<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Sustainability

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The desire to preserve the special character and historical significance of unique places and buildings is at the heart of heritage preservation. But should heritage be “frozen in time”? Or can it sometimes be adapted for re-use in sustainable ways?
Safeguarding heritage for future generations can celebrate urban histories. But it can also make environmental sense. This includes conserving the embodied energy in buildings and retaining examples of design suited to the local environment.
However, some may see heritage protection as an imposition. This might include owners who wish to add modern sustainability features to a heritage building.
Say, for example, a home owner wants to improve thermal performance and energy efficiency by using double-glazing and solar panels. Would a council heritage officer reject such improvements?
If done well, heritage protection can add value to buildings, neighbourhoods and communities. The benefits can include:
<ul>
<li>preserving cultural and architectural assets</li>
<li>defining the character of places</li>
<li>contributing to social and community well-being</li>
<li>improving the overall built environment.</li>
</ul>
What is old is new again
Many of the world’s cities need to accommodate population growth and activities within existing urban areas. Even places and buildings that are treasured for their cultural value can face mounting pressure for demolition and redevelopment to accommodate growth.
Environmental challenges like climate change are also driving efforts to adapt built environments to be more sustainable and liveable.
How best to protect built heritage then becomes a key question. Fortunately, we can often sustainably modify built heritage for new uses.
Indeed, we have been recycling old places since the first cities were created.
“Adaptive re-use” is the process of repurposing built heritage for new functions. It’s based on the idea of “preservation through transformation”.
Sustainably retrofitting heritage buildings
The possibilities created by adaptive re-use can easily capture the imagination. Could a former chocolate factory be converted into retail spaces? Or a power station be turned into a bookstore, cafe, restaurants or museum? Or a market building be transformed into a museum and studios for artisans?
Adaptive re-use offers potential social, economic, cultural and environmental returns. There are now many successful examples of this. For example, London’s iconic Tate Modern gallery is housed in a former power station.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189732/original/file-20171011-16686-1se7f7f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189732/original/file-20171011-16686-1se7f7f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
From power station to art gallery: the Tate Modern in London. <a class="source" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/reservasdecoches/3661674044" target="_blank">Alquiler de Coches/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
Commentators have noted how since the 1970s formerly disparaged inner-city areas have become trendy around the world. Preserving heritage while allowing buildings and districts to evolve organically in response to current needs is possible.
Buildings are not the only heritage assets that can be adaptively re-used. There are many examples internationally where sites such as cemeteries have been re-used for parks and gardens. One may be seen in the Shandon Architectural Conservation Area in Cork, Ireland.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189724/original/file-20171011-16660-1yvg06y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
This historic, heritage-protected graveyard in Shandon has been adapted into a pocket park. Tony Matthews
In Sydney, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens are a recycled former water storage reservoir. It’s now a beautiful urban park. As well as recreation and relaxation, the park offers urban cooling.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189707/original/file-20171011-2038-1uu94bj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189707/original/file-20171011-2038-1uu94bj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Paddington Reservoir Gardens in Sydney were formerly a water storage reservoir. <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paddington_Reservoir_Gardens_2010.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA</a>
Adaptive re-use is different to “facadism”, where only the external shell of a building is saved. Adaptive re-use attempts to preserve the interior of building too (wherever possible), sometimes incorporating old fittings in playful ways. Facadism is a less elegant and useful version of heritage protection.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189702/original/file-20171011-2038-1bj2o0l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189702/original/file-20171011-2038-1bj2o0l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
 An example of ‘facadism’ – only the shell of the building is retained. <a class="source" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/newtown_grafitti/6835379279" target="_blank">Newtown grafitti/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
So what is allowed in adaptive re-use?
Given the many possibilities for repurposing buildings and places, we need to keep in mind what steps can be taken to preserve heritage and improve sustainability. Legal, practical and financial questions are central to decisions on adaptive re-use.
A raft of international and national laws, conventions and organisations have emerged in recent decades to guide heritage management. These include the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the Burra Charter and the UNESCO World Heritage List. And practical guidance to protect built heritage while sustainably adapting it is becoming more common.
The European Union has developed guidelines and best practice examples for local governments. These provide guidance for achieving ambitious energy efficiency standards when renovating historic buildings. This is seen as a way for heritage buildings to become beacons of sustainable development at the community level.
ICOMOS Australia also has a range of information about guidelines for sustainability retrofits and adaptive re-use of heritage buildings.
For example, let’s return to our earlier example of fitting solar panels to a heritage building. In South Australia the use of solar panels on heritage buildings needs to ensure they are not visible from the street. Hobart City Council has very specific guidelines for incorporating solar in heritage buildings. In Queensland, sustainability upgrades must not damage or obscure views of the heritage building, must not damage the “significant fabric” of the building, and must be sympathetic in size, scale, colour, materials etc.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83975/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Adaptive re-use offers great potential to protect built heritage while meeting principles of sustainability. Practices that combine built heritage protection and sustainable development are gaining momentum in many cities. Comprehensive, integrated and strategic guidance is the first and best step towards supporting the exciting possibilities.
Jason Byrne, Associate Professor of Environmental Planning, Griffith University.
Tony Matthews, Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Planning, Griffith University.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sustainable-re-use-and-recycling-work-for-heritage-buildings-and-places-too-83975" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: The old Pratt Street power plant in Baltimore in the US is now home to commercial uses. But the heritage preservation is compromised by advertising that is not sympathetic to the building style and design. Source: <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BaltimorePowerPlant.JPG">Wikimedia Commons</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sustainable re-use and recycling work for heritage buildings and places too

