room in the housing and development market for even more creative forms of finance?
Peer to Peer lending is a new financial tool that is only starting to emerge with some areas of personal finance. Could such ideas spread to the housing market? Could we one day see a Bitcoin revolution in housing finance?
Outside of these policy areas, supply will remain a key issue, supply in some markets is still to catch up with demand, and so this will keep pressure on prices, but this is not a universal trend. Investors are also less geographically focused on their own backyard, and so capital will flow to the stronger markets.
For developers, another emerging reality is that development sites have increased in value and demand remains very strong and competitive. Eventually, high site costs have to be absorbed into the final cost of apartments delivered to the market.
This article continues on the next page. Click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Infrastructure &amp; Planning
In 2015, there needs to be an acceleration of infrastructure delivery, moving from what can at times appear to be endless planning.
Major projects are now more visible across Sydney, for example, and urgency might accelerate as both the State Government and Federal Governments look to election in March 2015 and early 2017 respectively.
In any election setting, activity on the ground is what counts. Activity means jobs, and delivery of infrastructure is an important goal as construction investment in the mining industry continues to fall.
However, beyond any political will to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure, the other reality is that values and demand are also impacted as areas associated with these works become more attractive to buyers.
Across Sydney there’s now a growing list of major projects underway including the South West and North West Rail links, the light rail to the Inner West already in operation, and the CBD and East light rail, plus the West Connex. Areas near these projects will see further growth in the demand for project sites.
The NSW state Government has also now released its vision for Sydney in an expansive document, <a href="https://www.strategy.planning.nsw.gov.au/sydney/" target="_blank">A Plan For Sydney</a>. The plan includes an important step as it applies to the 41 local government areas and sets up a new body to deliver the vision. Planning issues are always central to the delivery of new homes and apartments, and so it is to be hoped that the policies outlined in the document become a reality.
Quality To Improve
Finance, taxation, infrastructure and government policy are all factors that impact the residential market, but in a more immediate way, there is also a continued trend towards an ongoing improvement in the design and quality of projects.
As buyers approach the apartment market more as a long-term home, and investors also look for quality, we are seeing some inspirational new projects emerge.
This quest for quality and innovation will continue throughout 2015, as will demand for projects with access to established local services and facilities, including transport.
The market in 2015 looks complex than it did this time last year. The current bull run has been with us since mid 2013, so there is a need to remain alert, as possible changes to interest rate settings and taxation policy may yet hold surprises. The resilience of the local economy will be key.
To read Part 1 of Peter Chittenden's 2015 outlook, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-residential-property-outlook-for-the-year-ahead">click here</a>.
 
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My residential outlook for the year ahead: Part 2

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The final decision on the Western Sydney light rail network route must be looked at in the context of housing supply, says Urban Taskforce’s CEO Chris Johnson.
The NSW government has <a href="/news/parramatta-light-rail-options-down-to-four-routes">narrowed down the options for Western Sydney’s light rail route to four</a> and Johnson says whichever area receives the new infrastructure will see an uptick in supply.
Currently, the four routes under consideration include:
<ol>
<li>
Macquarie Park (via Carlingford) This particular line has the advantage of having land available at present, Johnson said. 
</li>
<li>
Castle Hill (via Old Northern Road) This line, along with the Bankstown line below, would assist rebalancing the current east-west transport focus. 
</li>
<li>
Bankstown 
</li>
<li>
Sydney Olympic Park (with the potential of reaching Strathfield/Burwood) Johnson said that Olympic Park is “crying out” for better public transport connections to Parramatta. This option would traverse through redundant industrial land, and “stimulate new development”.</li>
</ol>
The lines discussed in December 2013 included the following specifics:
Castle Hill Line: Connects Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills town centre, Parramatta CBD, Rydalmere and an interchange to the North West Rail link.
Macquarie Park Line: Connects Westmead health precinct, Parramatta CBD, University of Western Sydney at Rydalmere, Eastwood town centre and Macquarie Park.
“Each of the four options has its own logic and could be great additions to the cities transport network,” said Johnson.
“With metropolitan Sydney needing to double the existing 1.66 million homes over the next 50 years we must find the best locations for these new homes. The city cannot keep spreading outwards and most communities won’t want every suburban street to be doubled in density.
“The best solution to manage this growth will be through apartment living in taller towers at major centres and in mid-rise apartments along light rail routes,” he said.
“Just as the centres along the North West rail will have significant increases in density so too should the centres along Western Sydney’s light rail be places for growth.”
Johnson expects the development of 4,000 or more homes along the route.
The state government hopes that the light rail network will cement Parramatta as Sydney's second CBD and improve connectivity throughout the region.
{mijopolls 59}
Picture of Parramatta skyline courtesy of Gareth Edwards/ <a class="mw-mmv-license cc-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
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How the four potential light rail routes may affect Western Sydney: Urban Taskforce

