<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
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Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Melbourne

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The 0.7% fall in Melbourne dwelling values over the three months to April 2018 was the greatest fall over a three month period since February 2012, CoreLogic has noted.
 Over the 12 months to April 2018, Melbourne dwelling values increased by 3.7% which was the slowest rate of growth since March 2013. 
With the recent declines, dwelling values in Melbourne are now 1.1% beneath their November 2017 peak. It deteriorated again in May, according to the latest data, with prices down 0.5% in May.
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Looking at the quarterly value change across the 10 market segments shows values fell across the higher valued housing stock. 
Each of the 7th to 10th deciles recorded a fall in dwelling values, with the declines becoming progressively greater. 
The 6th decile recorded the largest quarterly increase, there was no change in values across the 5th decile and the four lowest value deciles continued to record modest growth.
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The 10th decile was the only market sector where values fell over the past year while only the 8th, 9th and 10th deciles recorded growth that was lower than the headline city-wide figure. 
While the 2nd decile recorded the strongest annual growth at 12.0%, each of the 1st to 3rd deciles recorded double-digit capital gains over the past twelve months. 
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The figures shows a significant difference in the housing market’s performance between the most affordable and most expensive housing stock.
Based on the annual change data, the market for housing valued in excess of $1.12 million has weakened over the year while housing stock valued below $600,000 has continued to achieve strong value growth. More recently, housing stock valued at over $800,000 has started to see value declines.
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We have a free e-book from Castran Gilbert on property investment in Melbourne.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Melbourne's biggest value declines across the pricier property markets: CoreLogic Decile Report 

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All but two of Melbourne’s 31 metropolitan councils are increasing rates next financial year by an average of 2.25 per cent, according to the Herald Sun.
Monash wants to bust the cap, pushing for a 3.53 per cent rise in rates unless it can introduce a new waste charge to deal with the recycling crisis.
China's ban on some recycling imports, including those from Australia, is behind the desire.
Victoria previously exported the majority of its recycling to China, where it was processed and used to fuel factories.
Major recycling companies including Visy, SKM and Polytrade would pay councils about $60 to $70 a tonne for the contents of residents' yellow bins and sell it to China at a higher price.
Now unable to do that, it is understood recycling companies plan to charge councils about $60 a tonne to take the material.
The Glen Waverley-based Monash council is one of a few that doesn’t currently have a separate rubbish levy.
The usual annual rate rise is mandated to be a maximum of 2.25 per cent, but waste charges are excluded from that cap.
Nillumbik will increase rates by an average of only 1.95 per cent. Mayor Peter Clarke, who froze rates last year, has been a long-time critic of council budgeting practices.
Several councils are also increasing their waste levies in the wake of the China recycling crisis. Bayside is proposing a 40 per cent, or $92.75 rise, to $324.55.
The paper suggests thousands of Victorian households will be hit with bigger-than-expected rate rises when notices go out next month.
Despite the state government cap of an average 2.25 per cent, high property revaluations will push up rates for many families above that limit, with estimated annual increases of up to $100 likely.
In the City of Melbourne, 57 per cent of ratepayers will pay more than the cap, with households in East Melbourne and Kensington hit hardest because of rising property values.
CBD and Docklands residents can expect their bills to be level with the cap or below, Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood said.
Ratepayers Victoria wants independent financial monitors to check on councils’ finances and the rates they charge.
Spokesman Frank Sullivan told The Herald Sun rate increases should not be automatic and the monitors would see if ratepayers’ money was used wisely.
In Stonnington, chief exec­utive Warren Roberts confirmed that almost one in three homes would receive a general rate rise above 2.25 per cent.
“The average residential rate increase is approximately $31 for the year, or 60 cents per week,’’ he said.
In Port Phillip, mayor Bernadene Voss said 28 per cent of ratepayers would receive an above-cap bill.
In Hume, in Melbourne’s outer north, about two-thirds would pay more.
In the outer-eastern Yarra Ranges, 58 per cent will pay above the cap, while in Hobsons Bay the figure is 68 per cent.
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Melbourne council rates set to rise

