<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" />

&nbsp;

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.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
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.
</section>

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

Politics

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There was a silly suggestion the pickup in last weekend's Sydney clearance rate to 59 percent followed Scott Morrison's elevation to Prime Minstership.
But with a dismal 31 percent auction success rate in the Sutherland Shire, that perhaps needs a rethink.
Most economic trends only come after a lag, as the RBA Assistant Governor Luci Ellis recently observed.
But I do expect there will be a sharper focus on housing affordability among politicians between now and the Federal election.
Maybe the next election will even see a marked debate over negative gearing policies unlike the last. 
The recent Federal budget was light on housing initiatives, but Scott Morrison's 2017 budget saw a raft of measures.
Some were pitched at getting headlines, some aimed at long term structural changes, and some pitched as softening demand in what was then a peaking property market, which also happened to help the budget bottom line.
Morrison has been the most attentive to housing affordability of any treasurer in recent times.
He gave a keynote speech last year that noted housing affordability is not a new problem, pointing out, he like anyone in Sydney had actual experience that it has never been easy to buy a home. 
Morrison's first property purchase cost $330,000 with his wife, Jenny, bought in Bronte in 1995, where he grew up as a child, and then they upgraded to the Shire at $920,000 in 2009.
He rightly suggested, dealing with housing affordability must involve a scalpel, not a chainsaw given the likely or even unintended consequences of policy shifts.
He warned declining housing affordability can't be answered with lower economic growth especially as some two million taxpayers have an interest in a residential investment property.
Around 1.3 million of these taxpayers negatively gear, as mum and dad investors put a roof over the head of around a quarter of all renting households in the country.
Morrison has noted the Labor policy disrupting negative gearing would come at a cost, not only for investors but also to the households who rent. 
It was interesting for him to suggest previous governments had avoided dealing with many housing issues "for fear of raising and disappointing expectations."
There are some who argue the long run of low interest rates along with reduced price growth has lessened the need for the provision of negative gearing benefits.
Lower interest rates have cut the cost of money investors borrow and – as a result – the losses being claimed on tax.
But there will be a time when investors will seek out the opportunity.
Taking the prospect of the benefits away will lessen the demand for property.
Labor says its intends to reform negative gearing and the capital tax discount from a yet-to-be-determined date after the next election.
Subject to legislation, investors will likely not be able to use net investment losses on existing properties to offset wage income. And the capital gains tax discount on an investment property will be reduced to 25 per cent.
They have advised the negative gearing changes will be for existing homes, not newly built homes.
It is important to note Labor states that investments and tax arrangements already in place will not face retrospective impacts. 
So I expect there might just be a pickup in investors seeking out the opportunity of buying established property ahead of the election, given the possibility of a Labor win.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Labor's negative gearing policy will see investors buy established property ahead of next Federal election

