<p>S&amp;S Projects is boosting its investment at Rainbow Bay to more than $1 billion after the prolific Gold Coast developer acquired a new site for $20.25 million and immediately laid plans for a new luxury apartment project in the sought-after precinct.</p>

<p>The site, which is the company’s fifth acquisition at Rainbow Bay in the past four years, will be home to the company’s largest project to date after delivering 3 sold-out projects and construction progresses on Radia worth a combined $215m.<br />
S&amp;S Projects is currently finalising plans for its latest strategic acquisition, a 1,518 sqm site located 209-213 Boundary Street in Coolangatta, with a development application expected to be lodged within weeks.</p>

<p>The luxury residential development will build on the company’s highly successful projects at Rainbow Bay, comprising Flow, Awaken, Esprit and Radia, with Radia currently under construction by Hutchinson Builders.</p>

<p>“We have been unflinching in our commitment to Rainbow Bay and the transformation we have helped drive in this incredible part of the Gold Coast, which is among the city’s most desirable residential locations,” said S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun.</p>

<p>“Our fifth project will reflect the best of what we have done so far to create a lifestyle precinct that is second to none.”</p>

<p>The latest development, which has yet to be named, is proposed to accommodate 88 luxury apartments in a design that will immerse residents in a unique wellness lifestyle that expands on the legacy of S&amp;S Project’s earlier developments at Rainbow Bay.</p>

<p>The development will feature an expansive rooftop garden and wellness centre with a resort- style pool, among a host of lifestyle amenities planned for residents.</p>

<p>“Rainbow Bay, with its beautiful, protected beach and alongside one of the world’s best surf breaks at Snapper Rocks, is the natural wellness heartland of the Gold Coast,” said Gedoun.</p>

<p>“We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden.”</p>

<p>The latest acquisition comes as S&amp;S Projects is at the completion of Esprit and construction continues on Radia, which are part of their significant portfolio undertaken by the company at Rainbow Bay since 2022.</p>

<p>The $215 million Radia, which comprises 38 apartments, is currently the flagship development by S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay which is expected to be completed in 2027.</p>

<p>Jayde Pezet, of Pezet Matheson, which has managed sales and marketing for S&amp;S Projects across their Gold Coast portfolio, emphasised the developer’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence.</p>

<p>“S&amp;S Projects continue to elevate the benchmark of luxury with each development," Pezet said.</p>

<p>“We have worked with S&amp;amp;S on their 4 other projects in Rainbow Bay and their approach reflects a team that is constantly learning, refining, and pushing the standard higher.</p>

<p>“Their hyper-local knowledge and deep expertise within the luxury property sector are what truly set them apart, allowing them to deliver projects that feel both globally sophisticated and authentically connected to their coastal environment”</p>

<p>S&amp;S Projects plans to officially launch its latest project at Rainbow Bay in the second half of this year.</p>

<p>“As we embark on our largest project yet, we have pulled out all stops to create another landmark development that truly reflects the relaxed southern Gold Coast lifestyle,” Gedoun added.</p>


Joel Robinson

S&S buys $20m Rainbow Bay site for fifth beachside apartment project

<p data-end="268" data-start="86">Japandi, an emerging design trend that combines Scandinavian functionality with Japanese rustic minimalism, remains relatively untested in Australia’s residential development market.</p>

<p data-end="545" data-start="270">As developers look to differentiate their projects and offer something distinct to buyers, Brisbane-based developer Lantona has embraced the hybrid style for its recently launched Toowong apartment project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/koya-residences-6-josling-street-toowong-qld-4066">Koya Residences</a>, with early response to the design proving positive.</p>

<p data-end="1014" data-start="547">Lantona entrusted Red Door Architecture and interiors practice Luma Design Co with delivering the Japandi brief. The approach blends Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality, emphasising warm, restrained interiors, natural materials and clean lines. Drawing on the Japanese concept of <em data-end="855" data-start="844">wabi-sabi</em> (beauty in imperfection) and the Scandinavian principle of <em data-end="922" data-start="915">hygge</em> (comfort and cosiness), it creates serene, uncluttered and sustainable living environments.</p>

