<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a> has announced that its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lovedale-farm-1054-1184-wine-country-drive-lovedale-nsw-2325">Lovedale Farm</a> residential, resort and golf project has secured $24.6 million in sales in just three weeks since the opening of its display home, underscoring the appetite for premium lifestyle property in the Hunter Valley countryside.

The sales milestone has been driven by a diverse mix of buyers, including owner-occupiers and investors from Sydney, Newcastle and the local Hunter region, purchasing both land-only lots and house and land packages across the development.

<img alt="Lovedale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e173edc9-e60e-4f19-a060-9dc4421a3233" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/LovedaleFarm_20250215-1.jpg?VersionId=1LY6CvOaD.Dzrt8tWpWxXtPyfchixNIo" />

&nbsp;

The result builds on the momentum generated at the display home opening on 22 March, which attracted more than 460 attendees.

With house and land pricing from $1.14 million, Lovedale Farm continues to attract strong interest from buyers seeking a premium lifestyle offering at a compelling price point. The development’s vision, a championship golf course, future epicurean village and access to the Hunter Valley’s celebrated wine country, has resonated with a broad buyer profile, from first-time investors to those looking to make the move and call the Hunter Valley home.

<img alt="Lovedale Farm records $21.4 million in sales in three weeks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b358e789-e1eb-40ed-8105-ed5c8297136f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/20260321LovedaleFarmDisplayHomeOpening--6.jpg?VersionId=6GUO8TNnxuELONrsM6n9imDB6oc82Bor" />

Jim Hunter, Managing Director of Capital Corporation said the response since opening the display home has been encouraging.

"To reach $24.6 million in sales in just three weeks speaks to the genuine demand for a lifestyle community of this calibre in the Hunter Valley," Hunter says.

"We’re seeing buyers from across the region and beyond, including investors who recognise the long-term value, and owner-occupiers who simply want to live somewhere truly special.

“Lovedale Farm is two decades in the making, and the market’s response is everything we hoped for. We’re excited to see these first buyers become part of the Lovedale Farm story from the very beginning."

<img alt="Lovedale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="54d985cf-2ac2-400b-ac02-4401f3421ac7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/20260321LovedaleFarmDisplayHomeOpening--5.jpg?VersionId=3866bPoqpLZsm.3ACg9EafAr1W3miC_f" />

&nbsp;

Spanning 240 hectares on Wine Country Drive in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/lovedale-nsw-2325">Lovedale</a>, the $1 billion development is expected to deliver around 1,250 jobs during construction and inject more than $300 million into the local economy. The first 200 homes and championship 18-hole golf course are anticipated for completion in late 2027.

Capital Corporation has also lodged development plans for the Lovedale Farm clubhouse, set to become a vibrant hub for residents and the wider Hunter Valley community. Further releases are planned for later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=14476]

Joel Robinson

Lovedale Farm display home opening triggers $24.6 million in sales in three weeks

Prominent Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a> has unveiled <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">Aura</a>, the next stage of its $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct in Southbank, continuing its push into wellness-led, amenity-rich apartment living.

The $800 million tower, planned for 7 Hoff Boulevard, will rise 67 storeys and deliver 673 apartments, with COX Architecture drawing on both Japanese design principles and Australia’s natural landscape to shape the building’s identity. A rectangular grid aesthetic defines the building’s exterior, with COX drawing design cues from New York high-rises and Tokyo’s skyline.

Aura builds on a growing trend in high-density living, where wellness is no longer an add-on but central to the product. The development is structured around four key pillars, combining calm, minimalist residences with layered communal spaces, landscaped gardens, and a suite of wellness amenities designed to support both physical and mental wellbeing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367465]

At the core of the project is what OSK describes as a vertical wellness ecosystem, a multi-level approach to amenity that integrates health, lifestyle, and social spaces throughout the building rather than confining them to a single level.

