Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

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]

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

Stamp Duty

<html><body>
The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales has collated a list of its concerns ahead of the NSW State Budget, with the abolishment of stamp duty the number one concern.
REINSW president John Cunningham said the NSW Government has left stamp duty rates unchanged for more than 30 years and are reaping the rewards at the expense of ordinary NSW citizens. 
“The NSW Treasurer and Premier must look to the lead of Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison who recognised the burden placed on middle Australians through bracket creep and lifted tax thresholds accordingly,” Mr Cunningham said. 
“The NSW Transfer Duty already collected for the 9 months from July 2015 to March 2016 is $6.749 billion.
“The NSW Half Yearly Review for 2015-16 highlighted stamp duty revenue in 2015-16 is forecast to be $863 million higher than at Budget at $7.841 billion, while Land tax revenue in 2015-16 is expected to be $104 million higher than at Budget at $2.764 billion."
“Based on Domain Group's March 2016 house price data, stamp duty of $31,827.50 would be  payable on a property at the median Sydney house price of $807,500. 
“On a house price of $1 million the stamp duty payable is $40,490, for houses over $1 million stamp duty payable is 5.5 per up to $3 million, and thereafter the rate becomes 7 percent.
“This means that after the stamp duty is paid, a man or woman on an average wage (currently around $75,000 to $77,000) would have to work for five to six months in order to just pay the stamp duty.
“This barrier to entry has become unjust and disproportionate over time. It is too much and is distorting social fortunes and creating a range of social challenges and consequences for young, middle aged and elderly people. "
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

REINSW calls for removal of stamp duty

<html><body>
Victorian stamp duty revenue is expected to drop by 6.4 per cent in 2016-17 after significant growth in revenue over the past few years, according to the Victorian Budget papers.
Land transfer duty will fall to $5.7 billion in the coming financial year after revenue growth of 23 per cent in 2015-16.
But Victoria’s land tax revenue is forecast to grow by 28 per cent to $2.2 billion in 2016-17, but average 2.5 per cent a year over the forward estimates.
“The boom in Victoria’s property market over the past few years has been driven by a strengthening labour market, historically low interest rates, increased investor demand and strong population growth,” the Victorian Budget paper states.
The government confirmed it will more than double the stamp duty surcharge on foreign residential property buyers, from 3 to 7 per cent on the purchase price.
The surcharge will apply to contracts inked from July 2016, and is expected to generate $53 million in revenue over 2016-17 and $321 million over the forward estimates.
The absentee landowner surcharge will also triple from 0.5 to 1.5 percent from next year. This initiative is expected to generate $28 million over 2016-17, and $84 million over the forward estimates.
The State Revenue Office will receive additional funding to establish and expand compliance programs involving the land tax principal place of residence exemption, foreigner purchaser additional duty, and absentee owner surcharge.
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Victorian Government to reap lower stamp duties

<html><body>
Foreign buyers will have to pay more stamp duty on Victorian residential real estate.
The Victorian government could raise an extra $500 million over four years.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said next week’s budget will increase the stamp duty surcharge for foreign buyers from three to seven per cent.
The land tax surcharge for absentee owners will rise from 0.5 to 1.5 percent.
“Victorians would say we deserve a contribution back into the state services from foreign purchases,” Mr Pallas told radio station 3AW.
The Labor government first introduced the surcharges for overseas property owners in last year’s budget.
Statistics show foreign demand for new properties in Victoria leapt from about 5 percent in 2011 to more than 30 percent in 2014.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Foreign buyers in Victoria to have even higher stamp duty