<p data-end="1200" data-start="1016">These design principles are expressed throughout the Josling Street development, both in its exterior form and across the 40 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences within.</p>

<p data-end="817" data-start="541">[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366229]</p>

<p>Koya reflects a deliberately scaled approach, with the five-storey form designed to align with the surrounding residential streetscape rather than dominate it.</p>

<p>“Koya is conceived as a building that sits comfortably within its surroundings. Every decision, from material selection to spatial planning, has been guided by long-term liveability and enduring relevance,” the developer said.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366243]</p>

<p>Positioned within an established inner-west neighbourhood, the development sits near riverfront parklands and the Bicentennial Bikeway, while remaining within walking distance of Toowong Village and multiple public transport options connecting to the CBD, St Lucia and West End.</p>

<p>Lantona said the location was central to the project’s conception, pointing to Toowong’s balance of green space, transport access and proximity to major education institutions.</p>

<p>“<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> combines river access, walkability, immediate CBD connection and a strong educational presence. That balance made it the obvious setting for Koya.”</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]</p>

<p>Communal amenity is concentrated on the rooftop, where a shared retreat will include a pool, dining areas and outdoor spaces oriented towards neighbourhood and city views. The design allows for both private use and small gatherings, extending the living environment beyond individual apartments.</p>

<p>Koya enters the market at a time when smaller-scale developments are becoming less common in established suburbs, with many recent projects in the suburb shooting for the sky.</p>

<p>In a nod of confidence,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/brisbane-builders">Brisbane Builders</a>&nbsp;has already commenced construction on the building, which is slated for completion in early 2027. Keenan &amp; Byrne is marketing Koya.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150787]</p>


Japandi-inspired Koya Residences launch in Toowong

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:ca872054-bfe3-4cc5-a2c8-b373d4dfeafb-2" dir="auto">
<p>A completed Castle Hill apartment development is returning to market with an uncommon level of financial backing, positioning it as one of the more secure options for buyers in Sydney’s north-west.</p>

<p>Skyview in Castle Hill, originally developed by Top Place and now overseen by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, is being relaunched following a full remediation process. Central to its repositioning is a substantial financial reserve designed to provide ongoing protection and reduce uncertainty for incoming purchasers.</p>

<p>At the core of this offering is an $11 million bond secured during the project’s remediation phase, negotiated by former NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler. With less than $4 million required to complete the works, approximately $7.2 million remains in reserve, with around 15 years left on the term.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359134]</p>

<p>Rather than a typical insurance-backed structure, the remaining funds are held as cash, creating a readily accessible financial buffer should any future building issues arise. The structure is intended to provide buyers with an added layer of certainty, differentiating the development from more conventional apartment offerings.</p>

<p>Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure provides a level of security not typically seen in apartment developments.</p>

<p>“The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers,” Huxley said.</p>

<p>“Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind.”</p>

<p data-end="884" data-start="551">[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359135]</p>

<p>The remediation process has now been completed in full, with no active rectification orders or outstanding directives linked to the project on NSW Government registers. This outcome reflects the broader tightening of building oversight across the state, while also highlighting the project’s transition into a completed, compliant asset.</p>

<p>In a market where many buyers remain cautious about apartment quality, initiatives like this are designed to restore confidence, giving purchasers greater certainty and a stronger sense of security in their investment.</p>

<p>Equitifund has since acquired the remaining apartments and is managing their reintroduction to the market. With the works finalised and a significant financial reserve in place, the project now presents with a markedly different risk profile compared to its initial release.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359137]</p>

<p>Beyond the added security, the development is positioned in one of Castle Hill’s more established pockets. The Gay Street address places it within close proximity to Castle Towers, one of the country’s largest retail centres, as well as Castle Hill Metro Station, which now connects directly to the broader Sydney Metro network.</p>

<p>Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said buyer demand in the area continues to be driven by access to transport and amenity.</p>

