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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

Abadeen has released the whole-floor penthouse crowning its recently completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences</a> development in Cremorne, bringing the near-300 sqm residence to market for the first time.

Occupying the entire top floor of the boutique Lower North Shore development, the penthouse includes 221 sqm of internal living and a 74 sqm wraparound terrace, with a prized north-facing aspect taking in views across Middle Harbour.

The residence has been completed and fully furnished following a collaboration between Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown and internationally recognised interior designer Jack Freeman, Founder and Managing Director of FREEMAN &amp; CO.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and Freeman approached the penthouse as a finished home, sourcing furniture, artwork, lighting and objects from Australia and overseas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378718]

Pieces from Parisian design house Pierre Augustin Rose sit alongside contemporary artworks and bespoke lighting, with Freeman drawing on recent visits to PAD Paris and Salone del Mobile Milano for the final collection.

Brown said the aim was to create a penthouse that felt more like a large-scale private home than a traditional apartment.

"The experience begins the moment the lift doors open. You're welcomed into an elegant dining room before the home opens into an extraordinary living space framed by sun-drenched harbour views.

"Every time someone walks through the front door they pause. It's not just the view, it's the incredible sense of space, the warmth created by the northern sunlight that fills the interiors, and the way every room connects so effortlessly.

"It has all the proportions of a luxury home, while delivering the effortless lifestyle and personalised experience of living in a world-class six-star hotel, combined with the simplicity and convenience of apartment living."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378713]

A secure lift provides exclusive access to the penthouse level, opening to a dedicated arrival foyer and dining area before the residence expands into its main living and entertaining spaces.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing runs across the northern side of the home, connecting the interiors with the terrace and Middle Harbour outlook.

The penthouse also features a fireplace and substantial chef's kitchen, while the wraparound terrace has been designed to accommodate both everyday outdoor living and larger-scale entertaining.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378720]

Freeman said the interiors had been deliberately kept restrained to complement the scale, natural light and outlook already established by the architecture.

"The penthouse is a serene study in quiet luxury," Freeman said.

"The interior pairs soft, sculptural forms with warm timber, pale stone and a restrained neutral palette. Curated artwork and metallic accents add depth, while abundant natural light creates a calm, effortlessly refined atmosphere. In my world, less is always more."

Freeman said the approach was centred around collecting individual pieces rather than simply decorating the apartment.

"Every material, every object and every piece of furniture has been curated with intention. I am a true believer in collecting versus decorating.

"The architecture already provided extraordinary natural light, remarkable volume and an uninterrupted connection to Middle Harbour. Our role was to complement those qualities with unique one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art and collectible design sourced from recent travels around the world."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=378694]

Among the collection are solid bronze sculptures by Lorenzo Quinn, alongside a curated crystalware collection and pieces sourced from international design fairs.

Park Residences sits opposite Cammeray Golf Club, Cammeray Croquet Club and Grand Slam Tennis Cammeray, around 300 metres from Neutral Bay Village and its established collection of restaurants, cafés and retail.

Brown said the combination of a whole-floor floorplan, northern aspect and proximity to Neutral Bay was becoming increasingly difficult to find on the Lower North Shore.

"Completed whole-floor penthouses with a sun-drenched north-facing aspect and sweeping Middle Harbour views are exceptionally rare," Brown said.

"Add a quiet position opposite golf, croquet and tennis facilities, a level walk to Neutral Bay Village and only minutes to the CBD, and you have a lifestyle that's incredibly difficult to replicate.

"This is a home that offers the privacy and generosity of a luxury residence together with the convenience of one of Sydney's best-connected harbourside locations."

The penthouse will be exclusively marketed by SRM Residential.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=114246]