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The Australian head of a Chinese property developer mentioned by a NSW government MP caught up in a corruption inquiry says Country Garden has "zero tolerance" for illegal behaviour.
Country Garden Australia chief executive G.T. Hu declined to comment to Fairfax Media on the explosive recording of MP Daryl Maguire's conversation with former Canterbury City councillor Michael Hawatt, after it was played in Friday's hearing of an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry.
The Operation Dasha ICAC hearing was played a recorded telephone conversation from May 9, 2016, in which Mr Maguire claims to be the ­middle man between Country Garden and investors.
Maguire was recorded saying Country Garden could pay him “a couple of grand a day” to facilitate meetings.
Maguire resigned from the parliamentary Liberal Party with pressure on him quit the State Parliament where he represents Wagga Wagga. 
Maguire has held the safe seat since 1999 when he took over from Joe Schipp.
Gladys Berejiklian, the NSW premier is urging disgraced state MP Daryl Maguire to reconsider his position in politics after secret phone recordings of him discussing potential developer “dividends” were played at a Sydney corruption inquiry.
In a phone tap, Maguire said the developer was a "client" of his.
He discussed making a commission from the sale of a Campsie development site to the company.
"I need to talk to my consultants and my lawyer first," Mr Hu told The Australian Financial Review on Sunday. "What I can tell you is that Country Garden is a responsible company and we have zero tolerance for any illegal things [by] any employees."
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Hu declined to say anything when asked why Maguire was heard to be asking Hawatt about shovel-ready sites that Country Garden could acquire in the May 2016 conversation</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"I think you'd better ask him," Mr Hu said. "Because he mentioned our company. You'd better be asking him."</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The Hong Kong-listed Country Garden, the largest Chinese developer by sales last year, entered Australia in 2013.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">It hit the headlines in 2014 when Country Garden was in discussions to take over Sydney-based Meriton from Harry Triguboff.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The developer owns 429ha in Wollondilly, along with sites in Canterbury-Bankstown, Campsie and Ryde.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
It was also revealed last month paying $69.88 million to secure Cawdor Road, Cawdor land it knew would benefit from the M9 orbital, months before the route of the orbital was known to locals.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
It expanded into the house-and-land market last year, with a record-breaking $400 million purchase of a 363-hectare site in Melbourne's west.
In 2017, Fortune magazine released its list of Global 500 companies for 2017 with Country Garden included in the authoritative list for the first time.
Country Garden is a property development company based in Guangdong Province, China, owned by Yang Guoqiang's family. It focuses on building high-end residential property.
Founded in 1992 and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange since 2007, it is controlled by China’s richest heiress, Yang Huiyan.
As a strong advocate and supporter of China's new urbanization process and a creator of green, Country Garden has reshaped over 500 Chinese towns from tier 1 to tier 5.
The Chinese property developer has over 900 projects ongoing outside of its home market.
Country Garden was not the only developer with links to Maguire.
In 2015 he visited the headquarters of Aoyuan International, the developer of Sydney's 38-level ONE30 Hyde Park development. 
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
An Aoyuan press release says Mr Maguire met the company's chairman Guo Zi Wen at its headquarters in Guangzhou in southern China in 2015.
Maguire told Hawatt, a key figure in the current ICAC inquiry into suspected corruption at Canterbury Council, that his client was "mega big", had "mega money" and was hungry for development sites with permits in place.
"I need a few things to feed my friends," Maguire tells Hawatt in the 2016 recording.
"They want 30 projects, rolling, and ideally they want something that's DA approved, a couple that are DA approved and ready to go. How much per unit site are they asking?"
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Maguire told Hawatt that the commission of 1.5 per cent that the owner of the Canterbury Road development site was willing to pay Hawatt was not enough. </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
"One point five per cent isn't enough divided by two, if you know what I'm talking about," Maguire said. "Three per cent's a lot better."
The Sunday Telegraph reported Maguire set up a meeting with Country Garden executives and the NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts last August.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Wagga Wagga State MP Daryl Maguire organised an “introductory” meeting for Mr Roberts to meet with two CEOs from Country Garden on August 9 last year.
Staff advised a 15-minute meeting could occur only on the condition Country Garden observe the minister’s office protocol of not discussing any site-specific projects or proposals, and that a disclosure form be completed by the company prior to the meeting.
</div>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Country Garden say it has "zero tolerance" for illegal behaviour after NSW ICAC Maguire allegations

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Keep Sydney Open is announcing its official registration as a state political party in NSW.
It will contest seats in both houses of Parliament at the 2019 NSW state election, with a focus on seats in the Legislative Council.  
Tyson Koh, spokesperson for the party, by putting lockout laws on the ballot of next year’s election, people have a real choice and a course of action to rescind these laws, wind back the ‘nanny state’ and build a 24-hour city. 
“For more than over four years, our group has represented every person who believes that lockout laws were a knee-jerk reaction. We see with our own eyes that these laws have devastated the both the night-time economy and reputation of what was once a vibrant international city.” 
The KSO campaign claims they have so far achieved: 
·        A 30-minute relaxation of lockout laws and cease of service times for music venues; 
·        A pushback of bottle shop closing times from 10pm to 11pm across NSW; 
·        A lifting of lockout laws for the Mardi Gras parade; 
·        Changes to ‘small bar’ regulations; and 
·        A turning of the state of Sydney’s nightlife into a mainstream issue. 
“We all know that Sydney is a magical place, but the magic has been missing for some time,” Koh said.
“People now recognise that the NSW Government is largely responsible for this. 
“We are the first party in NSW set up to address cultural and youth issues.
"Young people all over NSW who would ordinarily vote Liberal or Labor are looking at those parties’ policies with bewilderment. We feel cheated, and being locked out of social spaces as well as the housing market has led to a generation of disillusioned young adults," he said.
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Keep Sydney Open becomes political party in NSW