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Stamp duty is a tax that discourages the buying of homes and it should be replaced by a broad land tax. 
State governments have become comfortable with the large income they get from stamp duty on the purchase of homes but they must look at better, more efficient ways to raise funds.
Sydney’s housing is among the most expensive in the world and this is partly driven by the various taxes and levies required by governments. A broad based land tax would spread the income base across all land owners rather than only focussing on the sale of homes.
Recent discussion in the media has advocated for the end of stamp duty, to be replaced with an ongoing annual land tax, and this move has gained widespread support from business groups, social service advocates and the development industry. 
Many economists, including the Prime Minister himself, and Ken Henry, author of the 2010 Henry Tax Review, have stated that a broad based land tax is the most equitable and fairest way to tax property owners and developers. Unlike stamp duty which imposes a huge up-front financial burden upon home buyers, a broad-based land tax, paid annually and spread over a wider base of people, provides a steady income stream to government to fund infrastructure and does not hurt home buyers the way stamp duty does. 
Increasingly, young people are finding it more and costly to purchase a home, and stamp duty adds thousands and thousands to the cost of their mortgage. A land tax ensures that a larger pool of people contribute a small amount of tax, rather than hitting a home buyers with huge financial burden. Who wants to see their children struggling to pay off all thousands of dollars of taxes when they buy their first home? 
Broad based land taxes are simple to administer and encourage urban consolidation as the tax paid is based upon the size of the land. This tax encourages a more environmentally sustainable urban form. 
This is an excellent tax reform and will provide huge benefits for home buyers and a steady income stream for the government to fund infrastructure. 
Chris Johnson is chief executive officer of property development industry group Urban Taskforce and can be contacted <a href="https://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=97&amp;Itemid=126#.Vdaart55dFI" target="_blank">here</a>. 
</body></html>

A broad land tax should replace stamp duty: Chris Johnson

<html><body>
Gladys Berejiklian, the Treasurer of New South Wales, is doing her bit to prop up waning stamp duty revenues.
She's just spent a tad over $1.6 million in Northbridge after selling her two level, two bedroom 1970s North Willoughby townhouse.
Her recent acquisition last sold at $1.3 million in early 2014, so reflected 10 percent plus annual price growth for the three bedroom, circa 2000 townhouse with study which sold through Richardson &amp; Wrench agent Tanya Barrett. It has (pictured) a big backyard.
Her redundant townhouse found its buyer after three weeks on the market, well ahead of its scheduled March auction. It was bought in 2008 for $626,000 and sold at an undisclosed price through Rawa Norman at Ray White.
She will still be in her electorate of Willougby, but closer to Macquarie Street.
Meanwhile stamp duty revenue from home sales have started off 2016 in decline reducing surplus funds available for the NSW State Government's infrastructure spending spree.
Property sale transactions in January and February were the quietest for three years.
March auction levels were less than last year suggesting the dip may extend further into 2016. 
The reduced activity could signal the end of the bonanza enabling the high spending on infrastructure by the state government in surplus.
After a confidence knocking slump in auction clearance rates in December to the low 50 percent, the wet mid-summer meant prospective vendors didn't get around to prepping their houses for 2016 listing.
An early Easter also contributing to the slowdown in activity.
Last year's strength in the Sydney property boom was being especially driven by properties valued over $1.2 million, the last NSW State Budget revealed, but the housing boom longevity was not being assumed by the NSW Treasury, when in her first budget, Gladys Berejiklian announced a surplus of $2.1 billion for 2014-15 largely to windfall stamp duty receipts.
Stamp duty receipts were predicted to rise from $7.8 billion in 2015-16 to $8.6 billion in 2018-19.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
</body></html>