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Rockmount at Longwood East, the renowned thoroughbred pre-training facility, graced by 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, 2008 Cox Plate winner Maldivian and 2010 Caulfield Guineas champ Anacheeva, has been listed for sale. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-vic-longwood+east-7967746" target="_blank">65 hectare property in the Strathbogie Ranges</a>, 150 kilometres north east of Melbourne, has been listed by the former accountant Geoff Guest and wife Jill Kewish.
They bought the property in 2006 when it was formerly a component of The Vinery racing and breeding development. Guest was a director at Count Financial.
Rockmount has a unique four wing X shape steel and covered stable block that houses 30 boxes.
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There's an undercover horse walker, a 1100 metre straight training track and a six horse Aqua-Ciser, a mechanical water-walker for the exercising of the horses.
A newly built three bedroom, two bathroom home with pool sits on the estate, as does a three bedroom manager's cottage.
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Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins agents Matt and Rob Childs are marketing the property.
Geoff and Jill say they will probably relocate to a smaller holding in the local area of Strathbogie Shire. 
The name Rockmount originates from the highly visible granite structures that rise from the western slopes of the property.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Premier thoroughbred training facility Rockmount listed

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Savills are marketing the Collins Street premises of Hugo's Expresso.
The popular cafe has been located at <a href="http://commercialpropertysearch.savills.com.au/c3b0756b-0a41-e811-80cd-005056813885/Sale/Melbourne/Shop-3,-601-Little-Collins-Street" target="_blank">shop 3 at 601 Little Collins Street</a> since 2009. 
Hugo's has a 10 year lease with two five year options to 2029.
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There's been a brand new fitout on the space which currently returns just over $62,000 per annum, with five percent annual increases.
Savills agents Benson Zhou, Nick Peden and Dorothy He are marketing the shop as a high profile ground level CBD retail property.
 
 
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Collins Street's Hugo's Expresso premises listed through Savills

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...so says the first problem on the North East Link's <a href="https://northeastlink.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/308169/NEL-Business-Case-Appendix-A.pdf">investment logic map</a>.

According to the business case documents released for the North East Link over the weekend, each problem outlined has a weighting with the lack of orbital connectivity scoring 40%; the other two problems, inefficient freight movements between north &amp; south-east and congestion and heavy vehicles on local roads, are weighted at 35% and 25% respectively.

The investment logic continues - economic growth and increase economic opportunity for households in the north-east are listed as two benefits that are shared between two problems.  The stated strategic response is to increase the capacity of the transport network which in turn flows through to a 'provide additional infrastructure' action.

At the end of the logic chain 'construct a new motorway link, upgrade existing arterial roads and motorways, upgrade pedestrian and cycling links and PT improvements' are all listed as assets (outcomes).

The North East Link will bridge the gap between the Eastern Freeway and Metropolitan Ring Road ('construct new motorway link'), add more lanes to the Eastern Freeway between the link &amp; Springvale Road ('upgrade existing arterial roads and motorways'), create more pedestrians and cycling links and will introduce a new busway for Doncaster ('PT Improvements').

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/nelink_bus_case_investment_logic_map.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Investment logic map from the North East Link business case"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="621" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nelink_bus_case_investment_logic_map.png?itok=Z9peODGv" title="Investment logic map from the North East Link business case" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Investment logic map from the North East Link business case</figcaption></figure>In the <a href="https://northeastlink.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/308172/NEL-Business-Case-Appendix-D.pdf">options assessment</a>, we come across a phrase that doesn't get a run all that often, "while Melbourne has strong radial connections that support access to the central city, other trips are not as well-served by the transport network".

It goes on to describe the lack of transport network connectivity between the north and eastern/south-eastern regions of Melbourne only through the lens of mega-road projects when it could just as easily apply to the lack of orbital connectivity on the Public Transport network or the complete lack of action on the port rail shuttles programme.

"The north east’s location between two urban growth corridors and between the major cross-city connections of the M80 and the Eastern Freeway – along with the lack of a freeway-standard orbital connection in this part of the city – means that the region’s arterial road network is used for freight and commuter trips across Melbourne."

The business case finds the North East Link will 'give workers in Melbourne's north-east access to 56,000 new job opportunities and deliver $12.5 billion in Gross State Product to our economy'.  It's a pity the state government hasn't looked at this kind of study for orbital rail lines, especially through the eastern arc from Heidelberg to Monash via Doncaster and Box Hill.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/nelink_bus_case_job_density.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Job clusters in metropolitan Melbourne, map from the North East Link business case"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="438" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nelink_bus_case_job_density.png?itok=CfesP-6m" title="Job clusters in metropolitan Melbourne, map from the North East Link business case" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Job clusters in metropolitan Melbourne, map from the North East Link business case</figcaption></figure>In a nod to the previous East-West Link argument that Melbourne needed alternative cross-town road connection, the North East Link's business case acknowledges the three broad types of trips that use the existing M1 (Monash/West Gate/Citylink) corridor: radial trips from the east and west, trips from the south-east to the airport and trips from the south-east to the Hume Freeway/interstate journeys.