<p>“Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre,” Hamblett said.</p>

<p>“There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living.”</p>

<p data-end="1889" data-start="1564">[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359145]</p>

<p>The apartments also enter the market at a relatively accessible price point for the area, with two-bedroom configurations starting from $995,000 and rental demand for similar stock reaching around $900 per week. This combination of pricing, connectivity, and completed status is expected to appeal to both owner-occupiers and investors seeking lower-risk entry into the Hills District apartment market.</p>

<p>For eligible buyers, a limited 3.50 per cent p.a. two-year fixed interest rate is currently available through Equitifund’s lending partners, providing an additional layer of affordability.</p>

<p><em>EquitiCredit Pty Ltd ACN 676 363 769 holds ACL 559289 and provides credit assistance. Finance is arranged through EquitiCredit and funded by its lending partners. Interest rates are subject to change and eligibility criteria apply. Terms, conditions, fees and charges may apply. This is not financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Prospective buyers should seek independent financial advice.</em></p>

<p data-end="2131" data-start="1891">[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]</p>
</section>


Castle Hill apartments offering unmatched buyer protection through dedicated fund

<p data-end="236" data-section-id="18vtkcf" data-start="134">A State-Assessed Rezoning Proposal for the Kurnell Peninsula is now on public exhibition, setting out a plan to deliver up to 4,300 homes alongside new retail, tourism and public open space on a 210-hectare coastal site.</p>

<p data-end="643" data-start="460">The proposal, backed by the Minns Labor Government, would transform a former sand mining area along Captain Cook Drive into a mixed-use precinct delivered over approximately 20 years.</p>

<p data-end="844" data-start="645">In addition to housing, the plan includes more than 7,000 sqm of retail and commercial space, new community facilities and approximately 116 hectares of open space, equating to more than half the site.</p>

<p data-end="844" data-start="645"><img alt="Kurnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce1c6567-1df0-4de0-9fe5-a76be0367834" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-13%20at%209.11.51%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=dbbTmYaJvROA5fkQbgaxis8cmFwtpB5_" /></p>

<hr data-end="849" data-start="846" />
<h2 data-end="902" data-section-id="ony3l3" data-start="851">Rezoning framework enables mixed-use development</h2>

<p data-end="1094" data-start="904">The rezoning application seeks to amend planning controls under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Central River City) and the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan 2015.</p>

<p data-end="1356" data-start="1096">Its primary objective is to enable a broader range of land uses across the site, including residential, employment, tourism and community uses, while also formalising environmental protections and land management outcomes .</p>

<p data-end="1597" data-start="1358">The proposal has progressed through the state-led rezoning pathway after being identified as a project of regional significance, supported by several years of technical studies and agency consultation .</p>

<p data-end="1713" data-start="1599">Development would occur in stages, aligned with the progressive closure and remediation of the existing sand mine.</p>

<hr data-end="1718" data-start="1715" />
<h2 data-end="1768" data-section-id="krwii9" data-start="1720">Master plan structured around three precincts</h2>

<p data-end="1955" data-start="1770">The accompanying urban design report outlines an indicative master plan that divides the site into three primary precincts, anchored by a town centre in the western portion of the site.</p>

<p data-end="2150" data-start="1957">The town centre is planned as the first stage of development, located on land that has already been remediated. It is intended to accommodate higher-density housing, retail, and community uses.</p>

<p data-end="2150" data-start="1957"><img alt="Kurnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4bfd5873-4847-4105-b220-0a30c96f5573" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-13%20at%209.20.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7aVaSsZLAc6mElSH4g6Ct5bGsNxZcnPL" /></p>

<p data-end="2300" data-start="2152">Additional precincts extend toward Bate Bay and Boat Harbour, with built form responding to environmental conditions and proximity to the coastline.</p>

<p data-end="2490" data-start="2302">The design framework identifies distinct local character areas, with the master plan structured to reflect “unique natural qualities” across the site.</p>

<hr data-end="2495" data-start="2492" />
<h2 data-end="2544" data-section-id="1vitwqn" data-start="2497">Open space forms core of the design approach</h2>

