Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
&nbsp;

Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

Joel Robinson

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368853]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available.

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

MUDM

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Following on from the <a href="/news/melbourne-urban-design-meetup-1-city-of-melbournes-urban-forest-strategy">first Melbourne Urban Design Meetup</a> (MUDM) during February, Queens Collective at 20 Queen Street hosted the third MUDM event where James Legge of Six Degrees Architects gave a presentation on the design and business model that brought The Commons to fruition, and so too shortly <a href="/new-apartments/brunswick-vic-3056">The Nightingale</a> located at 6 Florence Street, Brunswick.

Beginning with Six Degrees' Heller Street Park and Residences project, James Legge explored its rationale and consequently how it would inform the Nightingale. The aim was to design a contemporary terrace house, or more specifically family-centric medium density housing adjacent to a public park. The project was developed on a former municipal tip previously owned by the City of Moreland whom now own and maintain (for the most part) the park.

Two-thirds park and one-third apartments, the park is ultimately used by both residents and the wider community at large. Terraformed in such a way as to create public, semi-private and private spaces, Heller Street Park and Residences employed a visual barrier by way of a verge to naturally define public and private areas.

<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/heller_st_park_and_residences.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Heller Street Park and Residences © Six Degrees"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/heller_st_park_and_residences.jpg?itok=6rlF6HeL" title="Heller Street Park and Residences © Six Degrees" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Heller Street Park and Residences. Image © Six Degrees</figcaption></figure>Heller Street Park and Residences is characterised by abstracted timber blocks which give the forms a 3-dimensional quality, a reaction against "developers stripping back." All plans are the same internally with the front of the terraces all enjoying a north facing aspect and each measuring 5.5m wide.

The articulation of the upper floor has been designed to give each town house an individual identity. James Legge emphasized the need to be mindful of where money is spent in terms of detailing, and that the odd bespoke characteristic (say stained glass entry lighting) provides for a richer architecture without adding significant cost to the project.

The presentation then moved on to cover the merits of The Commons and Nightingale model, how elements of Heller Street are entwined with their most recent projects and how Six Degrees came to be involved in the projects along with a raft of other architects.

<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/nightingale.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Nightingale hero shot. © Breathe Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nightingale.jpg?itok=TG7Lztl8" title="Nightingale hero shot. © Breathe Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Nightingale hero shot. Image © Breathe Architecture</figcaption></figure>Projects such as The Commons and Nightingale, Legge argues, are about architects taking the initiative and putting their money where their mouths are. The aim is simple: to provide quality apartments that are spacious, sustainable and affordable.

Architects have an obligation to the greater society to protect the interests of the people and the built environment but there is a concern that the responsibility of creating the urban environment has been taken out of the hands of the architect and is now the domain of the project manager.

<blockquote>
Nightingale is a triple bottom line development. Apartments that are environmentally, socially and financially sustainable.

The ultimate goal of the project is to provide quality urban housing at an affordable price by simplifying both the development process and the building itself.
<cite>James Legge, Six Degrees Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

The projects are about designing and facilitating community by encouraging engagement and interaction amongst residences via shared public spaces and rooftop gardens. Additionally apartments are designed in such a way that all rooms and living areas are afforded quality natural light and ventilation without the need for borrowed light from living areas.

<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/nightingale_plan.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Typical Nightingale plan. © Breathe Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="293" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nightingale_plan.jpg?itok=bKQqZFLl" title="Typical Nightingale plan. © Breathe Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Typical Nightingale plan. Image © Breathe Architecture</figcaption></figure>The model places an equal emphasis on financial return, sustainability and livability where others are more geared, in terms of development priorities, towards greater financial reward with far less concern for sustainability and livability. It also reduces project costs significantly as a result of streamlining both the sales process and apartment designs. This is achieved via the following exclusions:

<ul>
<li>No Marketing Team or Advertising Fees - Saving approximately $50,000</li>
	<li>No Display Suite - Saving approximately $100,000</li>
	<li>No Real Estate Agents - Saving approximately $250,000</li>
	<li>No Basement Car Parking - Saving approximately $500,000</li>
	<li>No Second Bathrooms - Saving approximately $200,000</li>
	<li>No Individual Laundries - Saving approximately $150,000</li>
	<li>No Individual Services - Saving approximately $250,000</li>
</ul>
And unlike a standard procurement process where the project is put out to tender, the intent is for projects which follow The Commons and Nightingale model to be built by a quality builder procured through a negotiated price as per the cost plan prepared by the Quantity Surveyor. This in turn allows for early input from the builder regarding buildability issues or equivalent problems that may arise during construction.