Gladys Berejiklian sells North Willoughby townhouse

<html><body>
Stamp duty revenue from home sales have started off 2016 in decline reducing surplus funds available for the NSW State Government's infrastructure spending spree.
Property sales netted $515 million in duties in January this year.
It was lower than the $551 million paid in January 2015.
Transactions were down to 14,800 from 16,400 monthly property sales a year earlier, in the quietest January for three years.
January is typically among the lowest months for revenues, but NSW Office of State Revenue figures indicated the 6.5 percent dip was the first since May 2013 that revenue was down on the same month 12 months prior.
Auction levels are running at less than last year suggesting the January dip may extend further into 2016. 
The latest February auction activity could signal the end of the bonanza enabling the high spending on infrastructure with February auction listings down around 20 percent at 2400 offerings. 
The auction market also ended a five-weekend sequence of above 70 percent clearance rates last weekend, slipping to 68 percent according to CoreLogic RP Data. Fresh Sydney for sale listings - auction and private treaty - are down 6.5 percent over the past four weeks compared to this time last year, CoreLogic noted.
After a slump in auction clearance rates in December to the low 50 percent, agents also blamed the wet mid-summer and an early Easter for contributing to the slowdown in activity.
The early 2015 strength in the Sydney property boom was being especially driven by properties valued over $1.2 million, the last NSW State Budget revealed, but the housing boom longevity was not being assumed by the NSW Treasury.
NSW land tax revenues were forecast to rise at a faster rate than stamp duty revenues, according to the NSW state budget papers when in her first budget, Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian announced a surplus of $2.1 billion for 2014-15 largely to windfall stamp duty receipts.
Stamp duty receipts were predicted to rise from $7.8 billion in 2015-16 to $8.6 billion in 2018-19, while the June budget papers warned that stamp duty is an "inherently volatile" revenue source for the state government.
The stamp duty fee, which remain at percent levels mostly introduced three decades ago, currently sits at a $5.33 billion total after the first seven months of the financial year.
 
 
</body></html>

NSW stamp duty revenues in decline

<html><body>
Get ready Australia. The Prime Minister announced this week his road map for tax reforms that he proposes to take to the next election.
No need to guess what the centrepiece will be – look no further than a 5% increase to the GST. This will be very hard to achieve given when the GST was introduced in 2000 the states and territories immediately reneged on their agreement to abolish duty taxes, so we can rightly expect that they will never renege again.
The problem facing Malcolm Turnbull is that the states and territories want more money and the federal government can’t fund this through their tax receipts. For years I have argued that (in the case of NSW for example) the state government is the biggest dead weight on the NSW economy.
Stamp duties, insurance duties, pay roll tax... the list goes on. For well over the past decade we have read tax paper after tax paper recommending the removal of these taxes although (until now) this has been ignored by federal politicians.
A report released this week by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling identified that the current 10% GST consumes 13.4% of disposable income for those in the bottom fifth of households, so a further rise in the GST would see this figure jump to 20%. Households in the top 20% would experience a much softer impact where this currently sits at 5.9% and after an increase the new figure would come in at around 8.8%.
For obvious reasons this analysis is going to make the sales pitch for an increase in GST all the much harder when Australians go to the polls around this time next year. Banking economist Saul Eslake announced this week that “Australia’s home ownership rate is actually the lowest it’s been since 1954.” So to fix this, negative gearing will come under much greater scrutiny as established home prices continue to rise. Let’s face it – Australia’s entire tax system is a mess, broken and in urgent need of major surgery.
The Turnbull government will need to also look at the benefits of allowing 100% of new developments to be sold off shore – up until December 2008, the previous restriction was 50%. Two of the big ticket items in the “rivers of gold” are Stamp Duty on residential housing and payroll tax – where we are now seeing clear evidence of what impact these duty/taxes are having on the economy.
If you look at the Mosman house market in 2011/12/13 there were on a weekly basis 75 occasions where there were more than 100 houses on the market. In 2014 the 100 barrier was broken on 14 occasions and in 2015 the market is yet to break 100 where we can all but guarantee Mosman will not break 100 in 2015.
NSW is currently drowning in wage stagnation which highlights why voters will be hard pressed to approve a 5 per cent increase to the GST. Pay roll tax for decades has been referred to as the most insidious tax – so by abolishing pay roll tax employers can then pay their respective staff more which then improves wage stagnation.
No doubt there will be many other opinions as to what is required to finally correct Australia’s taxing imbalances. We can rest assured that over the next twelve months we will be thrown many fascinating and troublesome alternatives for deliberation.
The Turnbull government should also be looking at the overall effect of simply removing the middle – tier of government given the duplication of departments that exist in both state and territories and Canberra. Maybe the time has arrived to simply remove the state and territory governments and thus broaden the responsibilities of the local governments.
Maybe the NSW government has identified that it’s vulnerable so it is moving quickly to amalgamate the councils and then alleviate any such scrutiny?
Whatever happens the next twelve months will unveil debates that we Australians have never before witnessed given the magnitude of this long overdue assignment.
Australia’s Prime Minister is more than capable of handling the task ahead – the people aren’t the problem it’s the politicians who have created this. The time has arrived to set an example once and for all – Australia’s road map for tax reforms has finally been given a new engine and a set of wheels.
Just don’t crash it PM.
<h5>MOSMAN – 2088</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 105
• Number of houses on the market last week – 64
• Number of houses on the market this week – 75
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 76
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 63
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 60
<h5>CREMORNE – 2090</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 17
• Number of houses on the market last week – 14
• Number of houses on the market this week – 12
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 41
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 16
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 17
<h5>NEUTRAL BAY – 2089</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 10
• Number of houses on the market last week – 8
•Number of houses on the market this week – 6
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year– 42
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 31
*Number of apartments on the market this week – 30
 ROBERT SIMEON is a director of <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM" rel="nofollow">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985.  He has also been writing real estate blog <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News" rel="nofollow">Virtual Realty News</a> since 2000. 
</body></html>

robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Australia’s greatest ever sales pitch? Robert Simeon

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Affordability issues in Sydney and Melbourne are creating stresses for homeowners considering an upgrade to a larger family home.
The national debate seems to be all about first home buyers, and with good reason given climbing real estate values coupled with ongoing housing shortages. 
The trouble is that upgrading to a bigger home is not a simple or straightforward transaction either, especially with more empty-nesters in Sydney’s northern and eastern suburbs and Melbourne’s southern and eastern suburbs sitting on larger family homes.
Empty-nesters are hindering the second home buyer markets in our major capital cities because the costs for them to downsize either to a smaller property or a different location are too prohibitive thanks to excessive stamp duty charges imposed by state governments.
Stamp duty eats into the retirement nest-eggs of many older Australians, especially those who have very little in the way of superannuation savings, because the majority of their working careers was completed prior to the introduction of compulsory superannuation in the early 1990s.
It also means that many older Australians are unable to benefit from uncapped, tax-free superannuation payments, which younger baby boomers are now enjoying as they head into retirement.
To rectify this financial imbalance for older, self-funded retirees, Mr Raine is urging state governments to consider stamp duty tax breaks for homeowners aged over 70, who would like to  sell a principal place of residence.
In turn, stamp duty-free real estate transactions for older Australians will help address some of the current supply constraints that are cramping the real estate plans of second time property buyers in our capital cities.
 
Angus Raine is executive chairman, <a href="https://www.raineandhorne.com.au" target="_blank">Raine &amp; Horne</a>.
</body></html>