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The global benchmark for environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of real assets, GRESB has named the Australia and New Zealand real estate market as the world’s most sustainable.
GRESB assessed 850 real estate companies and funds, representing more than 77,000 properties and AUD $4.6 trillion in global assets under management.
The Australia/New Zealand regional score was 73, compared with a global average of 63.
In 2016, Australia/NZ scored 74, compared with the global average of 60.
Ruben Langbroek, Head of Asia Pacific at GRESB said a record 66 Australian companies with AUD $205 billion in assets reported to GRESB this year, up from 55 last year.
He said this uptake is a direct result of increased investor demand for ESG-related disclosures.
“Transparency on ESG performance of property companies and funds supports investors, such as superannuation funds, to make better informed decisions on where and how to allocate their capital," he said.
“Importantly, it also enables them to identify material topics for engagement with their investment managers, with the aim of enhancing and protecting shareholder value.
“The results for Australia and New Zealand underline that investor interest, supported by accurate ESG performance benchmarking and building-level certification programs, is empowering the spread of leading practices in sustainability.
“The region’s integrated approach to sustainability supports the industry’s efforts to create healthy working environments, efficient buildings, inclusive communities and resilient cities.”
Romilly Madew, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia’s said green building certification programs, like Green Star and NABERS, are now institutionalised in mature real estate markets like Australia.
“Disclosure and transparency continue to drive the market in Australia, influenced by a host of factors from the Paris Agreement targets and Sustainable Development Goals, to disclosure requirements through the stock exchange and the Green Building Council of Australia’s zero carbon agenda,” she said.
“Australia continues to be recognised globally for its high level of transparency, collaboration and knowledge- sharing, as well as its accountability for sustainability at the highest levels.
“GRESB can help investors understand important non-financial metrics that are influencing the value of buildings across global markets.
“Leading companies understand this, which is why 20 per cent more Australian companies are now reporting to GRESB than a year ago.”
Lendlease’s Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial was ranked number one of all 850 companies and funds globally.
Lendlease International Towers Sydney Trust and Lendlease One International Towers Sydney Trust were jointly named the most sustainable development funds globally, and the Asian Retail Investment Fund 1 recognised as the regional leader for the retail sector in Asia.
The Australian Prime Property Fund Retail ranked number two in Oceania.
Josh McHutchison, Lendlease’s Managing Director, Investment Management, said around the world, we continue to see more and more investment in sustainable world-class assets.
“Established rating tools like Green Star provide investors with an independent verification of performance and helps us position our funds to meet the demands of leading investors,” he said.
Dexus Wholesale Property Fund was named a global sector leader for diversified office and retail groups.
Darren Steinberg, Dexus Chief Executive Officer said being named a global sector leader recognises our success in delivering world class, sustainable properties and is testament to the hard work and efforts of our sustainability team
Stockland was ranked first globally among listed companies for the diversified office and retail sector.
Stockland also announced today they will invest $23.5 million roll out Australia’s largest ever property solar project at 10 of its shopping centres across the country.
Davina Rooney, Stockland General Manager for Sustainability, said Stockland, sustainability is integral to what we do, creating vibrant and thriving places to shop, work and live, now and into the future.
“We continue to take a concerted effort to improve and measure sustainability across the business - within our assets, through our supply chain, the location and design of our communities and through tangible benefits to our customers and retailers,” he said
“We are 100% committed to investing in sustainability for the business and extremely proud to be setting this new standard in solar for Australian property.”
GRESB’s regional sector leaders for Australia/NZ are:
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Retail – Mixed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Vicinity Centres
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Office – Listed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Dexus Office Trust
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Office – Private:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial – Lendlease
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Industrial – Mixed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Frasers Logistics &amp; Industrial Trust
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Diversified – Retail/Office Mixed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Dexus Wholesale Property Fund
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Development fund – Listed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Goodman Group
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Development fund – Private:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Lendlease International Towers Sydney Trust
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index named Mirvac the top real estate group.
Investment specialist group RobecoSAM, which compiles the rankings, singled out Mirvac’s “climate strategy and approach to biodiversity” as “particularly laudable”.
Mirvac's top ranking was underpinned by strengths in corporate governance, impact measurement and valuation, environmental reporting, and social reporting.
Mirvac’s CEO and Managing Director, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz. said the result demonstrates our whole-hearted commitment to sustainability in its broadest form, which provides real value to our communities, customers, partners and investors.
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Australia posts seven years of global sustainability leadership