The main resident hub, the Aura Club on level seven, will include a pool, cold plunge, spa, gym, Pilates and yoga studios, alongside more lifestyle-driven inclusions like a golf simulator, music rooms, library, and work-from-home spaces. Above, a series of higher-level amenity zones, including the Meridian Club and Cumulus Club, introduce more refined, social and retreat-style environments, with private dining, lounges, and premium wellness spaces positioned to take advantage of city views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367467]

The residences themselves will largely include balconies, a key design move in a market increasingly focused on natural light, airflow, and connection to the outdoors. Views will extend across the CBD, the Arts Precinct, Royal Botanic Gardens, and beyond.

Aura also introduces approximately 1,600 sqm of retail across the lower levels, further activating the Melbourne Square precinct, which already includes Kennedy Park, a Woolworths, childcare, and a growing mix of hospitality operators.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367474]

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a>," says&nbsp;OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

“We have been very encouraged by the market’s response to the BLVD offering, and we know there is a strong demand for the level of amenity, service and design that the Melbourne Square precinct is known for.

“Complemented by work-from-home lounges for professionals, family friendly outdoor garden spaces, and state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facilities, Aura will continue our focus on maximising physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing,” he said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367475]

The project follows the strong performance of BLVD, which is now around 80 per cent sold, and reinforces OSK Property’s long-term commitment to Melbourne Square as a fully integrated, mixed-use precinct.

Construction is expected to commence in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

OSK unveils AURA, the latest stage in Southbank's $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct

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 seven years 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 units.

More than 50 per cent of the development will be dedicated to affordable housing, with 23 studio apartments to be 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>.

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

Land Development

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A Gladstone coastal land holding with development opportunities has been listed for sale via expressions of interest.
Situated at <a id="LPlnk706759" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39R+6hBQZ7yXMt0Z3VIjNMZG40szXCCu3Sh5Ey0w4Kgy1BZFFL9hk1g2ZHtHaapiIlE=&amp;rh=ff004855b575d2bd990ec549984891183d3498d4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">485 Tannum Sands Road</a>, the parcel offers 1,511 hectares of land across three titles and comes with main road frontage that allows for access. 
The site is being marketed by Ray White Special Projects QLD directors Tony Williams and Mark Creevey.
Williams said the asset was directly adjacent the approved $1.2 billion Hummock Hill Tourism redevelopment and offered potential buyers a number of different options.
“Here we have an excellent potential master planned development and/or tourism venture opportunity, subject to relevant approvals,” he said. 
“What is in place though, is existing permits for sand mining operations, with approvals to clear vegetation in-line with those permits.” 
Creevey said the location of the site was a drawcard and was complemented by the potential growth around the asset. 
“The parcel adjoins existing residential development as well as being surrounded by proposed tourism projects and commercial redevelopment,” he said. 
“Being positioned so close to the Bruce Highway, offering connectivity north and south, is another real positive for the site.” 
Expressions of interest close March 20 2019.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