Abadeen unveils penthouse at Park Residences in Cremorne

Queensland

<html><body>
Unit owners in Queensland will have to wait until the second half of 2015 to learn the recommendations of a contentious review into strata by-laws, debt recovery and scheme termination.
Before the Queensland state election in January, <a href="https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland-state-election-2015/pollies-face-barrage-of-questions-on-body-corp-laws-as-angry-unit-owners-demand-answers/story-fnr8vz6s-1227200299598" target="_blank">unit owners vented their frustration that the timing of the review</a> – which closed for consultation on 30 January, the day before the election – meant its contents could not be made into an election issue.
The options paper called for comments on by-laws such as parking, pets in apartments, smoking on balconies and overcrowding, as well as how bodies corporate should be allowed to recover debt and terminate their schemes.
The Unit Owners Association of Queensland criticised the review for failing to consider 25-year management rights contracts awarded by developers.
Strata Community Australia president Simon Barnard warned against any knee-jerk reactions to proposals put forward in the options paper to ban unit owners from smoking on their balconies.
Over 300 submissions were received in response to the paper, a spokesperson for the Queensland Office of Fair Trading told Property Observer.
Queensland University of Technology’s Commercial and Property Law Research Centre, which was engaged by the Newman government in 2013 to conduct the review, is now considering the submissions.
It will release a report based on its analysis in the second half of 2015. The submissions will also be made public at that time, provided the submitter has not specifically requested confidentiality, the spokesperson said.
The review aims to cut red tape, regulation and property law duplication to help streamline the way Queenslanders buy, sell and manage property.
Two additional consultation papers into Queensland’s body corporate laws are under development and due for release later in the year.
The second paper will examine administrative and procedural issues including general meetings, the body corporate committee, and dispute resolution.
A third paper will consider the possibility of bringing community title schemes, which are now regulated separately from strata schemes, under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997.
The body corporate review is part of a larger examination of Queensland’s property laws that QUT is conducting. In early 2014, the broader review investigated seller disclosures in Queensland and setting and adjusting lot entitlements for community title schemes. 
</body></html>

zfielding-GvX3Uq9KTa

Queensland strata law review recommendations due later this year

<html><body>
Ipswich ranks as the strongest Queensland price growth region with its $320,000 median house price at almost half the capital, the latest data from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) reveal.
Ipswich's median house price increased by 6.7% over the quarter, the largest gain recorded by any area across Queensland.
Brisbane’s median house price has meanwhile hit $600,000 for the first time, rising by 3.4% over the quarter.
The REIQ’s December quarter 2014 data showed Brisbane’s record median house price was largely the result of the city’s strengthening $1 million plus house market.
“Brisbane’s prestige housing sector is firing on all cylinders, with 332 sales recorded in the December quarter - up from 274 sales the previous quarter,” REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said.
DECEMBER QTR 2014
HOUSES (&lt;2400)
<table style="width: 460px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
LGA
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="84">
Median Sale
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="74">
Qtrly change
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="74">
Sales Activity change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="132">
GREATER BRISBANE
</td>
<td nowrap width="84">
 
</td>
<td nowrap width="74">
 
</td>
<td nowrap width="74">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
BRISBANE SD
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   482,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
BRISBANE
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   600,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
IPSWICH
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   320,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
6.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
LOGAN
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   354,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
MORETON BAY
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   395,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
REDLAND
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   479,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
2.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="132">
TOURISM CENTRES
</td>
<td nowrap width="84">
 
</td>
<td nowrap width="74">
 
</td>
<td nowrap width="74">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
GOLD COAST
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   520,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
5.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
SUNSHINE COAST
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   482,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
1.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
NOOSA
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   520,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-0.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-11%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
FRASER COAST
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   285,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-0.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
12%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
CAIRNS
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   390,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
2.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="132">
REGIONAL CENTRES
</td>
<td nowrap width="84">
 
</td>
<td nowrap width="74">
 
</td>
<td nowrap width="74">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
BUNDABERG
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   275,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
2.2%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-11%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
GLADSTONE
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   356,250
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-4.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
MACKAY
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   370,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-5.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-13%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
ROCKHAMPTON
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   294,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-3.6%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
TOOWOOMBA
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   350,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="132">
TOWNSVILLE
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="84">
$   352,500
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
3.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="74">
-6%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
UNITS &amp; TOWNHOUSES
<table style="width: 460px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
LGA
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Median Sale
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Qtrly change
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Sales Activity change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
GREATER BRISBANE
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
BRISBANE SD
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   385,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
BRISBANE
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   418,500
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-0.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
IPSWICH
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   240,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-0.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-21%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
LOGAN
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   240,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-0.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
MORETON BAY
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   307,500
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-3.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
REDLAND
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   338,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-5.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
TOURISM CENTRES
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
GOLD COAST
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   350,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
SUNSHINE COAST
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   349,500
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2.0%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
NOOSA
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   375,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-5.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-16%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
FRASER COAST
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   270,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
12.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
CAIRNS
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   208,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-1.0%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>
REGIONAL CENTRES
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
BUNDABERG
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   265,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
12.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
GLADSTONE
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   233,300
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-36.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
24%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
MACKAY
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   365,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
21.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-68%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
ROCKHAMPTON
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   350,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-15.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-36%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
TOOWOOMBA
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   268,750
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-3.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-32%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
TOWNSVILLE
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
$   290,000
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
15.2%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
-13%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: REIQ QueenslandMarket Monitor, data supplied by Core Logic RP Data.
Picture courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Clarebear/ <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Ipswich the strongest Queensland house price region: REIQ