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/80677/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Our cities have now been named as the saving places of a planet in crisis. And yet we cannot decide on the principles that make for a good city. Everybody has a view, but some views are more sustainable than others.
What we desperately need is a big and general public dialogue about the principles that make for a good city. This is the basis of our project, Principles for Better Cities, led by the City of Berlin. It provides a platform for the Ecocity World Summit in Melbourne this week.
<h2>Broader vision is needed</h2>
We need to get beyond the current tendency to become fixated on spruiking different high-level concepts. For example, IBM, Microsoft and Big Tech have put their money – or actually other people’s money – on the smart city.
But the concept of the smart city is too often reduced to narrow technological monitoring and big data collection. McKinsey says that a good city will achieve “smart growth”. But tell that to Brussels, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto and Vienna, global cities that are declining in size.
The Mercer group and The Economist tell us liveability is the key. However, they narrowly developed their indices for corporations seeking to decide on how much they will pay their executives for moving to less liveable cities. This raises a further question: “Liveable for whom?”
The Rockefeller Foundation is backing the resilient city. This too is an important concept. But much of its appeal to governments is in saving resources as they seek to defer increasing climate risks through pushing responsibility back to resilient communities to self-manage their recoveries.
<h2>A common problem of definition</h2>
What actually is a good city then? 
Depending on who you ask, they are sustainable cities, liveable cities and resilient cities, but they are also adapting cities and carbon-neutral cities. Or they are caring cities, inclusive cities, just cities, peaceful cities, information cities and networked cities. To confuse things further, they are also prosperous cities, learning cities and innovative cities.
Just by listing these urban forms, the problem starts to become clearer. These are just concepts with shifting or weak definitions. They mean anything “good” and apply variously to anybody’s projections.
The second problem comes with deciding what is actually good about these different emphases.
As part of this difficulty, assigning different indicators to each of these urban forms is extraordinarily difficult. Is a city more liveable because it has a Mediterranean climate? That is what the current liveability indices would suggest. 
Is a city more resilient because its “man-made assets” are more robust? (Excuse the gender-specific language here.) That is what the core resilience literature tells us.
<h2>Who decides?</h2>
The third problem centres on the question: “Who decides what is good?”
The principles and indicators tend to be decided by elite researchers working at a distance from the field, or by teams using sets of secondary data that may or may not be appropriate. 
Elite teams develop black-box indicator sets (such as liveability indexes) that remain commercial-in-confidence. The data drive the index construction without consideration of the meaning of that data. For example, one index ranking better cities in the greater Sydney region is driven by an indicator that suggests a key consideration is being closer to the beach or mountains.
The fourth problem becomes how do we order and prioritise the many claims about what is good. There are so many considerations that the number of potential principles becomes overwhelming. 
This happened to the New Urban Agenda, developed by the United Nations over the last two years. It has hundreds of principles, all thrown together in an incomprehensible list. Cities are understandably confused.
<h2>Towards an inclusive, holistic approach</h2>
Our Principles for Better Cities attempt to respond to all these problems. Complementary to the New Urban Agenda, Principles for Better Cities is an initiative of the World Association of Major Metropolises, which has been working with cities on a set of basic principles to guide good urban development.
This set is based on the proposition that, rather than just adding together a list of proposals from different current or immediate concerns, the principles should begin from a general framework that concerns the human condition.
We start with the idea that there should be basic principles that relate to the following basic domains of social life:
<ul>
<li>
Ecology – cities should have a deep and integrated relationship with nature.
</li>
<li>
Economics – cities should be based on an economy organised around the social needs of all citizens.
</li>
<li>
Politics – cities should have an enhanced emphasis on engaged and negotiated civic involvement.
</li>
<li>
Culture – cities should actively develop ongoing processes for dealing with the uncomfortable intersections of identity and difference.
</li>
</ul>
These have become the top-level principles for going deeper and deeper, elaborated across more and more specific subdomains of practice. 
And here is the completely novel dimension. These principles have been and will be debated by people. None of these principles are fixed, hidden, confusing, or commercial-in-confidence. They are the outcome of open dialogue.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-james-95757" target="_blank">Paul James</a> is Professor of Globalization and Cultural Diversity, Western Sydney University.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/belinda-young-388954" target="_blank">Belinda Young</a> is Project Officer – Ecocity, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-gleeson-9823" target="_blank">Brendan Gleeson</a> is Director, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-wiseman-252" target="_blank">John Wiseman</a> is Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne.
All are authors for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