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The images of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the French President Emmanuel Macron looked fantastique last week on the lawn at Kirribilli House.
But are taxpayers getting value for money, when these days the home is used principably for dinners and press conferences?
With views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, both Kirribilli House and the neighbouring Admiralty House, there for the Governor-General's pleasure, rank among the city's most prestigious real estate. 
The Gothic Revival residence has been the Prime Minister's Sydney home since the 1930s, but I'd suggest Treasurer Scott Morrison's budget tonight ought signal one or maybe both homes should be sold. Let them just entertain in Canberra at The Lodge and Government House.
It was last flagged in 2004 when the then Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham foreshadowed that he would sell the harbourside mansion.
John and Janette Howard stayed put.
At the time it elicited speculation it could fetch around $50 million which would be handy revenue, but more importantly send a stocktaking message.
Even had Malcolm and Lucy opted to downsize from their Point Piper harbour front, the question still needs to be asked.
While it might not go down well with those who politicians who like icons, the Federal Government should not be Sydney-centric.
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 
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Icon homes ought be considered for government selloff at Kirribilli 

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Expert Observer
Geopolitical events like Brexit and Donald Trump’s election in the US “surprised” investors in 2016 but had no lasting negative impact on global financial markets. By last year investors were well focussed on geopolitical risks – Trump taking over as US President, Eurozone elections, the Communist Party Congress in China and rising risks around North Korea – but again they did not have much lasting negative market impact. In fact, in most cases it turned out to be a positive impact.
Now in 2018 it’s already clear that geopolitical events remain significant, for example with Trump’s tariffs and the messy Italian election result. Despite their benign financial market impact over the last two years they are worth keeping an eye on. This note takes a look at why geopolitics is more important for investors these days and what to look out for this year. 
Why geopolitics is more important now 
While not to deny the influence of various geopolitical events in the 1980s and 1990s the broad trend was reasonably positive with the embrace of free market/economic rationalist solutions (after the failure of widespread government intervention in the 1970s), the collapse of communism and the associated surge in global trade and the peace dividend and the dominance of the US as the global cop. However, while the last 2 years highlight the importance of not getting too distracted by geopolitical events, in recent times geopolitical risks have arguably become more elevated. There are several reasons for this: 
First, the slow post global financial crisis recovery, rising inequality (see the next chart which shows the Gini coefficient - a measure of income distribution) and stress around immigration have all led to a backlash against establishment politics and economic rationalist policies. This is showing up in support for re-regulation, nationalisation, 
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Source: OECD, Standardised World Income Inequality Database, AMP Capital 
The swing of the political pendulum to the left is most acute in Anglo Saxon countries as it was here that the pendulum swung most towards free markets in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s messy in the US as while Trump has tapped into popular discontent and is more protectionist, his policies around de-regulation and tax cuts go in the opposite direction – for now, as this could just set the scene for a more left-wing president in 2020. And Macron in France is going in a fundamentally more pro- business direction, which is very positive for French assets. 
Second, the relative decline of US economic and military power is shifting us away from the unipolar world that dominated after the Cold War when the US was the global cop and most countries were moving to become free market democracies. Now we are seeing the rise of China, Russia revisiting its Soviet past and efforts by other countries to fill the gap left by the US in parts of the world, all creating tensions. 
Third, social media is allowing us to make our own reality. The danger is that, as politicians pander to this, economic policy making will be less rational and more populist. 
Finally, with the mid-term elections in November, Trump is back in campaign mode. And he is not your normal politician. 
Global geopolitical issues to keep an eye on 2018 
President Trump – Trump faces two big challenges this year. First, the mid-term Congressional elections in November risk the Republicans losing control of the House and also the Mueller inquiry is closing in. These in turn put pressure on Trump to create distractions and return to focussing on his base after the pro-business focus of last year. The tariffs, dealing with North Korea and maybe Iran fit into this. 
Tariffs – much has been written about Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs, but a full-on global trade war is unlikely. First the steel and aluminium tariffs are trivial amounting to less than 2% of US imports. They are nothing compared to the tariff hikes of 1930 and 1971 that covered most US imports. Second, there is more to go on trade with NAFTA renegotiations, a review of China’s alleged theft of US intellectual property likely to result in broad tariffs on US imports from China and restrictions on Chinese investment in the US and possible tariffs on vehicles, shipbuilding, aircraft and semi-conductors are also possible. Finally, Trump is trying to appeal to his base ahead of the mid- terms, but a full-blown global trade war is unlikely. There are few political constraints on Trump imposing tariffs and his Republican base tends to support it. However: the exemptions to his steel and aluminium tariffs suggest he has listened to criticism of his initial plan including around the threat it poses to US alliances; his approach on this issue smacks a bit of The Art of the Deal – go in hard, then back down to something that sounds more acceptable and the same is likely in relation to China with initial harsh measures likely designed for use as a bargaining chip; Trump won’t want to go too far on tariffs as the resultant price increases won’t go down well with his supporters; a plunging stock market in the face of a trade war will also constrain Trump (as he likes to take credit for it going up); and other countries are likely to be cautious in retaliating and China may want to come across as the “good guy” on trade. Of course, this issue could roll on all year, and Australia is vulnerable via its exposure to China. But a full-on global trade war is unlikely – but there may not be much peace on the trade front either. And a US-China trade war is the main risk.