Stamp duty breaks will help solve second home buyer dilemma: Angus Raine

<html><body>
Australian Government should formulate a national housing strategy that sets clear directions for Australia’s housing sector, is the recommendation of the National Seniors Australia.
In the submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, National Seniors also recommended the examination of all types of housing and issues associated with access, adequacy, affordability and security by utilising findings from the Inquiry on Homeownership, the Inquiry on Affordable Housing, the Federation Review and the Tax Review. 
"Outright homeownership has been falling for people aged 55 and over (39.7% in 2001 to 32.1% in 2011)meaning that a greater number of older Australians are either paying off mortgages during retirement or moving from homeowner-occupier into alternative forms of accommodation.
"Other reasons for a fall in homeownership amongst older Australians include loss of paid employment and significant life events such as divorce or losing a partner. 
"Research suggests that insecurity within the private rental market amongst older Australians has led to a shift to public housing.The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has found that older public housing households are expected to increase from 87,940 in 2001 to 109,560 in 2016, an increase of 24%.
"In the 85+ age group these are expected to increase by 155%. 
"Furthermore, by 2026 the number of lower-income people aged 65 and over who are living in rental households (as homeownership falls) are projected to far exceed the supply capacity of the social housing system. 
"Census data from 2006 to 2011 shows a steady increase in the number of renters aged 55 and over in the private market."
National Seniors Australia recommends that the Australian Government, in collaboration with state and territory governments, examine tenancy regulations, rights and advice services.
The aim would be to deliver security and support for long-term renters; recognise that renting in the private market is a significant form of tenure for many Australians; and increase the attractiveness of this form of tenure for Australia’s long term housing needs. 
"Older renters experience significant anxiety linked to their security of rental tenure and many experience housing stress.Such housing stress is magnified due to rent increasing well above CPI and the insufficiency of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
"Renters face a number of disadvantages including forced moves which greatly contribute to instability. The frequency of moving between owners and renters in Australia is the highest in the OECD.
"The lack of long term (beyond 6-12 months) leases available to Australian renters increases instability.  
"Limiting the ability of property investors to terminate leases for ‘any reason with notice’ to a list of prescribed criteria, allowing pet ownership and minor alterations to the rental property would greatly enhance the lifestyle available to renters. 
"Improving the stability and security of tenure for a renter would provide them with the ability to receive similar non-financial benefits available to home owners.
"Creating greater equity in the Australian housing market would reduce the desire to become a homeowner, subsequently reducing the demand which is currently driving high housing prices in the market. 
"National Seniors recommends that the government investigate policies that will address barriers to downsizing (or 'rightsizing') for older Australians, for example, a national ‘rightsizing’ program. 
"Older Australians face barriers to relocating including: the inability to find value for money, stamp duty, moving costs, lack of suitable housing in familiar surroundings with easy access to required amenities, and impacts of selling the home on Age Pension eligibility. 
"These barriers also decrease capacity for older Australians to access equity in their home to assist with living costs during retirement.  
"Proceeds from the sale of the family home continue to remain exempt from the Age Pension assets test for up to 12 months, as long as the funds are intended to buy another home.  
"However, any interest earned on sale proceeds is counted under the income test, and, if a cheaper home is purchased, any surplus cash is included in the Age Pension asset test.  
"Concerns regarding the proceeds of the sale of the home being subject to the Age Pension assets test discourage 20% of all seniors, and 30% of Age Pensioners from selling the home.
"In 2013 the then Labor government announced the Supporting Senior Australians—housing help for seniors pilot,to address some of the barriers to downsizing that older Australians face. 
"The pilot exempted a portion of sale proceeds from the Age Pension asset test. However, it also applied restrictive conditions, including the requirement that a homeowner had to own their home for more than 25 years and quarantining the proceeds for ten years. 
"As an alternative National Seniors has called for the implementation of a ‘Rightsizing’ program that exempts up to $150,000 in proceeds from the sale of the home from the Age Pension income or asset test.  
"Excess sale funds could then go towards critical services, such as health costs, significantly reducing the burden on government-supported health systems. 
"The recent changes to the Age Pension asset test (legislated in June 2015) will provide an even greater deterrent for seniors to right-size. Reconsideration should be given to a program that allows seniors to right-size without the threat of future reductions to their Age Pension payments."
National Seniors recommends that the states and territories provide concessional stamp duty to older Australians to encourage downsizing and maintenance of homeowner-occupier tenure.  
"A reduction in stamp duty would encourage older people to right-size their homes and improve quality of life, while also providing many younger Australians access to suitable family homes which would not otherwise be available."
</body></html>

Stamp duty reduction may drive senior property re-investment

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Even before the government’s options paper on tax reform is released later this year, many reforms have been taken off the table, at least before the next election. Here’s the expert view on six.
Broadening or increasing the GST
Some experts say expanding the GST, which is a regressive tax, would unfairly hit middle-income earners and women.
Others say a broader base, not higher rate, would be the best approach.
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.11.45%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a><img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.11.45%20AM.png" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
 