What actually is a good city?

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Two of City of Melbourne's key urban design initiatives are in the starters gates, with Lord Major Robert Doyle yesterday providing further information on the pair.

As of next month, the long-awaited upgrade to the southern end of Elizabeth Street will begin. Previously outlined on Apartments.com.au during its infancy, the project will seek to transform the area into "a more functional, safe and attractive gateway for the thousands of pedestrians who use it every day,"

Having 9,300 per hour cycle through the bottom end of Elizabeth Street during peak times, the $2.2 million upgrade will include removing auto traffic southbound between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street by October this year. In turn pedestrian space will be more than doubled.

Five key components constitute the Elizabeth Street upgrade:

<ul>
<li>Southbound traffic lane removed</li>
	<li>New pedestrian area</li>
	<li>Tram stop stays</li>
	<li>Western footpath upgraded</li>
	<li>Northbound traffic lane stays.</li>
</ul>
The Elizabeth Street upgrade joins projects such as the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/parks-open-spaces/guide-to-parks/Pages/west-melbourne-parks-expansion-opportunities.aspx">West Melbourne parks expansion project</a> and <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbankboulevard">Southbank Boulevard's pending transformation</a> in consuming sections of the existing road network in order to create greener, pedestrian friendly outcomes.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image84_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="419" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image84_8.jpg?itok=-Vup6nYX" title="The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM</figcaption></figure>Greener outcomes are also what City of Melbourne has in mind with yesterday's announcement that Council will allocate $1.2 million from its new Urban Forest Fund in order to encourage the greening of the city.

Under the plan, "City of Melbourne will partner with philanthropists, property developers, community groups and other Government organisations on greening projects. The initiatives could include planting trees, creating parks, green walls, roofs and facades and storm water projects."

The image above is what City of Melbourne hopes to be the eventual outcome of the scheme, highlighting the 236 hectares of intensive (heavy) green roofs and 328 hectares of extensive (lightweight) green roofs earmarked as capable of being receiving the green treatment.