<p data-end="2660" data-start="2546">A key component of the proposal is the allocation of approximately 116 hectares to open space and ecological land.</p>

<p data-end="2676" data-start="2662">This includes:</p>

<ul data-end="2846" data-start="2678">
	<li data-end="2702" data-section-id="d96caj" data-start="2678">Three district parks</li>
	<li data-end="2723" data-section-id="17y6uz6" data-start="2703">Nine local parks</li>
	<li data-end="2741" data-section-id="14hui00" data-start="2724">Sports fields</li>
	<li data-end="2778" data-section-id="ts7psx" data-start="2742">Coastal and ecological corridors</li>
	<li data-end="2846" data-section-id="agduax" data-start="2779">Two kilometres of publicly accessible beachfront along Bate Bay</li>
</ul>

<p data-end="2982" data-start="2848">The urban design report positions this open space network as central to the structure of the development, rather than ancillary to it.</p>

<p data-end="3116" data-start="2984">It is intended to support ecological regeneration, provide recreational amenity and create a connected network across the peninsula.</p>

<p data-end="3342" data-start="3118">The plan includes north–south ecological corridors, expanded wetland systems and pedestrian and cycling links designed to connect residential areas to the coastline and open space areas .</p>

<hr data-end="3347" data-start="3344" />
<h2 data-end="3381" data-section-id="ql66rt" data-start="3349">Housing mix and affordability</h2>

<p data-end="3467" data-start="3383">The proposal includes approximately 4,300 dwellings across a range of housing types.</p>

<p data-end="3563" data-start="3469">This includes high-density apartments, medium-density housing, townhouses and seniors housing.</p>

<p data-end="3688" data-start="3565">Affordable housing provision is identified at approximately 240 dwellings, alongside a smaller component of social housing.</p>

<p data-end="3872" data-start="3690">The master plan emphasises housing diversity, with the intent of accommodating a range of household types and age groups within the development.</p>

<p data-end="3872" data-start="3690"><img alt="Kurnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d4baba4d-b5b0-4a86-bcad-5d319b036184" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-13%20at%209.11.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=udYFz0q8tjEPR3pmKLHRSFRJN4dKakPO" /></p>

<hr data-end="3877" data-start="3874" />
<h2 data-end="3919" data-section-id="rgckdv" data-start="3879">Built form controls and height limits</h2>

<p data-end="3994" data-start="3921">Proposed building heights across the site range from three to 12 storeys.</p>

<p data-end="4173" data-start="3996">These controls are set out within the rezoning application and are intended to manage visual impact, maintain view corridors and ensure compatibility with the coastal landscape.</p>

<p data-end="4387" data-start="4175">Floor space ratios and height limits are applied across different parts of the site to reflect varying environmental conditions and proximity to open space and the coastline .</p>

<p data-end="4543" data-start="4389">Higher density is generally concentrated within the town centre, with lower-scale development toward the coastal edge and environmentally sensitive areas.</p>

<hr data-end="4548" data-start="4545" />
<h2 data-end="4588" data-section-id="1minlda" data-start="4550">Retail, tourism and employment uses</h2>

<p data-end="4688" data-start="4590">In addition to residential development, the proposal includes retail, commercial and tourism uses.</p>

<p data-end="4704" data-start="4690">This includes:</p>

<ul data-end="4896" data-start="4706">
	<li data-end="4775" data-section-id="1jrun76" data-start="4706">Approximately 7,000–9,800sqm of retail and commercial floor space</li>
	<li data-end="4803" data-section-id="10kyifw" data-start="4776">A full-line supermarket</li>
	<li data-end="4830" data-section-id="fz1hdg" data-start="4804">Food and beverage uses</li>
	<li data-end="4896" data-section-id="1aqg2fj" data-start="4831">Tourism accommodation, including hotel and short-stay options</li>
</ul>

<p data-end="5045" data-start="4898">The proposal also identifies employment outcomes, with the development expected to support jobs both during construction and in ongoing operations.</p>