If done as part of a package of tax reforms, John Freebairn argues increasing the GST could actually boost our standard of living.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey have said they will not make changes to the GST before the next election, and want the states to take responsibility for reform in this area. This is despite the fact that they could increase the GST without the support of the states.
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.13.45%20AM.png">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.13.45%20AM.png" alt="">
Fixing the asymmetry between negative gearing and capital gains tax
As Helen Hodgson has explained, negative gearing would be less attractive if the capital gain on the sale of an investment was taxed in full.
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.15.54%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.15.54%20AM.png" alt="">
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.17.10%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.17.10%20AM.png" alt="">
The Henry Review recommended reducing the benefit of negative gearing by allowing only a 40% capital gains discount, but this was rejected by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Antony Ting says negative gearing is not a fair tax policy - particularly when considering the way investment properties are treated.
Dale Boccabella says the best solution would be to quarantine negative gearing so that losses on investment properties couldn’t be used as deductions against other income. But he also thinks abolishing it is preferable.
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.18.13%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a> 
<img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.18.13%20AM.png" alt="">
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ruled out any changes to negative gearing, arguing to do so would be akin to increasing taxes.
Adopting global measures to prevent tax avoidance by multinationals
When Australia hosted the G20 leaders summit in November last year, it agreed to a number of actions to ensure fairness in the international tax system. The OECD is leading global reforms, arguing unilateral action could harm the global agreement that is required to stop multinationals shifting profits to reduce their tax burden.
Since then, Treasurer Joe Hockey has announced new measures specifically designed to target multinationals using complex schemes to escape paying tax. Experts say the measures lack teeth since they only apply to foreign and not Australian multinationals.
The next set of OECD-led measures to address global tax avoidance are due to be released at this year’s G20 summit in Turkey. The OECD recommendations will be finalised by December.
Taxing trusts as if they were companies
In 1999 the Ralph Review of Business Taxation recommended that<a href="https://theconversation.com/shock-hockey-was-right-on-taxing-trusts-757"> </a>trusts be taxed as companies, a move that originally got the support of Treasurer Peter Costello. Political pressure soon saw the government back away from this plan, and despite Joe Hockey showing support for the idea back in 2011, it is not one that has the support of the government.
Dale Boccabella says the taxing of trusts is another anomaly in Australia’s tax system that is unfair. Trusts are commonly used by families with a high income to distribute funds to low-earning family members in order to minimise tax.
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.19.31%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.19.31%20AM.png" alt="">
Removing concessions on the taxation of super
Most experts agree superannuation tax concessions are unevenly distributed and are in need of reform<a href="https://theconversation.com/superannuation%20tax%20concessions%20are%20growing%20rapidly,%20are%20unevenly%20distributed%20and%20are%20in%20need%20of%20reform.">.</a>
<a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.20.59%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%208.20.59%20AM.png" alt="">
The Financial System Inquiry suggests super tax breaks shouldn’t exceed what someone would get from the age pension.
The Labor Party wants to remove the tax-free concession available to people with annual superannuation incomes from earnings of more than A$75,000, a move it says would raise more than $14 billion over 10 years.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ruled out any “adverse changes” to superannuation, including changes to super tax concessions.
Expanding land tax over stamp duty
The Henry tax review argued stamp duties are a highly inefficient tax on land, and that land tax could provide an alternative and more stable source of revenue for the states.
Miranda Stewart says stamp duty is volatile<a href="https://theconversation.com/housing-and-tax-why-is-reform-so-hard-3300">,</a> feeds into house prices (contributing to lack of affordability) and taxes more heavily those people who purchase new housing more often, than those people who don’t.
Unfortunately, says Danika Wright, some states are addicted to stamp duty, making reform in this area highly unlikely.
Charis Palmer is deputy business editor at The Conversation and Emil Jeyaratnam is multimedia editor. Both can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/team" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

Stamp Duty

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Stamp Duty

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News