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
With a population of approximately 170,000 people, Toowoomba is Australia’s second largest, non-coastal city, behind Canberra. It is the only zone in South East Queensland not to experience population growth above the national average over the last decade.
While its property market has teased with glimpses of green shoots every so often Toowoomba mostly underperformed over the last decade.
Situated 700 metres above sea level on the Great Dividing Range, ‘The Garden City’ is among rich volcanic soils. With agriculture among its economic mix, prolonged drought adversely affected the region for a few years, although new infrastructure has subsequently improved water security.
The city is a well established service centre for the Darling Downs agriculture industry, the expanding coal and gas industry in the Surat Basin, and the army aviation centre at Oakey. Toowoomba is also somewhat of an education hub with the well-funded South Queensland University, a few small university campuses and quality private schools.
A new, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Propertyology" target="_blank">international-scale airport</a> officially opened in November 2014. This significant piece of transport infrastructure has the potential to <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/understanding-asian-century-key-to-success/" target="_blank">open up the region’s economy</a>. Qantas has already committed to a dozen flights per week to and from Sydney
Construction of the Wellchamp business park is currently underway and there is also a proposal for a nearby aviation school. $500 million is to be invested in expansion of retail facilities.
The tender for the <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014_09_Propertyology_MainEmploymentSectors_web.pdf" target="_blank">$1.5 billion Second Range Crossing</a> project is due to be announced early in 2015; construction should start shortly thereafter. This will significantly improve general public access between Brisbane and Toowoomba and significantly improve road freight safety and commute times.
Up and down housing supply from year to year has tended to keep pace with demand overall. <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/your-results/" target="_blank">Our research</a> suggests areas where new supply will be concentrated most include Highfields, Gowrie, Glenvale, and Westbrook.
<img src="/images/2015/02/25/Toowoomba_SupplyDemand_2006-2014.jpg" alt="">
Toowoomba is positioned along a national inland freight corridor and the proposed Melbourne-Brisbane inland port. Private and government investment <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/more-than-a-buyers-agent/">provides opportunities</a> for economic growth in tourism, agricultural, aviation, warehousing and logistics.
Simon Pressley is managing director of <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/more-than-a-buyers-agent/">Propertyology</a>, a full-time property market analyst, accredited property investment adviser, and Australia’s (REIA) Buyer’s Agent of the Year (2012+2013+2014).
Photo courtesy of Porjo/ <a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
<h2>How to purchase high-performing investment properties: a free Propertyology eBook</h2>
 
 
</body></html>

spressley-sBoeMhannA

Toowoomba has underperformed, but new infrastructure is promising: Simon Pressley

<html><body>
H&amp;M, the international retail giant, has announced the opening of its third Queensland store.
Located in Brisbane's Westfield Garden City, the store is set to open in May, the website<a href="https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/handm-where-to-next?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Newsletter+05+March+2015&amp;utm_content=Newsletter+05+March+2015+CID_0cceae9bf660fa3e671839f3ae9a9bda&amp;utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&amp;utm_term=HM%20where%20to%20next" target="_blank"> ragtrader</a> revealed.
It will follow an opening in Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in Queensland tomorrow, as well as a Queen Street site later in the year.
H&amp;M also has stores in Melbourne's GPO in Victoria and Macquarie Centre in North Ryde.
Australia's first H&amp;M fashion store<a href="/expert-insights/investing/h-m-set-for-australian-roll-out-as-its-first-local-store-launches-tomorrow"> opened in Melbourne's GPO building</a> in the Bourke Street mall.
The chain has about 3,182 stores in 53 countries, opening a further 375 this year.
It took around three years to find the initial outlet sites in Australia, including the distribution warehouse at Eastern Creek in Sydney.
</body></html>