The North East Link would increasingly cater for the south-east to airport and interstate journeys when built, the business case says.

The Andrews Government are running with the North East Link all the way to the state election in November, as the likelihood of another community backlash on the same scale as the one prior to the last state election on the East-West Link is unlikely to eventuate, the only way this project would not proceed looks set to be determined by voters on November 24th.

Despite <a href="/news/property-council-weighs-into-urban-debate-with-its-great-cities-research-project">more voices</a> calling for the Australian government to change their wayward city and infrastructure development ways, the logic, and furthermore in the context of our road building extravaganza of the past five decades, of completing the ring road makes sense.  Leaving something unfinished - an entire orbital road network for instance - would hang around a political party's neck like a noose for a very long time.

There's no doubt there'll be a significant uplift in transport network capacity, journey times shortening, auto-centric businesses will flourish with the opening of the North East Link.  But it will be temporary - we know that will be case based on our own experiences of freeway upgrades and we know it will be the case because of ongoing high population growth.   

It's one thing to complete a road network for the easy distribution of freight and cars by road to and from the north and south-east, but when our city's set to grow by another 3 million people over the coming decades, there comes a point where we have to say, like many other cities with greater populations than us, enough of the business-as-usual way of doing things.

If orbital connectivity is worth so much to the potential of the Victorian economy, presumably because so much of the state's economic activity is located within metropolitan Melbourne, then it stands to reason we can't just only have road connectivity, but orbital rail connectivity as well.
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Alastair Taylor

'Melbourne's poor orbital connectivity is constraining the economic potential of Victoria'

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Airbnb is a priority issue on the new Melbourne Lord Mayor's agenda, although Sally Capp concedes it is a State Government task. 
She told 3MMM's Hot Breakfast today that Airbnb apartments were "putting a huge impost on residents in the same building."
She noted a concentration in several locations especially around the Melbourne CBD in popular tourist precincts.
"We need to balance that with residents interests," she said.
"It is actually a state legislation issue.
"There's a lot security issues, damage and noise issues.... general interruption and wear and tear on the building, and a lot of uncertainty around safety.
"At the moment we don't see to have the balance right between the responsibility of owners of those Airbnb and the residents who end up wearing it."
Breakfast broadcaster Eddie McGuire suggested some Melbourne apartment buildings were basically becoming de facto hotels, except without the services of a hotel.
"It is not a level playing field because the hotels are complying with all the regulations, paying their staff and safety," Capp noted.
"We want to keep welcoming people to visit our city but this is about wanting to get the balance right," she said. 
No specifics were mentioned, but there is growing unrest about the Airbnb hotel style operations in the Eq. Tower
Set at 127-141 A'Beckett Street, the high rise building was completed since May 2017, with a high student residency and more recently Expedia, Booking.com and Airbnb clients.
But many guests have complain there's no reception, no 24/7 service or assistance. 
"Was weird to collect the keys from a man at a corner store," one guest reviewed in the early days of its operation.
"This is not a hotel," another said adding: "Rooms are basically Airbnb on a commercial scale. Without a reception, you can either pick up your keys at a local 711 or they will clip them outside for lock box collection."
"We had to pick up our keys at a convenience store a block away," another recent guest confirmed.
"No reception or concierge," another guest advised.
" We had to collect the room keys at a convenience store located very inconveniently at a far end corner," one advised.
"There is no reception .... the phone number we had to ring was in China so no reply.
"Had to wait outside complex for 45 minutes until someone in Australia contacted us after 6 phone calls and contact with bookings.com," a guest complained.
Keys are often left in a secure box on the street for collection.
The 2016 Victorian Owners Corporation Amendment Bill which seeks to regulate short term accomodation in residential apartment blocks is still before Victoria's Upper House.
Global contractor Multiplex completed its construction of ICD Property’s high-rise in May 2017.
Designed by Elenberg Fraser, Eq Tower comprises a total of 633 apartments in one, two and three bedroom configurations.
The 63-level complex offers residential facilities including a 25 metre outdoor swimming pool and BBQ area, indoor gym, sauna, spa, private dining rooms, karaoke suites, cinema, games room and lounges.
Graham Cottam, regional managing director of Brookfield Multiplex Victoria, noted they faced construction challenges including the building changing shape between levels 24 and 36, harsh weather conditions, and building damper tanks on the roof to counterbalance building sway.
Multiplex used techniques such as the installation of a façade curtain wall from behind protection screens to improve site safety and the installation of a centralised VRV air conditioning system, enabling all condenser units to be removed from balconies.
Eq. Tower’s design also includes a range of ESD features such as photovoltaic solar panels, rainwater harvesting, water efficient fixtures and appliances and double glazing throughout.
It was marketed as having karaoke facilities and a mahjong, poker and billiards room.
Michael Mai, managing director of ICD Property, said that the tower would have a strong sense of community in integrated vertical living.
“Elenberg Fraser has succeeded in bringing this vision to life and so we present Eq. Tower as the future of Melbourne living where residents can enjoy just as many experiences within their own apartment building as outside of it,” he said.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Melbourne's Eq. Tower set to be caught in Airbnb crackdown