In order to facilitate the transition to a greener CBD and surrounds, City of Melbourne have what is thought to be <a href="http://commedia.cmail19.com/t/i-i-uuyhjll-l-r/">a world first online tool</a> which maps all the rooftops which have the potential to be turned into solar, cool or green roofs. 
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silvermb

CoM launches two projects aimed at enhancing the CBD

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Developments on government-owned land in Sydney will become carbon neutral, water positive and produce zero waste by 2028, under a new sustainability strategy released for public comment today.
UrbanGrowth NSW’s Draft Sustainability Strategy sets a number of goals and 31 targets for sustainable development across the organisation’s urban transformation projects and greenfield developments.
“UrbanGrowth NSW has a legacy through Landcom as a development industry leader in sustainability, and was among the first development agencies to report on sustainability performance,” said UrbanGrowth NSW Acting Chief Executive Michael Brodie.
“Our new targets will be monitored annually to ensure they remain at, or exceed, industry leading standards. We want to create a legacy of sustainable places for future generations in New South Wales.
“UrbanGrowth NSW will be responsible for the targets on land within our delivery control. Our delivery partners, such as developers, will need to meet our targets, which will be clearly established during Expressions of Interest or tender phases, and embedded into our delivery contracts,” said Mr Brodie.
The Draft Sustainability Strategy is aligned with global commitments from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda, the COP21 Paris Agreement, and the 100 Resilient Cities program.
“Our aim is to create innovative and productive urban places with world class liveability, resilience, inclusion, affordability and environmental quality,” said Senior Manager of Sustainability Lauren Kajewski.
“The 31 sustainability targets will lead to greater water and energy efficiency, reduced waste, innovation, less car dependency and higher liveability across Sydney.”
The targets include:
<ul>
<li>reducing the use of potable water (drinking water quality) by 50%</li>
<li>diverting 95% of all construction waste from landfill with a focus on recycling</li>
<li>100% of timber sourced for construction to be Forest Stewardship Council Certified</li>
<li>20% of all new housing designed and built to Liveable Housing Design Silver certification (in addition to any legislative requirement); and</li>
<li>all developments to incorporate high-speed broadband and free wifi in key open spaces.</li>
</ul>
UrbanGrowth NSW is seeking industry and community feedback through an online survey over a 10- week period from 1 March to 7 May 2017.
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UrbanGrowth NSW building a sustainable Sydney