H&M opening third Queensland department store

<html><body>
The Queensland government will consider a ministerial ‘call in’ of the proposed Cedar Woods development at Upper Kedron in Brisbane.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad, said she was using her powers under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 to issue a proposed ‘call in’ notice for the Cedar Woods development application.
“Today I have notified all parties – the developers and the community – that I am considering a ‘call-in’ for the proposed Cedar Woods development,” Trad said.
The planning matter was raised during the election campaign with the community raising concerns around traffic impacts.
There were also concerns whether the development is in accordance with Brisbane City Council’s planning scheme — City Plan 2014.
Brisbane City Council approved the development on 11 December 2014 which consists of 780 lots with the potential for 200 lots based on a future potential road connection to Ross Road.
“The development is a significant subdivision on undeveloped and constrained land adjoining the Brisbane Forest Park," Trad said.
“For this reason, I consider that this development could potentially affect economic and environmental state interests of this part of the state.
“I also note that council’s decision is a departure from its planning scheme, which was only adopted in 2014."
All relevant parties now have 20 business days to have their say on whether the development should be called in, with a decision to be made by 29 April 2015.
</body></html>

Queensland government contemplating "calling in" controversial Cedar Woods, Upper Kedron development

<html><body>
Last year, $51 billion worth of residential property changed hands, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).
REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella said Queensland's home transaction values peaked at $73 billion in 2007, but that "there's a very encouraging upward trend which is great news for home owners".
2014's result is the highest since 2010.
<img src="/images/2015/03/02/reiq-mar-2-two.jpg" alt="">
Sales volumes are also "clearly heading in the right direction," said Mercorella, with 114,000 transactions recorded last year. The highest ever year for number of transactions is 2003.
"And in another encouraging sign, there's been a significant rise in the number of suburbs where every vendor made a profit on sale," she said.
"In 2014, there were 49 Queensland suburbs where every property sold at a profit, up from just 22 suburbs in 2013."
The majority of suburbs with 100% profit-making sales were in Brisbane, with the eastern suburb of Gumdale having the greatest increase in profit making sales of any Brisbane suburb. There, transactions were up 33% over the year.
"Tara on the Western Darling Downs recorded the biggest increase in profit-making sales anywhere in the State, with an impressive rise of 36%," said Mercorella.
"Other strong performers included Goombungee, north of Toowoomba (up 27% and Caravonica, north of Cairns (up 26%).
"Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, 100% of vendors in Mermaid Beach made a profit on sale in 2014, as the city's prestige real estate market continues to bounce back."
She also noted increased momentum in the prestige $1 million-plus market.
"Around 2,600 properties across 320 suburbs changed hands for more than $1 million in 2014, predominantly in the Southeast," she said. According to the REIQ, properties worth $1 million or more made up the strongest performing segment of the market in the December quarter.
The $1 million-plus price point was Queensland's strongest performer in the December 2014 quarter, with a 17% increase in sales volumes.
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Queensland home sales reach five year high: REIQ