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The Mueller inquiry – this is getting closer to Trump. However, our view remains that while the Democrats may find something to impeach Trump on if they get control of the House of Representatives, in the meantime the Republicans are unlikely to impeach him. And even if the Democrats do impeach him post the mid-terms it’s doubtful they will find the 70 votes in the Senate to remove him from office. And even if Trump is removed from office, VP Pence will not mean a big change in economic policy (just less tweets!). In the meantime most of the big market friendly policies Trump has to offer have been done. 
The US mid-term elections – these will be watched closely as a guide to whether US politics is swinging back towards the Democrats taking the Presidency in 2020. If the GOP loses the House, it will leave Trump as a lame duck president. On the one hand most of his big market friendly policies have already been done so no great impact on domestic policy until post 2020. But being a lame duck could encourage him to seek relevance globally (more tariffs or action on Iran?). 
US shutdown risk – by March 23 funding will again have to be renewed for the Government to avoid a shutdown. But neither side wants to be blamed for a shutdown so expect funding to be granted, another extension or any shutdown to be brief. 
North Korea – news that Trump will meet Kim Jong Un before May and that NK is open to denuclearisation is welcome. Whether it comes to anything though remains to be seen given numerous false thaws with NK over the decades. Or maybe Kim John Un read The Art of the Deal and its development of nuclear weapons was all just a negotiating ploy, so this is really a very big deal. At least it will be “quiet” on this front for a while. 
Iran – the US deadline to remain compliant with the Iran nuclear deal expires in May. It will probably be renewed but if it’s not and sanctions on Iran return it potentially means a sharp reduction in Iranian oil supply which could put upwards pressure on oil prices. Meanwhile, tensions and proxy wars between Iran and Saudi Arabia will continue with occasional flare ups but open warfare between the two is unlikely. 
Italy and Europe - the messy Italian election outcome is not great for Italy, but it’s unlikely to threaten the Euro. There are now three major blocs in the Italian lower house. None of these blocsarenear a majority and it may require a new election (not that most parties want that). Barring a worst-case coalition between the Five Star Movement and the far-right Northern League, which given their huge political differences is unlikely, it will be the Democratic Party that will decide who forms government and given its pro-Euro and left of centre bias it’s more likely to lean to 5SM but only if it remains supportive of Italy remaining in the Euro. But it may take months to get to this point. This is not great for Italy, but there is unlikely to be a short-term threat to the Euro. In any case support for the Euro remains strong across the rest of the Eurozone so even if Italy does leave, a contagion across Europe looks very unlikely. This and the German Social Democrat Party’s solid support for a coalition with Angela Merkel all leaves Germany on track to work with France on strengthening the Eurozone. 
<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/2018/3/14/olive%20insights%202.jpg" alt="">
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Terrorism – The impact of terrorism on investment markets has been declining since the 9/11 attacks to the point where attacks in recent years have had little impact. Economies and markets seem to have become desensitised to them to a degree. 
China – The Chinese Government’s focus on its reform agenda - shifting towards less investment intensive growth, reducing pollution, reforming state-owned enterprises and reducing financial risk - has long run hot and cold, speeding up in good times only to slow down if growth slowed. However, the reform agenda now looks likely to see another step up posing a short- term threat to growth (albeit with a long-term benefit) and with President Xi Jinping’s status enhanced in October’s National Communist Party Congress and leadership term limits now abolished it’s likely that the leadership’s tolerance to a slowdown in growth may be greater than in the past. So the growth/reform nexus bears watching in terms of the outlook for global growth, commodity prices, etc. 
Australia – the main risk in Australia is an early election and the adoption of less business-friendly policies (higher taxes, more regulation) under a Labor Government which may be taken badly by financial markets. The May budget is likely to promise income tax cuts but in the absence of better polling it’s hard to see the Government calling an early election. 
Implications for investors 
These geopolitical issues have the potential to keep volatility high this year and so are worth keeping an eye on. However, there are several key points for investors to bear in mind. First, turn down the noise. Geopolitical issues create much interest, but as we seen in recent years (with eg Brexit, North Korea and Catalonia) they won’t necessarily have significant negative impacts on investment markets. Second, it’s hard to quantify geopolitical risks. You have to understand each issue separately. Finally, given the difficulties in trying to predict geopolitical shocks and their impact it often makes more sense for investors to focus on the opportunities they throw up, rather than taking long term shelter from them in low returning cash. 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://plus.google.com/110172465327488162875?rel=author">SHANE OLIVER</a> is head of investment strategy and economics and chief economist at <a href="https://www.ampcapital.com.au/home">AMP Capital</a> and is responsible for AMP Capital's diversified investment funds.
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soliver-smf6LQXgW9