<p data-end="5137" data-start="5047">These uses are concentrated within the town centre and key activity areas across the site.</p>

<hr data-end="5142" data-start="5139" />
<h2 data-end="5172" data-section-id="162x2kt" data-start="5144">Infrastructure and access</h2>

<p data-end="5279" data-start="5174">The proposal includes upgrades to Captain Cook Drive, which provides the primary access to the peninsula.</p>

<p data-end="5362" data-start="5281">These upgrades are intended to improve traffic flow and support emergency access.</p>

<p data-end="5405" data-start="5364">The transport strategy also incorporates:</p>

<ul data-end="5529" data-start="5407">
	<li data-end="5433" data-section-id="fanquy" data-start="5407">Internal road networks</li>
	<li data-end="5469" data-section-id="o6y80y" data-start="5434">Walking and cycling connections</li>
	<li data-end="5529" data-section-id="jgraft" data-start="5470">Proposed public transport routes and bus stop locations</li>
</ul>

<p data-end="5718" data-start="5531">The rezoning report includes detailed analysis of transport, flooding, and infrastructure requirements to support the staged development of the site .</p>

<hr data-end="5723" data-start="5720" />
<h2 data-end="5769" data-section-id="14urh3" data-start="5725">Environmental and cultural considerations</h2>

<p data-end="5923" data-start="5771">The site is identified as having environmental and cultural significance, including areas of ecological value and Aboriginal archaeological sensitivity.</p>

<p data-end="6002" data-start="5925">The proposal includes measures to protect and enhance these areas, including:</p>

<ul data-end="6230" data-start="6004">
	<li data-end="6056" data-section-id="1pzyouo" data-start="6004">Retention and regeneration of coastal vegetation</li>
	<li data-end="6100" data-section-id="bjn2vz" data-start="6057">Strengthening of biodiversity corridors</li>
	<li data-end="6148" data-section-id="1bpeyoj" data-start="6101">Protection of riparian systems and wetlands</li>
	<li data-end="6230" data-section-id="lg0cka" data-start="6149">Integration of cultural interpretation and recognition of Indigenous heritage</li>
</ul>

<p data-end="6409" data-start="6232">The urban design report also outlines opportunities for incorporating Indigenous cultural elements into public spaces and landscape design.</p>

<hr data-end="6893" data-start="6890" />
<h2 data-end="6908" data-section-id="w7rk5f" data-start="6895">Next steps</h2>

<p data-end="6997" data-start="6910">The proposal is currently on public exhibition, with submissions open to the community. Feedback received during this period will inform the Department of Planning’s assessment of the rezoning.</p>

<p data-end="7223" data-start="7106">If approved, the rezoning would establish the planning framework for future development applications across the site.</p>

<hr data-end="6893" data-start="6890" />
<h2 data-end="6908" data-section-id="w7rk5f" data-start="6895">What the NSW Government says</h2>

<p>Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the planned closure of the sand mine and remediation of the Kurnell Peninsula presents an exciting opportunity to transform the area.</p>

<p>“This proposal envisions a vibrant new beachfront community with thousands of new homes, jobs and great open space in the Sutherland Shire. I encourage the community to have their say during the public exhibition period. Feedback from the community will play an important role in the assessment of the proposal.”</p>


Sydney's newest beachfront city: NSW Gov to unlock 4,300 new homes on Kurnell peninsula

<p>A long-awaited transformation of a former industrial site in Holroyd has been given the green light, with the NSW Government approving the $1.2 billion Crescent Parklands masterplan that will deliver more than 1,200 new homes just south of Parramatta.</p>

<p>The State Significant Development approval clears the way for a large-scale mixed-use precinct at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-crescent-street-holroyd-nsw-2142">1 Crescent Street</a>, replacing an underutilised site with a coordinated residential community anchored by new open space, retail, and commercial uses.</p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> for WA-based developer Tiberius, the approved scheme comprises seven buildings arranged across two precincts. In total, the development will deliver 1,227 apartments, including 201 allocated as affordable housing, alongside approximately 2,500 sqm of retail and 5,000 sqm of commercial space within a mixed-use podium.</p>