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GUEST OBSERVER
This year is the United Nations’ International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Taleb Rifai declared it gave: "A unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued."
Sustainable tourism comes from the concept of sustainable development, as set out in the 1987 Brundtland report. Sustainable development is:
"A development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
British environmental activist George Monbiot argued that, over the years, sustainable development has morphed into sustained growth. The essence of his argument is that little resolve exists to go beyond rhetoric. This is because environmental crises require we limit the demands we place on it, but our economies require endless growth.
At the moment, economic growth trumps environmental limits, so sustainability remains elusive.
What is sustainable tourism?
Tourism is important to our efforts to achieve sustainable development. It is a massive industry, and many countries rely on it for their economies.
In 2016, more than 1.2 billion people travelled as tourists internationally, and another 6 billion people travelled domestically.
According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, sustainable tourism is:
"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities."
Following on from Monbiot’s criticism, we might ask if efforts are directed at “sustaining tourism”, or instead harnessing tourism for wider sustainable development goals.
No place is off the tourism circuit
Looking at some of the tourism trouble spots, complacency is not called for.
Venice residents have accused tourists of “destroying their city”. Barcelona’s government has passed legislation to limit new tourist accommodation. The Galapagos sees mass tourism’s arrival threatening the iconic wildlife that attracts visitors.
No place is off the tourism circuit, so tourism grows with few limits. Ironically, tourists even want to tour Antarctica to see its pristine environment before it disappears (“last-chance tourism”). This is despite their impacts contributing to global warming and threatening this last wild place.
It is difficult to get a complete picture of the impacts of tourism because no-one is working to build a comprehensive view. So, insights are fragmented.
While we might be sceptical that UN “years” are often more rhetoric than real, we can nonetheless seize the opportunity to make tourism more sustainable.
How can tourism be made more sustainable?
Tourism can be made more sustainable through several achievable measures. Some look to technological solutions so we can continue business as usual. Others highlight conscious consumerism and ideas like slow travel.
But in a world in which growing populations with endless consumer demands are pitted against a fragile environment, we require more concerted effort.
1) Governments must implement policies that foster sustainable development by overcoming the growth fetish. Tourism then should be developed only within sustainable development parameters. Governments must tackle the environmental limits to growth and climate change challenges we confront. Tourism development requires integrated planning. So, we need the government tourism authorities – such as Tourism Australia or state tourism commissions – focused equally on integrated planning as the marketing they currently emphasise.
2) Consumers should be educated for responsible travel choices. For example, few realise that all-inclusive resorts result in economic benefits from tourism leaking out of the host economy back to the home economies of the big multinationals and corporations that often own such resorts (think Club Med). Civics education in schools could educate for responsible travel.
3) Local communities, often treated as only as one stakeholder among the many, must have a right to participate in tourism decision-making and have a say on if and how their communities become tourism destinations.
4) Workers of tourism must have their rights respected and given decent conditions. Tourism should not be allowed to continue as a low-wage and precarious source of employment.
5) The tourism industry needs to assume greater responsibility, submitting to local tax regimes and regulations so its presence builds thriving communities, rather than undermining them. This is increasingly essential as a social license to operate. The industry should also educate its clients on responsible tourism.
6) Non-governmental organisations are essential for reporting on the abuses of tourism, including land grabs, human rights abuses, community opposition and corruption.
Harnessing these essential stakeholders in a rigorous agenda for sustainable development, rather than sustaining tourism, would make the UN’s “year” more meaningful.
 
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles is affiliated with the Centre for Tourism and Leisure Management, University of South Australia. She can be <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/freya-higgins-desbiolles-181651" target="_blank">contacted here</a>.
 
 
 
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Tourism industry grows without restriction – but there are ways to curb its environmental damage