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Parramatta’s light rail route options have been reduced from a list of 10 to just the four options which will be of interest to property investors.
<a href="https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/four-western-sydney-corridors-shortlisted-parramatta-light-rail" target="_blank">The service</a> will run to either Macquarie Park via ­Carlingford, or from Castle Hill via Old Northern Road, from Bankstown, or Sydney Olympic Park and ­Strathfield-Burwood.
The list of 10 potential routes was announced in June.
It will be further shortened following planning studies to determine the most suitable route.
These four corridors will now be subject to detailed engineering, transport planning and customer analysis, to establish which represents the best option for light rail in the region.
The NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee announced the four options on Monday.
Photo: Transport NSW.
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Parramatta light rail options down to four routes

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Traditional funding sources are becoming inadequate to meet public transport demands in Australian cities, despite the broad economic and social benefits public transport brings, such as cost savings associated with reduced traffic congestion, productivity through improved job creation, competitiveness and livability.
In 2013 around <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/3218.0~2012-13~Main+Features~Main+Features?OpenDocument#PARALINK0">two-thirds of Australia’s population</a> resided in a capital city. By 2061, the Australian Bureau of Statistics forecasts this proportion will increase to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/3222.0" target="_blank">74%</a>. This population growth is creating pressure for public transport systems and infrastructure, and governments need to find alternative funding resources.
In Australia, governments face a funding shortfall, which is compounded by limited funding resources (low taxes) and competing priorities. Unfortunately, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/victoria/abbott-warns-victorian-libs-no-money-for-urban-rail-20130404-2h8uj#ixzz30Fmd2jEb" target="_blank">the federal government in Australia has in some cases ceased funding public transport projects</a>.
New financing resource
The concept of “value capture” is being explored to help fill the hole left by the Commonwealth. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1536-7150.2006.00474.x/abstract" target="_blank">Value capture</a> is the appropriation of some land value gains that result from the installation of specific public infrastructure improvements in a limited benefit area, and sees part or all of these revenues used to fund the improvements.
Before introducing value capture financing to fund public transport, we need to know the value of uplift that occurs as a result of different public transport infrastructure. To answer this question, we have been exploring how Brisbane’s ferries have influenced property values in the city.
Since four CityCat ferry systems were introduced in 1996, this influential system has grown to 23 terminals, 19 CityCats and 9 mono-hulled ferries. But what effect have they had on land values?
<blockquote>
If you get one kilometre closer to the ferry terminal that is expected to increase the property price an average 4%.
</blockquote>
Many ferry-oriented developments have been built to leverage off Brisbane’s CityCats and other ferries. Land developers have paid for part or all of the construction costs for the Regatta, Hamilton Northshore and Teneriffe terminals on the Brisbane river, to ensure ferries service their developments.
The challenge was to measure the effects for these ferry-oriented development areas, to see whether developers were justified in their decisions.
What are the property value effects?
We used property data for much of Brisbane to see what impact the ferry terminals have on property values, and found property prices tended to increase for properties located closer to the ferry terminals. If you get one kilometre closer to the ferry terminal that is expected to increase the property price an average 4%, excluding other factors.
The positive effects on house prices brought about by the ferries were particularly notable at the Regatta, Bulimba and Hawthorne terminals, and to a lesser extent at Mowbray Park. This suggests the combination of suburbs with mature terminals and a decade of ferry-oriented development has positive impact on house prices or property values. There were less effects around the nearby Norman Park terminal because it is only serviced by more limited, lower-frequency cross-river services.
Unexpectedly our study found a fall in property values around the Guyatt Park terminal, but we think this may be explained by the Green Bridge opening from Fairfield to St Lucia, which broke the monopoly on student housing in St Lucia, and which was not included in our study. No property uplift effects were observed at Teneriffe and at Hamilton North Shore, where development is still immature. It is still too early to say what the impacts will be there.
The effects were more muted at locations such as West End where redevelopment opportunities have been scarce, partly due to planning controls, and at the QUT Gardens Point and University of Queensland terminals dominated by higher education land uses.
Many properties that benefited from ferry proximity were also highrise apartments in the Brisbane central business district. Our research suggests that a one hundred metre decrease in the distance to the ferry stop would increase property values by between 4.9% and 13.1% in this location. This is a considerably stronger response than the 4% average increase across the broader study area.
Ultimately it appears property developers were justified in seeking to secure ferry terminals to service their developments. Governments may also be justified in bringing in land value capture mechanisms to help pay for terminals, vessels or operating costs in appropriate locations.
Barbara T.H. Yen is Research Fellow at Urban Research Program at <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/" target="_blank">Griffith University</a>.<a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/" target="_blank"></a>
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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How the introduction of Brisbane's ferries affected property prices