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Dear Premier Palaszczuk,
As you meet with <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/business-looks-for-economic-diversity-infrastructure-stability/story-fnihsps3-1227220692715" target="_blank">Queensland business leaders</a> on Tuesday and get down to the business of governing, you’re sure to face many immediate preoccupations and challenges. But considering <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/regional-queenslanders-worried-about-downturn-of-state-economy/6035220" target="_blank">the economy was the dominant issue</a> of this election, I would like to provide three pieces of advice for your new Labor minority government.
The economy is ultimately about people
First of all, I would encourage you to remember that the ultimate objective of economic policy is to promote inclusive economic growth and welfare. I use the word inclusive here to mean that all individuals, especially those at the bottom end of income distribution, should be guaranteed access to the benefits and opportunities arising from the increasing pace of economic activity. It is only by being inclusive that growth can effectively generate “development”.
Budget, taxes, debt and expenditure are only tools that the government can use to achieve the fundamental goals of inclusive growth and welfare. Unfortunately, in the recent past both the federal and Queensland governments have mistaken tools for objectives.
This has led to a policy of “minimisation”: to minimise debt, minimise deficit, and minimise expenditure. This is hardly a good way to run fiscal policy. On the contrary, inclusive growth and welfare become more difficult to achieve when the only purpose of policy is to shrink the size and scope of government, thus compromising its ability to supply public goods and to stabilise the economy against cyclical shocks.
There are two important features that should instead characterise good fiscal policy.
One is the synchronisation of expenditure with the business cycle. Cutting expenditure just to balance the budget in a time of economic contraction will only make the contraction worse. Conversely, when the economy slows down, the government should increase expenditure and possibly run a deficit. This will help the economy recover.
That is not just theory: my own research on Australia indicates that one extra dollar of government expenditure generates <a href="https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/research/file/dd80d33e-ccac-46f9-ac58-d9ff7d41b5b7/1/2014-08-does-government-expenditure-multiply-output-and-employment-in-Australia.pdf" target="_blank">more than one dollar</a> of gross domestic product (GDP). I have done similar research for Queensland, which is yet to be published but which found a similar result.
Of course, the increase in expenditure and deficit in time of contraction must be offset by expenditure cuts and surpluses in time of economic expansion. This counter-cyclical pattern of government expenditure and deficit will ensure that the economy is stabilised in response to shocks, and there is no accumulation of debt in the long-term.
The second feature of good fiscal policy is attention to quality considerations in public investment. It is rather common to think that economic growth is just a matter of investment, and hence that the best (and possibly only) way in which governments can support growth is by throwing money into some infrastructure projects.
But the quality of investment and spending is as important as its quantity. Quality, for instance, means that upgrading the curriculum or promoting work-integrated learning is as important as building a new school.
Similarly, the growth payoff from building a tunnel that does not really address any transport bottlenecks or does not facilitate connectivity between market nodes is going to be small. I guess that the general message here is: public investment in infrastructure is not a panacea, and there is more that the government should/can do to promote inclusive growth.
Obsession with debt
My second bit of advice Premier is to get some perspective on the “debt problem” of Queensland.
There is no question that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-true-state-of-queensland-debt-36345" target="_blank">Queensland debt has grown considerably</a> since 2006-07, and that today the debt to GDP ratio in Queensland is higher than in the rest of Australia, as I showed <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-true-state-of-queensland-debt-36345">in a recent article</a>.
But from a policy perspective, what matters is not much the comparison with other states, but instead the extent to which debt is sustainable. Sustainability refers to the dynamics of the debt to GDP ratio in the long-term. It is a simple matter of algebra to show that debt is sustainable as long as the economy grows sufficiently fast.
So, the issue of sustainability is essentially a question of economic growth. If in the attempt to reduce debt you were to undertake cuts or actions that undermine the growth potential of the economy, then the debt problem would simply get worse.
Now, this does not mean that Queensland should take a course of fiscal profligacy. It means, however, that there is no need at this stage to make drastic measures to repay debt. The type of counter-cyclical fiscal policy previously described, coupled with sound interventions in support of growth, will be enough to prevent further debt accumulation and hence to ensure its sustainability.
I welcome your government’s decision to re-consider the proposed plan of asset privatisations. It is the wrong response to a problem that does not require any such strong choice.
From an economic perspective, there is simply no evidence to support the notion that the private sector always does it better. Certainly, there are several examples of successful privatisations of public assets. But there are also many instances where privatisation has not resulted in a decrease in price and/or an increase in consumer’s satisfaction.
What does the economic data tells us?
And this brings me to the last bit of advice: make sure that your team takes a comprehensive look at the economic data before making any big decisions.
If good fiscal policy means that government expenditure must be synchronised to the business cycle, then the government must be able to identify and even predict the phases of the cycle. This in turn requires making the most efficient use of the large volume of statistical information that is available today. That is, good economic policy must be guided by a good understanding of the economic data.
A good look at the data is also important in terms of communication. I do not think that it helps the cause of any government to advertise a strong economy when – as is the case in Queensland today – gross domestic income per capita <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-true-state-of-queenslands-economy-without-the-spin-35959">is declining</a>, the only jobs that are being created <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-unemployment-figures-really-say-about-queensland-36305" target="_blank">are part-time</a>, and the unemployment rate <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-unemployment-figures-really-say-about-queensland-36305" target="_blank">is higher</a> than what it was three years ago (with or without seasonal adjustment).
Fabrizio Carmignani is a professor at the Griffith Business School at Griffith University.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>.
</body></html>