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/70038/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Sitting at home in the recent heat, your mind may start to wander to that fancy new air conditioner. 
But when it comes to making your house comfortable and sustainable, prevention is better than cure. By prevention we mean simple retrofits that will set you on the path to comfort and sustainability. 
As we spend more than ever on maintaining and improving our homes, we’re also becoming more aware of how their design and use impact on our health and society. Add to this climate change and rising energy costs. 
There are many ways to reduce energy and stay comfortable. Numerous reports suggest it should be possible to reduce your energy use by 50-80 percent using existing and available materials and appliances.
Appliance are the easy bit, and you can find the most efficient appliances using energy star ratings. But before you go out and buy that air conditioner, consider the following principles that can help you decide what you need to create a comfortable home. 
<h2>Prevention better than cure</h2>
For a long time the perfect “room temperature” was considered to be around 21℃. But we now understand that as humans we like temperature variations rather than vanilla indoor environments.
As explored in Lisa Heschong’s book Thermal Delight in Architecture(1979), most of us are not looking for a beige thermal environment after all. So to start with, we need a change in attitude. Bring back the cardigan for winter and the shorts for summer! 
The next point is basic knowledge about your climate zone. For instance, in Melbourne there are more heating days (159) than cooling days (35). So, if you are retrofitting in summer, remember the main annual task is actually letting the sun in in winter.
Even with climate change, Melbourne will still require heating on more days than cooling for decades to come, whereas in Brisbane the priority is keeping out the heat and catching the breeze. 
So Melbourne homes need reversible sunblock. You can use plants with seasonal foliage to shade summer windows, or temporary techniques like temporary sail shades or movable window awnings can work. Plants can also cool outdoor spaces through evapotranspiration, which helps combat the growing “urban heat island” problem and makes the backyard a more pleasant place to be.
Despite some bad press over the years, insulating ceiling, floors and walls where possible remains the best way to address 50-80% of heat gains/losses. In many homes ceiling insulation is cheap and easy to fit and can even be topped up. Insulated homes have also been found to perform better during extreme weather events and are quieter, more comfortable and natural places to be.
In summer sun, black roofs are bad news. Coating surfaces can reflect excess heat. Coating technology has been employed in paint products for your walls and roofs, and is also being developed in landscaping materials for the backyard.
Single-glazed windows are responsible for 10-35% of heat gains/losses in our homes. A range of double-glazed window products is now available, or you can even get a secondary glass pane to place over existing windows. 
Double-glazed (or triple-glazed) homes are more comfortable in extreme weather, and are also quieter and more comfortable. Add drapes and blinds for added temporary use to keep out sun or keep in warmth when needed.
While these preventive passive measures might seem basic, the fact is that (a) technologies, markets and pricing are changing rapidly, so it makes sense to be open to new retrofitting ideas and products; and (b) comfort remains the big-ticket item and it will only get more so as climate change affects all of our homes. Addressing this first will reduce the requirement for other technologies and appliances.
<h2>The principles of retrofitting</h2>
Another area of technology progress is digital data systems to monitor indoor energy services. Energy supplier portals, temperature loggers and smartphone apps are now widely available.
For the more enthusiastic, if you buy a couple of temperature loggers and place one in your main living area and one in your main bedroom you can collect data at intervals as small as one second. You can use this data to identify how your house is performing and how you are using it. More importantly, you can satisfy yourself that the retrofit you’ve just paid for has made a difference.
We’ve only covered a few focus areas in this article. There are many good options we haven’t dealt with. However, we propose three principles for any retrofit project:
<ol>
<li>
prioritise big-ticket items (such as thermal comfort) – what do you need most and what uses the most energy? – to plan and design around your climate zone and home needs
</li>
<li>
prevention is better than cure – focus on passive elements before turning to appliances
</li>
<li>
diversity is better than standardisation – don’t aim for 21℃, aim for controllable comfort, openable windows and adjustable systems room by room. Design in easy adjustment through movable technologies such as fans, curtains, plants and shades.
</li>
</ol>
With all the hard work done, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the new indoor environment, but be aware that, as with our climate, our conventions, routines and expectations of comfort are constantly changing. 
Some argue for evidence of a comfort dividend, where occupants of newly eco-retrofitted homes increase their use of heating or cooling appliances (or both). 
Undoubtedly, as consumption patterns change and social standards shift, we will need to adjust our eco-retrofit priorities. Homes are not just a material work in progress, but are sites of social and cultural life after all.
 
Trivess Moore is research Fellow, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/trivess-moore-12580" target="_blank">here</a>.
Andrew Carre is lecturer, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-carre-321635" target="_blank">here</a>.
Ralph Horne is deputy pro vice chancellor, Research &amp; Innovation; Director of UNGC Cities Programme; Professor, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543" target="_blank">here</a>. 
All authors for The Conversation.
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Thinking about a sustainable retrofit? Here are three things to consider

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Urban development and renewal expert, Dr Joan Clos, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations’ Habitat Program, will visit Australia in May.
Australia is a signatory to the New Urban Agenda (NUA), the UN’s 20 year road map for sustainable urban development.
The NUA sets a new standard for sustainable urban development and is designed to help countries rethink how they plan, manage and live in cities.
Compass Housing, in association with RMIT University, Victorian Department of the Environment, Land Water and Planning, CoDesign Studio and Eastern Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), is bringing together representatives from across the region to explore the implications of the new agenda and start work towards delivery of outcomes.
The conference Implementing the New Urban Agenda: Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 4-5 May 2017.
Greg Budworth, Compass Housing group managing director,  said the Australian Government's adoption of the NUA last October was an important opportunity for housing and urban policy development.
“The conference in Melbourne will provide the first real opportunity in Australasia and the Pacific region for those with an interest in getting urban development right, to start developing an effective and strategic approach without further delay.
“We know our population is growing, it will potentially double in the next 50 years, and this is putting pressure on our urban areas, particularly capital cities. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures suggest two-thirds of Australians currently live in a capital city and this may increase to nearly three-quarters in the relatively near future.
“Housing affordability is already an enormous problem, and there are more than 200,000 families on the waiting list for social housing while 40 per cent of people receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance are still in housing stress.”
Professor David Adamson, conference chair,  said addressing these issues and delivering the key NUA objectives of “cities for all” and “no one left behind” would require the collaboration of a wide range of private, public, academic and not-for-profit agencies.
“Having the head of the UN Habitat Program in attendance in Melbourne is a fantastic opportunity and a sign of the global significance of the event,” he said.
“Dr Clos has had an illustrious career spanning public health, diplomacy, municipal government and urban renewal and will bring powerful insight and enormous practical experience to the task at hand,” he said.
 