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Designer and ethical pie bakery Princes Pies has secured 10 Howey Place in Melbourne’s CBD.
Fitzroys Agency agent Ervin Niyaz negotiated the five-year deal with a five-year option.
It is for the 22 square metre space at more than $2,300 per square metre.
Princes Pies is operated by Matti Fallon, former head chef at DuNord and friend Nathan Holloway.
Accompanying Matti will be a monthly rotating roster of renowned Melbourne chefs that will share a new take on the Aussie pie, including Nick Stanton of Ramblr, Daniel Dobra of St Ali, and Tom Jacobson of Changz.
The shop will showcase classic pie flavours, pasties and sausage rolls, as well as pie styles aimed at foodies that include lamb, goat’s cheese and truffle pies.
The business teamed up with an ethical farming family in Victoria’s Coldstream, the Little Creek Cattle Company, ensuring that the ingredients used as 100% natural and ethically farmed, and grown and sources from local providers.
Niyaz said Princes Pies was looking to establish its business in a classic busy Melbourne CBD laneway space.
The high level of pedestrian traffic in Howey Place is boosted further by position between Collins Street and Little Collins Street, at the rear of David Jones and 234 Collins Street Retail Centre, he said.
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Royal offering for pie lovers to open in Howey Place

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Located in the 1920s Melbourne Neo-Baroque styled Temple Court, a one bedroom Collins Street apartment has been sold at $360,000.
It was offered by Toby Campbell and Peter Hannon from Caine Real Estate. It last sold at $145,000 in 1999.
This nifty New York style apartment features high ceilings, with exposed plumbing and an open plan kitchen maximizing the enormous living area.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-128251498" target="_blank">The 321/422 Collins Street</a> apartment comes with a spacious central bedroom with built-in, a large bathroom and a European Laundry.
Extra features include timber flooring in the living areas and carpet in the bedroom.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/15/collins%20st%202.jpg" alt="">
Positioned in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, it is close to cafes, restaurants, and shopping. 
Another nearby one bedroom apartment located at 2002/60 Market Street was sold for $330,000 December 2017.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/15/collins%20st%203.jpg" alt="">
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Nifty Collins Street, Melbourne one bedroom apartment sale 

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Demand for land in and around Melbourne continues to experience unprecedented demand with the average block being snapped up just 24 days after hitting the market.
The new analysis of land sales rates by Oliver Hume, which measures the period from when land is released for sale by a developer until it is contracted by a purchaser, recorded a slight uptick in the first three months of 2018, but remains at historical lows.
Since late 2012, when land was taking nearly 200 days to sell, the indicator has dropped to around 24 days. The demand for land has seen prices continue to rise, although price growth now appears to be slowing, while lot sizes continue to edge lower.
From the final quarter of 2017 to the March quarter 2018, Melbourne’s key growth area markets saw the median lot price increasing by 4.7% (or $14,000) to reach $314,000.
This occurred while the average size of lots solds continued to decrease in size reaching 400 square metres in the March quarter 2018 (down from 406 square metres in the December quarter 2017).
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/5/22/Melbourne-land.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/22/Melbourne-land.jpg" alt="">
Population growth remains much stronger than previously forecast but affordability constraints were now becoming evident.
Record levels of population growth have placed significant demand pressures on housing and land. Combined with continued low wage growth this is fundamentally changing the nature of the market for new land in Melbourne’s greenfield markets.
More broadly, the significant structural change we continue to see in the economy continues to shape the market. Average lot sizes in metropolitan Melbourne have declined by around third over the last decade while Mebourne’s annual population growth has doubled.
Victoria’s robust employment growth is a factor driving the market more recently but sluggish wage growth continues to play a major underlying role.
Melbourne could well overtake Sydney as Australia’s largest city soon with one estimate suggesting this will occur within the next decade. 
Going forward, Melbourne land sales volumes and activity levels might be driven by the new wave of record infrastructure spending in the pipeline both from the Federal and State Governments.  Major state and city-shaping projects include the North East Link –the biggest transport project in the state’s history and the Metro Tunnel.
George Bougias is the national head of research at Oliver Hume.
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Average Melbourne land tops $300,000 with demand still strong