Oliver's Insights - Tariffs, Trump, North Korea and other global political risks in the Year of the Dog

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The Herald Sun has revealed the sidelined Federal health minister Sussan Ley used a taxpayer-funded trip to inspect a Gold Coast property nine months before her much reported 2015 purchase.
Ms Ley stood down on Monday from the ministry pending investigations of her taxpayer-funded Gold Coast trips, with the paper suggesting the latest revelations put her future in further doubt.
The Albury-based MP’s troubles worsen after retired couple Adrienne and Stewart McEachran came forward to claim that she and her partner, Graham Johnston, inspected their home in Advancetown (pictured above and below), in the Gold Coast hinterland, in late August and on September 8 in 2014.
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Government documents reveal that Ms Ley billed taxpayers more than $2,000 in travel costs for a long weekend on the Gold Coast from September 5 to 8, 2014.
Ms Ley declined to answer queries on the latest claims, the paper said.
The selling couple said that in October, Ms Ley made an offer that was about $50,000 below the mid-$700,000 asking price, and they declined.
The Gold Coast hinterland property sold for $760,000 just a few months later.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asked Ms Ley to stand aside without ministerial pay until her travel claims had been probed by the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 
It was a defiant Ms Ley who belatedly faced the media after the Herald Sun revealed last Friday she purchased an oceanview apartment in the De Ville complex during a taxpayer-funded work trip which she said had been unplanned. 
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Federal Minister Sussan Ley's prior Gold Coast purchase offer

Labor politician Ed&nbsp;Husic, the Federal Member for Chifley, has sold his Blacktown investment property.