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GUEST OBSERVATION
When Australian prime minister Tony Abbott came into office last year his aim was to be remembered as the “infrastructure prime minister”.
In the Coalition’s September 2013 <a href="https://lpaweb-static.s3.amazonaws.com/13-09-05%20Coalition%202013%20Election%20Policy%20%E2%80%93%20Better%20Infrastructure%20Planning%20%E2%80%93%20policy%20document.pdf" target="_blank">policy</a> to “Deliver the Infrastructure for the 21st Century”, the government promised vital infrastructure projects would be underway across the country within 12 months.
The same document promised all Commonwealth infrastructure spending exceeding $100 million would be subject to analysis by Infrastructure Australia “to test cost-effectiveness and financial viability” – analysis that would be made public.
A recent report published by the Australian Logistics Council indicated a 1% increase in logistics efficiency, which could be achieved by increased spending on road and rail infrastructure, would boost GDP by $2 billion.
One year on it is time to review the government’s performance.
Infrastructure spending is a vote winner
Having a focus on infrastructure is popular with politicians: it provides tangible evidence of action and they might even have a project named after them. Why have a boring name like WestConnex or M5 when you could have the “Abbott Expressway”?
It also provides for good photo opportunities even when not a cent of public money has been spent on the project. According to trade minister Andrew Robb after a recent visit to New York, international funds management groups with trillions of dollars under management are “enormously excited” about investing in Australian infrastructure.
Assistant infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs recently said the government was investing “a record $50 billion in world class infrastructure that will leverage over $125 billion of public and private investment in infrastructure over the next decade”. However, he neglected to mention that $36 billion of the $50 billion was already committed by the previous government.
Asset recycling remains thwarted
The federal government has set up a $5 billion <a href="https://theconversation.com/asset-recycling-no-dream-for-hockey-but-efficiency-boost-likely-28802" target="_blank">asset recycling</a> fund from which it plans to give a 15% bonus for each project to state and territory governments who recycle capital gained from the privatisation of state-owned entities, such as ports and utility assets.
This additional capital is mainly available for road projects with spending on rail infrastructure a poor second, and spending on public transport not even on the government’s agenda.
Despite this, the much publicised East Coast passenger fast-rail link may be back on track after the government had recent high level meetings with a number of foreign rail companies. Unfortunately for the state and territory governments, the asset recycling plan is currently stalled in the House of Representatives following amendments proposed by Labor and the Greens in the Senate.
While the government has delivered on some promises, most are still just promises. The heavy lifting (and concrete pouring) of funding new infrastructure has been shifted to the state and territory governments and/or private businesses.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Step one: Infrastructure Australia
One promise the government has delivered on is the changing of the guard at Infrastructure Australia, with the appointment of a new CEO and Board who have responsibility for delivering the strategic objectives of the agency.
But will Infrastructure Australia be able to deliver tangible results and be left to get on with their work without interference from politicians (from both sides of the chamber) keen on ribbon-cutting in their electorates?
The government committed the following projects would be underway within 12 months of its election:
<ul>
<li>$6.7 billion to fix Queensland’s Bruce Highway</li>
<li>$5.6 billion to complete the duplication of the Pacific Highway from Newcastle to the Queensland border</li>
<li>$1.5 billion to get Melbourne’s East West Link underway</li>
<li>$1.5 billion to ensure the WestConnex project gets underway in Sydney</li>
<li>$1 billion to support the Gateway Motorway upgrade in Brisbane</li>
<li>a number of smaller road infrastructure projects In Perth, Adelaide and Tasmania</li>
</ul>
Two rail projects get a brief mention: $300 million to finalise plans for an inland railway from Melbourne to Brisbane and a promise to get the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing underway.
The verdict
On the promise to provide a cost benefit analysis for projects over $100 million the government has recorded a “fail” as these analyses are generally being hidden under the veil of “commercial in confidence”.
All of the above mentioned projects are still to commence and none are “shovel ready”. Most have long lead times due to the complex planning processes involved, so we will have to wait and see if the government will be able to bring some of these promises to fruition. At this stage we may be able to give the government a “borderline pass” on its infrastructure report card.
In its pre-election infrastructure policy document the government also promised to deliver an “Annual Parliamentary Statement on Infrastructure Delivery” to the House of Representatives. It will be interesting to see what this statement contains if and when it is made public.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/30477/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
Peter van Duyn is maritime industry expert, Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics at <a href="https://www.vu.edu.au/" target="_blank">Victoria University</a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>.
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