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<h2>Analysis and Comment</h2>

Despite both the Federal Infrastructure Minister and Premier telling <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/federal-money-talks-in-melbourne-transport-debate-20180515-p4zfgv">The Age</a> they were both committed to waiting for the outcome of the various studies business cases into new public transport links that were commited to as part of the budgetary process, the sniping and one-upmanship of both state and federal governments does not look like it'll end all that soon.

In the Federal Budget, $475 million was allocated in the forward estimates for a 'Monash Rail' project which has no link to any 'real' project other than the Rowville Rail concept which was studied under the previous state Liberal government.

Back in 2012 when the Napthine Government released the heavy rail network development plan, Melburnians got a glimpse into what the rail planners in the state government were thinking long-term for the city.

Since then many different rail projects have kicked off - mostly 2014 election promises by the Andrews Government - but there's been no effort to provide an updated bigger picture for public consumption by the current state government. 

That said, the Federal Government appears to be referencing the 2012 era plan with its surprise allocation of funds for what appears to be a first phase of the Rowville Rail concept.  

$475 million won't build 10+ kilometres of double track, 5-6 stations, a flying junction to connect to the Dandenong corridor or procure the vehicles to operate services.

In fact, for such a small amount, it's incredibly hard to see that amount of money building nothing more than an on-the-cheap flat rail junction at Huntingdale, maybe some elevated track down North Road with a station at Monash University.  If the state government were to match the amount, that might pay for a proper flying junction, a few new train sets and pay for the operations of the stub for a few years.

The biggest question mark hanging over this announceable from the Federal Government is how operations will work.  Where will these trains eventually run to?  Through the new metro tunnel?  Shuttle back and forth to Huntingdale, Oakleigh or Caulfield with some more track and platform investment?

For a while now there's been murmurings about the possible lack of capacity on the pair of tracks that will operate services from Pakenham and Cranbourne to Sunbury and Melton through the metro tunnel.  The 2012-era plans show both an Airport and Rowville branch hanging off this track pair as well.  And don't forget Gippsland V/Line services!

The 2012-era plans were created before the upswing in population growth in Melbourne and this is why it is in the public interest for an updated plan to be published, one which takes into account the high population growth scenario we're all living in.

It's a cruel (stupid?) reality of our Federation that we have overlapping departments which will have different ideas about transport infrastructure priorities and this cruelty/stupidity extends to Federal politicians who are able to <a href="http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/pf/releases/2018/may/pf046_2018.aspx">advocate for things</a> which would clearly need to clear a swathe of hurdles that only the local state bureaucracy is going to be able to achieve.

In the state budget, $3 million was allocated to complete a business case for Spring Street's preferred light rail route from Caulfield to Monash and eventually to Rowville which presumably, taking into account recent reports, will also look at other rail solutions as well.

One of the main criticisms of the Rowville rail study from the Ballieu/Napthine era was its scope - it explicitly ruled out identifying other alignments such as joining the Alamein line to Oakleigh with a tunnel via Chadstone then branch out to Rowville along the North/Wellington Road corridor.  It follows that capacity constraints on the Pakenham/Cranbourne tracks are avoided as the line would be an extension of a branch which uses different track closer to the city.

We know that from the 2012-era plans the Alamein and Glen Waverley lines were envisaged to join up with western suburbs lines to create another east-west route through the city.  And given the Airport line is likely not going to be another branch of the Melbourne Metro and the Pakenham/Cranbourne to Melton/Sunbury line &amp; pair of tracks, adding a stub to Monash (and eventually Rowville) will create an imbalance.

So should the scope of the business case &amp; study that is looking at the costs and benefits of extending the Alamein line to Monash via Chadstone and Oakleigh/Huntingdale expand?  Well - if the Federal Government are dead keen on heavy rail, then yes.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://railgallery.wongm.com/melbourne-stations/F124_0657.jpg">Marcus Wong</a>.
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