He retains his home at Colebee with wife Bridget Tilley in the upmarket Medalist housing estate which enjoys views of the&nbsp;18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course.&nbsp;

Husic, who describes himself as “Blacktown, through and through”, secured $658,000 for the&nbsp;immaculately presented four bedroom brick home.

The 1995 Brickfield Place cul-de-sac offering was marketed as being located in a highly sought after pocket of South Blacktown.&nbsp;

The home had 110 square metres of living space on its 470 square metre block. He listed it for sale last November through Harcourts agent Andrew Chrysanthou who had a $669,950 asking price following its unsuccessful March auction.

It last sold in 2000 at $128,500 having first sold in 1995 at $155,000. It has been recently a $460 a week rental, up on its $270 a week rental a decade ago.

Husic is the Shadow Minister for Employment Services, Workforce Participation and Future of Work and the Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy.

He was raised in Western Sydney, receiving his education at Blacktown South Public School and Mitchell High School, then among the initial wave of students to graduate from the University of Western Sydney.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph.

<form action="https://www.realtor.com.au/cgi-bin/vgmsg/vgnsw/propview.p?vgrec=6895298&amp;srchtype=advrepbrw&amp;instate=nsw&amp;direct=1&amp;fromSales=y" id="form1" method="post" name="form1">&nbsp;</form>

Politican Ed Husic sells Blacktown investment house 

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Bob Day, the Family First senator, has tendered his resignation effective immediately.
Day tendered his resignation to Senate President Stephen Parry this morning after his home building company went into liquidation.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a Senator for South Australia and I am sorry it has ended this way,” he said.
“I will now devote my time and energy to assisting those who have been affected by the company’s closure.”
In a statement, he said that potential investors would not be financing his Home Australia company.
"While a number of offers for various parts of the Home Australia business have been received, the major investor who has been examining the group's portfolio of assets over the past fortnight, has decided not to proceed," he said.
"Accordingly, I have today tendered my resignation to the president of the Senate effective immediately. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a senator for South Australia and I am sorry it has ended this way."
Day's company, Home Australia, was put into liquidation owing about $38 million to creditors. It also left around 200 homes unfurnished.
He said will now work to assist those affected by the closure of the company.
Day's former chief of staff Rikki Lambert has confirmed he will put his hand up for the vacant position.
 
 
 
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Home builder Senator Bob Day tenders his resignation effective immediately

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Having fun yet? Saturday's federal election has delivered a result that loosely tracks what all the polling was saying right up until July 2nd and now the waiting game - similar to the election back in 2010 - begins.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) put out a media release on Sunday stating that counting will continue once postal and absentee votes are returned to the respective electorates. This is likely to occur on Tuesday (July 5).

On the face of it, if you only pay attention to the mainstream media TV news, the changing seats in Melbourne are either due to retiring members (Chisholm) or the state-focused issue of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) has allowed the Liberals to hold on to various outer suburban seats (La Trobe, Dunkley).

In seeking to provide decisive commentary in the vacuum of uncertainty, in my view, the CFA "reason" for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) not picking more seats up in Victoria seems to be at most overblown or at least not giving the much talked about Mediscare campaign proper credit.

Another perfectly good "reason" for the ALP swing not being at the same level as the national swing could quite possibly be the commentariat glossing over the swing from the ALP and the Liberal party to the Greens in inner Melbourne.

<h2>Is enough attention being paid to inner Melbourne?</h2>

The headlines and comment have thus far broadly focused on Labor versus Liberal contests underway on the fringes of the city; not much attention has been given to the Greens and how they're extracting more and more votes after having created the beachhead at the 2010 election.

Adam Bandt solidified his position as the member for Melbourne, obtaining an increase of 1% on the preliminary two-candidate preferred results on <a href="http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-20499-228.htm">AEC's website</a>.

As I <a href="/expert-insights/buying/federal-election-aftermath-the-changing-face-of-melbournes-federal-electoral-map">wrote in the week before the election</a>, Wills, Batman and Higgins are seeing large amounts of development - and therefore population growth - and the new population moving into these areas is seeing more and more Greens voters.