 
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Global sustainable urban development leader to help inform Australian policy direction

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Frasers Property Australia have won the National Signatory of the Year category at the CitySwitch Green Office awards for renovations to their St Kilda office to promote staff health and wellbeing.
Frasers Property Australia upped their NABERS rating from four to five stars. HESTA was awarded a highly commended.
The National New Signatory of the Year went to KPMG with a 72 percent waste recovery rate  and reducing paper by more than 8 million sheets.
NSW winners included the State Library of NSW (Signatory of the Year over 2000 square metres), Architectus (Signatory of the Year under 2000 square metres), Norman Disney &amp; Young and Westpac (Partnership of the Year) and Marlin Communications (NSW Signatory of the Year).
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said CitySwitch has come a long way from the small program offered by three Sydney councils in 2005.
"It has spread across the country and is now receiving global recognition for the way it has engaged businesses of all sizes to make a difference on carbon emissions,” she said.
“It’s a heartening sign that Australian business is serious about its environmental impacts, and also that it has been quick to grasp the business benefits of a green economy. Since 2011, CitySwitch members across Australia have slashed emissions while saving a combined $34 million in electricity bills.
“CitySwitch National Signatory of the Year, Frasers, achieved a 4.5 star NABERS Indoor Environment Quality rating with improvements to lighting, air quality, natural ventilation and maximising use of natural light.
“The fact that CitySwitch is in line to receive a major international accolade is a credit to the businesses that have enthusiastically jumped on board this great initiative.
“I congratulate all finalists and winners and thank them for being a part of the CitySwitch Green Office program.”
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Best and brightest offices make sustainable switch

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<div class="intro">
Four development projects have made the shortlist for the NSW Government's Green Globe Awards built environment category.
The projects include 5 Martin Place, Sydney from DEXUS Property Group, Fairwater from Frasers Property Australia, 275 Kent Street, Sydney by Mirvac and Westpac: St. George, Barangaroo Branch
The winners will be  announced 28 October
DEXUS Property Group: 5 Martin Place, Sydney
5 Martin Place was developed by Cbus Property and DEXUS Property Group. The development sets a new benchmark for office buildings in Sydney with its clever architectural design, high-end materials and finishes, and good access to natural light and ventilation.
Frasers Property Australia: Fairwater (pictured above)
Fairwater, Frasers Property Australia's 38 hectare residential development in Blacktown, is built on an old golf course surrounded by communal outdoor areas and ecological precincts. It is the first 6-star Green Star - Communities rating to be awarded in NSW. This project represents initiatives in large-scale residential precinct development which locks in real outcomes in sustainable living for residents.
Mirvac: 275 Kent Street, Sydney
Westpac Place at 275 Kent Street is one of Australia's largest office buildings. As Westpac's head office it contains extensive office space plus a food court, child care centre and urban park. Built by Mirvac in 2015, the building was one of the first properties in Australia to achieve a 6-Star Green Star Performance rating. The rating represents World Leadership in operational management and complements the property's 5-Star NABERS energy rating.
Westpac: St. George, Barangaroo Branch
Westpac's focus on environmental solutions has resulted in the large urban renewal development at Barangaroo, Sydney. The development is the first retail fit-out in Australia to be awarded a 6-Star Green Star - Interiors rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. The fit-out design ensures water and energy consumption is minimised. All furniture and building materials in the fit-out demonstrate a reduced environmental impact over their entire lifecycle compared to standard products. Social innovations include the provision for community organisations to use the branch premises outside office hours.
</div>
<div class="navigation-tile lvl-three">
For more information, <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/greenglobes/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
 
</div>
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