FabrizioCarmignani-GxUevkhNYc

Queensland’s biggest economic challenge isn’t debt – it’s growth

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Ipswich has one of the fastest growing populations in Australia over the last decade.
When a few marketing jazz words are combined with a low entry price and above-average rental yields, it’s never been difficult for the so-called property guru to attract property investors to Ipswich. But does the region really stack up?
With its vast amounts of developable, cheap land available, Ipswich plays a key role in the <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/keep-granny-ditch-the-flat/" target="_blank">state government’s strategy</a> to try and direct population growth away from the coast.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="176">
Population Growth
</td>
<td valign="top" width="158">
2003-2013
</td>
<td valign="top" width="201">
2008-2013
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="176">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="158">
(10yrs)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="201">
(Post-GFC)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="176">
Australia
</td>
<td valign="top" width="158">
1.7%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="201">
1.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="176">
Queensland
</td>
<td valign="top" width="158">
2.4%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="201">
2.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="176">
Ipswich
</td>
<td valign="top" width="158">
4.2%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="201">
3.7%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The impact of a relatively large volume of sales of new properties in a developing region creates a distortion between the data for changes in median property values and the real change in property values.
As the graphic below illustrates, dwelling supply and population growth have kept pace with each other. In spite of the regular hotspot rhetoric that Ipswich cops from time to time, its property market performance has in fact been quite underwhelming.
<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/2015/01/27/Ipswich_SupplyDemand_2006-2014.jpg" alt="">
With a traditional blue-collar demographic, successive state governments and the Ipswich City Council have had to work hard to create sufficient jobs for its growing population.
The award-winning Springfield masterplanned community has been developed over the last decade as a satellite city - Brisbane’s version of Parramatta.
<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/2015/01/27/Ipswich_GreenfieldMap.jpg" alt="">
Already with a new hospital, business park, and railway line, Springfield currently has several good projects in the pipeline. These include a $50 million expansion of the University of Southern Queensland, $70 million headquarters for GE, $80 million Mater hospital, $100 million Brookwater resort and plans to further extend the Orion shopping centre.
The existing Amberley RAAF base has also been spoken about as an anchor tenant for a potential aeronautical precinct.
Investors could do worse than Ipswich, although it is far from our first preference. With so much land flagged for development, expect to see significant new supply, mostly concentrated around Springfield, Ripley, and Redbank Plains.
There is currently in the vicinity of $275 million in house and land packages currently under construction. The Springfield Land Corporation has also just announced a proposal to develop 10,000 new apartments.
Simon Pressley is managing director of <a href="https://www.propertyology.com.au/" target="_blank">Propertyology</a>, a full-time property market analyst, accredited property investment adviser, and Australia’s (REIA) Buyer’s Agent of the Year (2012+2013+2014).
Picture courtesy of Clarebear/ <a class="mw-mmv-license cc-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
 
</body></html>

How the Ipswich region stacks up: Simon Pressley

<html><body>
Just when you thought affordability was becoming a word of the past, I’ve unearthed another hard to believe story on the Gold Coast, alongside further evidence of the appeal of the local market as local demographics continue to evolve.
Our Gold Coast Team have just launched a new residential project located in the heart of Robina, on the doorstep of the thriving $2.5 billion town centre.
Robina is a classic and now very successful masterplanned residential community that has gone from strength to strength over the last two decades.
Perhaps best known as the home of the Bond University, Robina is now delivering the dream of the planners, it’s a thriving desirable community. Yes, it has access to great beaches and much more.
As a potential place to buy into the Queensland real estate market it offers a range of opportunities that will appeal to both future residents and investors alike. I also think that the development mix adds to the area’s appeal.
The choices are dynamic and importantly aim to meet the needs of singles, families, retirees and students across a variety of prices. Variety is important with apartments, villas, townhouses and detached homes.
While the Robina Town Centre is the focus of the area, there’s a direct train link to Brisbane. While employment is diverse across the Bond University, Varsity Lakes IT hub and now a brand new football stadium will also create economic momentum.
Robina’s history doesn’t extend much past the late 1980s, which makes the rate and scale of development impressive as it has matured into a business, medical, commercial and residential centre.
Robina has certainly proved to be centrepiece of Gold Coast development and with a strong future.
Picture of Robina courtesy of <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:TravellerQLD" target="_blank" title="User:TravellerQLD">TravellerQLD</a>/<a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
 