1500 hectare coastal Gladstone land holding with development potential listed

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Queensland property group CFMG Capital has unveiled their latest investment opportunity from its $200 million CFMG Land &amp; Opportunity Fund, seeking to raise $3 million for a 100-lot community between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The new project, Elevate, will be located on a 5.7-hectare site at Ormeau Hills which was recently acquired for its strategic positioning in the thriving development corridor between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The CFMG Land &amp; Opportunity Fund is an unlisted managed investment scheme that invests in the development of residential land subdivision projects on a case-by-case basis. The Fund currently holds investments in seven different projects with a gross sales value of more than $200 million.
The Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the Elevate project indicates a 12% fixed return per annum over the two-year fixed investment term.
CFMG Capital General Manager Andrew Thomson said the property was settled in June 2018, with a development approval for 96 allotments already in place, with plans to apply for amendments which will allow for Elevate's 100 total lots.
Mr Thomson said the Land &amp; Opportunity Fund was a powerful tool for investors seeking exposure to Queensland's residential land market.
"The Fund's fixed 12% per annum return is quite attractive in a low interest rate environment and only achievable through a combination of our internal development expertise, a commitment to putting returns to investors ahead of development profits and the expectation that Queensland land market will continue to strengthen over the next two years," he said.
"Investors also receive the return on their investment on a fixed maturity date - typically after 18 to 36 months.
"In contrast to volatile property investments based on assumptions, CFMG Capital's fund duration and fixed return policy gives investors a healthy level of confidence that the returns will be delivered."
Mr Thomson said managed investment schemes like the CFMG Land &amp; Opportunity Fund were a sensible alternative for investors looking for property exposure but not the risks associated by directly buying a single property that is heavily leveraged.
"The Fund is based on exposure to dozens of blocks of land in a subdivision or across multiple projects, providing diversification over direct residential property which typically limits investors to one asset," Mr Thomson said.
"CFMG Capital is also a solid investment due to the strict criteria we adhere to before acquiring land to maintain value over the long term," Mr Thomson said.
"Our entire business model is based around securing land with proximity to a major capital city, existing and proposed competing land estates and key planned infrastructure projects.
"We also take population growth and demographics of the locality into account, and ensure investors can secure opportunities in areas with employment opportunities, lifestyle choices like schools, transportation and recreation," he said.
CFMG Capital's Elevate site in Ormeau Hills is 25 kilometres north of the Gold Coast CBD and 40 kilometres south of the Brisbane CBD, and is within one kilometre of the existing Ormeau Town Centre which features a Woolworths, IGA, service centre, health care and a range of specialty stores.
The future North Ormeau Town Centre is also currently under construction 500 metres away with Coles confirmed as the major tenant.
Ormeau Hills has also earned it title as a growth area from the demand generated by the proximity of major transport infrastructure such as the M1 and Gold Coast bus routes, nearby open space and parkland and key employment nodes including the 127 hectare Yatala Enterprise Area, which is projected to inject $1 billion into the local economy over the next decade.
Stage one subdivision works on the Ormeau land are planned for October 2018 and will carry on through 2019, with registration of allotments taking place April 2019 and final stage one settlement later in the year.
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CFMG unveils Ormeau Hills investment offer with fixed 12% return

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Nearly 15,000sqm of developable land in Perth’s southern suburbs has been listed for sale with expectations of around $2.1 million.
The land, 535 Millar Road, Wellard, is 38km south of Perth and fronts the Kwinana Freeway. 
Ryan McGinnity from CBRE said the opportunity came at time when Western Australia’s residential market had received a considerable boost with changes to the First Home Owners Grant.
“Given the State Government’s recent decision to increase the First Home Owners Grant to $15,000 for new builds, residential development opportunities in high growth suburbs such as will be of strong interest to developers,” he said.
“With development approval to accommodate 22 green title lots, this property presents an attractive opportunity to undertake a residential project in a proven growth area.”
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Residential development land in Perth's Wellard growth zone listed

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Sydney's south west developer Dahua Group Australia capped off a busy month at its $1 billion New Breeze housing estate at Bardia.
All 85 land lots released in April for the projects first stage sold, for a total of $36 million.
It sales ranged from $330,000 for a 250-square metre lot up to $588,000 for 589 square metres.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bardia land lots selling well for Dahua Group

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Developers within the Australian Capital Territory need now apply for land tax relief using the Application for a Builder’s Land Tax Exemption Form due to changes in the Land Tax Act 2004 (ACT) which came into effect 24 November 2015.
Prior to the change, land in the ACT owned by a company to build residential homes for sale were exempt from land tax for two years.
Now a builder or land development company must apply in writing for a declaration that a parcel of ACT land is exempt from land tax. 
The company will be eligible for the declaration if the parcel is used by the company only to construct new residential premises and if the new residential premises are to be sold by the company when finished, according to Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers, who said once a declaration is given, the exemption applies for two years beginning on the first day of the first quarter after the company becomes the owner of the land.
The Application for a Builder’s Land Tax Exemption Form can be found <a href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/duties-and-taxes/land-tax/general-information" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Property 101: ACT property developers must now apply for land tax exemption

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Nine months down and heading into the home stretch of 2015, I feel like a lot of local developers are very much standing on the sidelines. They are just itching to get into the marketplace, but have either been the bridesmaid but never the bride in missing out on their desired sites, or are simply waiting for the market to cool down.