The ultimate goal with these projects according to James Legge, is to develop an affordable housing template that other architects with similar aspirations and goals can then use to facilitate similar outcomes. The release of the intellectual property is intended to empower "Architectural activism via architect as ethical developer."

The development team headed by Six Degrees Architects is currently taking registrations for Nightingale 2.0.

Incidentally the next MUDM event will be held on Thursday the 28th of May with guest presenter, acting Victorian Government Architect Jill Garner. To stay up to date or connect with MUDM, you can follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/mudm_au">Twitter</a> or on their <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Urban-Design-Meetup/">Meetup page</a>.
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Laurence Dragomir

Melbourne Urban Design Meetup #3: The ethos and business model behind Nightingale

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Last week saw the first in hopefully many more Melbourne Urban Design Meetups (MUDM). The focus of the night was a presentation by City of Melbourne's Yvonne Lynch who leads the Urban Ecology and Urban Forest Team at the City of Melbourne.

<blockquote>
The team focus is ecosystem led adaptation for climate resilience and citizen engagement through transparency and participation. She has developed and led some of the most progressive climate change policies and initiatives for the city including the implementation of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, the strategic development of the 1200 Buildings Program, securing a legislative amendment to initiate Australia’s first Environmental Upgrade Agreement, developing the Urban Forest Strategy and the Tree Protection Policy.

She has commissioned Melbourne’s first research on sea-level rise, white roofs, dendrochronology to assess the effects of climate impacts. These projects have received awards nationally from the United Nations Association of Australia, The Banksia Foundation and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Centre and internationally from the C40 Cities Program.
</blockquote>

Organised by Charlie Woolford, Melbourne Urban Design Meetup is an opportunity for like-minded individuals interested in urban design, city design, sustainability an the built environment. There will be a series of regular meetups where individuals can come along and meet professionals from within the industry, enthusiasts and people with a general interest towards urban design.

The next MUDM event will feature a brief presentation from Charlie Woolford that explains what MUDM is, its aspirations, what people can expect and how they can get involved.

<h2>About the Urban Forest Strategy</h2>

<blockquote>
Melbourne’s tree population is vast – we have 70,000 council-owned trees, worth around $650 million. Trees are a defining part of Melbourne. We live in the world’s most liveable city and our parks, gardens, green spaces and tree-lined streets contribute enormously to this status.

But the trees are now under threat. More than a decade of drought, severe water restrictions and periods of extreme heat, combined with an ageing tree stock, have put our trees under immense stress and many are now in a state of accelerated decline.

As a result, we expect to lose 27 per cent of our current tree population in the next decade and 44 per cent in the next 20 years.

Combined with this loss, Melbourne’s urban forest is facing two significant future challenges: climate change and urban growth.
<cite>City of Melbourne</cite>
</blockquote>

The City of Melbourne’s Urban Forest Strategy seeks to manage this change and protect against future vulnerability by providing a robust strategic framework for the evolution and longevity of Melbourne's urban forest.

The strategy aims to:

<ul>
<li>adapt our city to climate change</li>
	<li>mitigate the urban heat island effect by bringing our inner-city temperatures down</li>
	<li>create healthier ecosystems</li>
	<li>become a water-sensitive city</li>
	<li>engage and involve the community</li>
</ul>
<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/urban_forest_infographic.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Urban Forest Infographic. © City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="820" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/urban_forest_infographic.jpg?itok=3z_piCAI" title="Melbourne Urban Forest Infographic. © City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Urban Forest Infographic. © City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>A great online resource tool that the City of Melbourne have developed is <a href="/news/urban-forest-visual">Urban Forest Visual</a> which features a map that allows users to track the Useful Life Expectancy (ULE) of each tree within the municipality while providing info on the specific species of tree as well as other useful facts and figures. You can even send the trees personalised emails, for those so inclined.

One of the key messages delivered by Yvonne Lynch that resonated with the audience was...

<h2>"A city within a forest, not a forest within a city"</h2>

<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/city_within_a_forest.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A visualisation of the possible future ‘greening’ of Melbourne. © City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="638" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/city_within_a_forest.jpg?itok=_s7Rs4sT" title="A visualisation of the possible future ‘greening’ of Melbourne. © City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A visualisation of the possible future ‘greening’ of Melbourne. © City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>To stay up to date or connect with MUDM, you can follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/mudm_au">Twitter</a> or on <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Urban-Design-Meetup/">their Meetup page</a>.

City of Melbourne's Urban Forest Strategy is available <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Sustainability/UrbanForest/Documents/Urban_Forest_Strategy.pdf">from their website</a>.

Hope to see you at future MUDM events.
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