The two seats north of Melbourne - Wills and Batman - have in both cases seen the primary votes for the Greens increase.

Wills 2013 result: ALP 40,931, Liberal 20,710, Greens 20,157. Wills 2016 results (at time of writing 70% of the vote was counted): ALP 28,346, Greens: 22,373, Liberal 16,015.

Batman 2013 result: ALP 36,798, Greens 23,522, Liberal 20,017. Batman 2016 results (at time of writing, 70.5% of the vote was counted): Greens 26,377, ALP 25,794, Liberal 13,593.

In 2013, Wills had 105,498 electors and three years later there were 113,856 on the electoral roll. Likewise in Batman in 2013 there were 103,246 on the electoral roll and at the election on Saturday, 108,942 people were registered to vote.

Assuming the next parliament runs for three years and similar population growth continues - which I believe is a highly likely case based on the development pipeline numbers - the election in these seats next time around are likely to be even closer and it's even more probable that at least one of those two seats goes Green (if one doesn't fall to them at this election).

<h2>Progressive state, increasingly a three party city</h2>

Much has been made of Victora's de facto progressive capital status among the regions of Australia. We have a Premier who actively trumpets his own and the state's progressive credentials, heavily through social media which is broadly backed up in the state government's legislative agenda.

At the state level, the Greens established beachheads on both sides of the river - in the seats of Melbourne and Prahran - in the most recent election and in the state seat of Brunswick, the Greens achieved the highest amount of first preference votes yet it was only Liberal Party preferences which got the ALP candidate - Jane Garret - over the line.

This crossover from state to federal electorates points to a very real shift underway.

This shift from the two big parties to the Greens in inner Melbourne gets a little bit of airtime every now and then however from this point on, it's my view that this state-specific competition like the marginals in Western Sydney and fickle flip-flopping Queenslanders, is and will be for the foreseeable future now Victoria's federal electoral topic du jour.

The development activity translating to population growth in the seven seats that share a boundary with the seat of Melbourne at the federal level would theoretically all be in play from this point on. Clearly, the Greens are focusing on only a handful of those seven seats at a time, but it's now having a measurable impact when you look at the knife-edge that Batman is sitting on.

Urban.com.au doesn't endorse political parties because all three parties that are competitive in Melbourne have something to bring to the greater urban agenda. Yet we hope the increased three-way competition in Melbourne will have a positive impact on urban policies and one area that requires work from all three political parties at the federal level is housing.
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Alastair Taylor

Federal election aftermath: the changing face of Melbourne's (federal) electoral map

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The last time the Australian Electoral Commission redistributed the electorate boundaries in Victoria was 2010. Given that the next parliament is likely to last until 2019 and inner Melbourne has had - and will continue to have - extremely strong population growth, the electoral contests that we're heading about in local and national media are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

There are many factors which influence people's votes, including electorate-specific such as an incumbent retiring, socio-economic factors and the like; but one factor not readily discussed is the change over time in the population make-up of an electorate.

I'd argue that the increased population growth, which can be predicted through current development numbers, is not necessarily the single biggest factor in changing electoral dynamics, but one of many which has heightened the electoral contests in inner Melbourne.

With the exception of Melbourne Ports, there's been a Red versus Blue line following the course of the Yarra River at both a federal and state level: The ALP's seats were to the north and the Liberal party's seats were to the south.

The electorate of Higgins covers South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor in the west of the seat which are seeing high rates of new development (and therefore the capacity to sustain high population growth) and over time, the main opposing candidate has shifted from the ALP to what the local media are now reporting a contest between the Liberal party and the Greens.

Similarly in the north, the seats of Wills and Batman are both seeing very high rates of development and local media have widely reported that both seats are ALP versus Greens contests.

The federal electorates of Wills, Batman and Higgins are getting the most media coverage in inner Melbourne thanks to the Greens battling it out between the two major parties and they also happen to have, between them, 275 projects on the Apartments.com.au project database, representing 23% of all the projects (1200).