</body></html>

pchittenden-eLqUUC8TWW

Robina has proved to be centrepiece of Gold Coast development: Peter Chittenden

<html><body>
Domain’s most recent price data had Brisbane as the number two capital city on median price growth in 2014 (behind, obviously, Sydney).
It found Brisbane’s price growth has risen to 6.1%, providing another piece of evidence that Brisbane and South East Queensland is the nation’s major rising market.
That in itself is not startling news, as many property analysts and commentators, including me, have been advocating Brisbane as a nation-leading growth centre for 2015.
On 1 December <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-baton-is-passing-from-sydney-to-south-east-queensland">I wrote on Property Observer</a>:
“There’s a pretty good argument that the hottest property precinct in Australia right now is South East Queensland.
“Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast ... All three have hot markets. The research conducted by Hotspotting for the latest edition of the Price Predictor Index revealed 254 suburbs across South East Queensland with rising sales activity. To put that in perspective, the Sydney metropolitan area has 106 growth suburbs.”
So that’s a good starting point. But South East Queensland is a big chunk of territory. As I pointed out on 1 December: “Together they comprise a vast metropolitan area - ongoing urban growth means these three big centres have merged into one big conurbation which starts at the NSW border and extends 250 kilometres north to Noosa.”
So where to place a more focused span of attention? There are myriad options but one that I particularly fancy is the unheralded (indeed often maligned) municipality of Logan City.
The local council sees it as a strategic “city between two cities” because Logan bridges the gap between Brisbane City and Gold Coast City.
It’s a municipality of 60 mostly affordable suburbs and collectively they are a nice fit for <a href="/expert-insights/investing/my-basic-formula-for-identifying-hotspots-terry-ryder">my core formula of affordability + infrastructure + jobs = price growth</a>.
It certainly qualifies on the affordability score. It has numerous suburbs with median house prices below $300,000 and many others in the low-to-mid $300,000s. That affordability attracts a lot of people and its population is tipped to grow from 300,000 to 500,000 over the next 20 years.
An area needs to offer more than cheap housing to qualify as a hotspot and some have unkindly renamed the area Bogan City.
But Logan offers plenty in the way of infrastructure, services and amenities. Logan City is a 35 minute drive from the Brisbane CBD and the Gold coast via the Pacific Motorway - and is also well serviced by buses and trains on the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines.
The area is especially strong on retail facilities. The Logan Hyperdome is among the largest shopping centres in Australia while furniture and homewares giant Ikea has a large outlet in Springwood. The Logan Mega Centre has 28 retail stores which mostly offer household and furniture outlets, but also camping and sporting goods.
There are plenty of schools throughout the region and there are also an unusually high number of golf courses.
Jobs nodes include Teys Australia, the second largest meat processor and exporter in Australia, based in Beenleigh. Teys, which employs 800 people, was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in December 2014. Another landmark is the Beenleigh Rum Distillery which began operations in 1884.
Logan is also not far to the Gold Coast theme park precinct, which includes Dreamworld and Movieworld.
Investors like Logan City because, in addition to cheap prices and solid growth prospects, it has strong rental yields. Most suburbs have median house yields of 5.5% and above, with several between 6% and 6.5%. The median yield for units in Beenleigh, according to Domain, is 7.1%.
Most of the Logan City postcodes have vacancy rates below 2%, according to SQM Research.
In the past 12 months, a number of the suburbs of Logan City have recorded growth in median house prices between 8% and 12%.
Developers are increasingly targeting this area with large-scale projects, including a $600 million retirement village, a $550 million tourism village, a $200 million residential estate and the new Alma Park Zoo, which is being relocated from the north of Brisbane.
A number of the area’s icons – including the Logan Hyperdome shopping centre, the Beenleigh Rum Distillery and McNevin’s Motel Loganholme – are undertaking expansions.
TERRY RYDER is the founder of <a href="https://hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.
If you missed our free webinar with Terry Ryder, 'The Best and Worst for 2015: Top 5 Hotspots and 5 Places to Avoid', you can <a href="https://propertyobserver.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24bd0766a834290948593f5aa&amp;id=2e37cb3570&amp;e=035e81ff9a" target="_blank">watch the video or download the slides here</a>.
Picture: Wikimedia Commons.
</body></html>

Queensland

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Queensland

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News