If you refer to yourself as a “developer”, you instinctively have trouble with the above two scenarios. You want to find that next project, but you can’t overpay. Surely the market is about to turn downwards. It has to!

The flow of money from Asia has to stop soon, it can’t keep going on like this forever! Maybe, but maybe not. No one has the magic property 8-ball.

Some have turned to selling existing sites (with or without permits) given how strongly the market has performed, while others have looked at sites interstate or further out from the Melbourne CBD, something they would have never originally considered. Whilst most would never admit it, they are now working to smaller profit margins.

Are there risks in the above? Absolutely. Flipping sites is never easy, and the profits can pale (as do the risks) in comparison to actually developing the end product. Investing in an interstate market can be fraught with obstacles, from using an unknown consultant team, misunderstanding local planning laws, and misjudging the end market based on a lack of local knowledge.

Working to a smaller profit margin also leaves one open to a correction in the marketplace from increased supply (or just a stalling of appetite) on end residential values or the mercy of builders/construction cost. If the margin gets too tight, that will trickle onto lenders viability to lend against the project, no matter how maybe boxes may be ticked to de-risk.

<h2>What other issues are we seeing?</h2>

Obtaining planning permits is getting more and more challenging to forecast from a time/cost perspective. Local councils in the middle or outer ring of Melbourne are struggling to keep up with applications and the ability to correctly vet them. Many are simply deemed too hard in unknown GR zoned land, and have refused to let VCAT make the decision.

I’d also suggest there are some political benefits in this approach given heavy local objector groups in some municipalities. In the inner city, the backlog with the Planning Minister is still significant from all reports. Is there a risk of a bottleneck, or Melbourne becoming just “too hard”?

We might find out if overseas developers don’t make repeat purchases, or a few local developers come unstuck working to lower margins.

Local buyers are also becoming more sophisticated in every respect. Where location has traditionally been “King”, a smart floor plan is now “Queen”; and buyers want both! A one bedroom apartment can be sized at 52 sqm with an outdoor area, but if the kitchen is stuck in a dark corridor or the living space is too narrow to accommodate a couch, coffee table, and TV unit, be prepared to be left with that stock at settlement unless heavily discounted or sold wholesale.

Developers really need to push architects to create usable spaces whilst balancing yield requirements. Too often a developer can get caught up with profitability, and that is of course important. But it is also important to realize an actual profit and not carry compromised stock. Your last stock sold is often your profit.

Also, selling apartments off the plan is more sophisticated than ever before, predominantly due to the quality of 3D renders which often reflect a kitchen or bathroom buyers might have been used to seeing in “The Block”. It’s great that the marketplace is pushing quality, but this comes at a cost.

I am certain buyers expect the finished product to look like the marketing render, regardless of how many “artist impression” disclaimers might appear in the bottom corner. Everyone loves putting in some feature joinery or a nice pendant, and it should also be in the apartment at settlement.

Do I still think there are opportunities in the marketplace? Without a doubt. Samuel Property have sold two development sites (one with and one without a permit) this year, two developments have been sold out off the plan, and we’ve purchased five other parcels for development. Property is supposed to be long term and safe, whilst the stock market is supposed to be fluid and liquid.

But in the current 2015 marketplace, I see some similarities. If you intend to be active, you need to be willing to be nimble, do your due diligence, act with conviction as you read the market, and be comfortable with the high risks associated with your project.

Whatever comes in 2016, it won’t be the same as 2015.

Illan Samuel is the Managing Director of <a href="http://www.samuel.com.au/">Samuel Property</a>.
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