The following is a look at the aforementioned electorates in more detail.

<h2>Wills</h2>

Wills is a Prime-Ministerial electorate - with Bob Hawke once holding the seat - and includes suburbs such as the three Brunswicks in the south of the electorate, Coburg, Pascoe Vale and Glenroy/Fawkner. New development and population growth is heavily concentrated in the south in the Brunswicks and Coburg, closest to the central employment area.

We believe Wills - Brunswick and Coburg in general - will continue to see strong growth over the next decade. The Melbourne Metro Project, although located to the south in the electorate of Melbourne, will enhance Brunswick's appeal thanks to the tight integration of two of Brunswick's tram lines with Parkville station.

Wills is likely to remain in the "not that safe anymore" column.

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<th scope="col">Aspect</th>
			<th scope="col">Total</th>
			<th scope="col">Under Construction</th>
			<th scope="col">At sales</th>
			<th scope="col">In the pipeline</th>
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Number of projects</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">76</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">18</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">18</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">40</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of dwellings</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">6,284</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1,752</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1,585</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">2,947</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Potential new electors</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">9,426</td>
			<td class="rtecenter"> </td>
			<td class="rtecenter"> </td>
			<td class="rtecenter"> </td>
		</tr>
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* "In the pipeline" = projects either at council or approved.

** "The Brunswicks" - Brunswick West, Brunswick and Brunswick East (postcodes 3055, 3056 and 3057).

*** Potential new electors is based on an apartment having an average of 1.5 occupants living in it.

<h2>Batman</h2>

Batman sits to the east of Wills and includes suburbs such as Clifton Hill, Northcote, Thornbury, Preston, Fairfield and Reservoir. In contrast to Wills, development is not as concentrated in one section of the electorate; although, there is a definitive bias to the southern and middle sections of the electorate.

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<th scope="col">Aspect</th>
			<th scope="col">Total</th>
			<th scope="col">Under Construction</th>
			<th scope="col">At Sales</th>
			<th scope="col">In the pipeline</th>
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<tr>
<td>Number of projects</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">57</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">20</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">10</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">27</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of dwellings</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">4,533</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1,166</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">611</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">2,756</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Potential new electors</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">6,800</td>
			<td class="rtecenter"> </td>
			<td class="rtecenter"> </td>
			<td class="rtecenter"> </td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
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* "In the pipeline" = projects either at council or approved.

** Potential new electors is based on an apartment having an average of 1.5 occupants living in it.

<h2>Higgins</h2>

Another Prime-Ministerial electorate - Harold Holt and John Gorton both held the seat during their premierships - and is viewed traditionally as a blue ribbon Liberal seat. Higgins includes suburbs like South Yarra, Toorak, Malvern, Carnegie, half of Murrumbeena (north of the Pakenham/Cranbourne rail line), Glen Iris and Ashburton.

It's an interesting seat from a development perspective: the Chapel Street spine through South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor is seeing a very high level of new development and increasingly the suburbs to the east of Chapel street are seeing the typical residential growth zone development of up to 4 levels dispersed through suburbs like Carnegie, Glen Iris and Hughesdale/Murrumbeena.

Higgins is doubly interesting because based on the following numbers, there's going to be a lot of new residents, more than likely concentrated on the Chapel Street corridor, that will ensure that Higgins will not remain as a safe Liberal seat.

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			<th scope="col">Total</th>
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			<th scope="col">At Sales</th>
			<th scope="col">In the pipeline</th>
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<td>Number of projects</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">142</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">33</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">34</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">75</td>
		</tr>
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<td>Number of dwellings</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">8,212</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">2,595</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1,634</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">3,983</td>
		</tr>
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<td>Potential new electors</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">12,318</td>
			<td> </td>
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* "In the pipeline" = projects either at council or approved.

** Potential new electors is based on an apartment having an average of 1.5 occupants living in it.

*** A [very] small part of South Yarra and half of Murrumbeena's development, included in the numbers above, are located in the electorates of Melbourne and Hotham respectively.
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