<p><img alt="Tiberius’ Crescent Parklands to deliver 1,200+ homes in major Holroyd transformation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1cc82dd2-8184-4b86-8665-90653147820d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Crescent%20buildings.png?VersionId=2ZmVDc_Rfc4AzQ6ShzZJlvdZnACLerVM" /></p>

<p>The project is structured as a masterplanned precinct rather than a standalone tower. Buildings 1 to 4 will rise from a shared podium with shop-top housing, while Buildings 5 to 7 are positioned closer to the northern park interface as residential flat buildings. The built form has been carefully modulated to balance density with amenity, with the design resolving building separation, solar access, and wind impacts at a precinct scale.</p>

<p>A significant focus of the design is the activation of Crescent Street and the integration of public domain. The submission notes that “individual townhouses [were] removed for community based functions to Crescent Street to increase activation and surveillance,” reinforcing a more urban and publicly engaged street edge. Retail, commercial tenancies, and resident amenity spaces are concentrated along this frontage and within the podium to support day-to-day activity.</p>

<p>The landscape strategy underpins the project’s identity, with a network of pedestrian connections, landscaped corridors, and open spaces linking the site internally and to its surroundings. The design prioritises permeability, delivering “increased uninterrupted flow between spaces for pedestrian access” and improved connections through to the adjoining parklands.</p>

<p><img alt="Tiberius’ Crescent Parklands to deliver 1,200+ homes in major Holroyd transformation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19282454-ab2f-4e2c-866f-4b35cf4283d4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Crescent%20masterplan.png?VersionId=JQdWGYI5B5R1lzmK4omYOp_8KLPkT4Bv" /></p>

<p>Buildings within the western precinct are oriented toward the park, shaping a residential offering defined by proximity to open space. The design describes this approach as creating apartments “immersed in nature with apartments facing the park,” positioning the landscape as a central organising element of the masterplan.</p>

<p>The broader architectural response addresses both infrastructure and context, with taller elements capturing long-range views toward Parramatta while setbacks and separation distances mitigate impacts on surrounding residential areas. Sustainability initiatives, including solar optimisation, cross-ventilation, and integrated landscape systems, are embedded across the scheme.</p>

<p>Located approximately one kilometre south of Parramatta CBD, the 3.6-hectare site is bounded by Crescent Street, Woodville Road, and Holroyd Sportsground. It benefits from strong access to public transport, including nearby bus routes and train stations, and sits within a rapidly evolving corridor earmarked for increased residential density. The design also strengthens connections between surrounding green spaces, including Holroyd Sportsground and Parramatta Parklands.</p>

<p>The approval follows several years of planning, including a rezoning process that enabled significant uplift in height and density across the site. With determination now secured, Crescent Parklands is positioned to play a major role in delivering new housing supply within Greater Parramatta’s growth area.</p>


Tiberius’ Crescent Parklands to deliver over 1,200 homes in major Holroyd transformation

Tourism

<html><body>
<p>The federal government's latest tourism recovery package seems set to ignite investor and owner occupier purchasing interest in coastal Queensland property in coming months.</p>

<p>Between May and July, the federal government will subsidise the price of nearly 800,000 airline tickets as part of a $1.2 billion tourism package aimed at getting more Australians to spend big on domestic holidays.</p>

<p>A 50 per cent discount via taxpayer-subsidised airfares will be offered for flights to and from 13 regions that typically rely heavily on international visitors.</p>

<p>The 13 destinations include the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, and the Whitsundays region.</p>

<p>"This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard," Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested.</p>

<p>But the property industry have expectations the visitors will also spend up on property, and some will even sell up down south and stay in Queensland.</p>

<p>The destinations also include the Lasseter region which includes Uluru, Alice Springs, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie, Broome, Avalon, Merimbula and Kangaroo Island.</p>

<p>Last year during the height of the pandemic Ripehouse Advisory released its COVID-19 Australian Property Report warning property buyers and investors should avoid buying in locations highly dependent on travel and tourism. </p>

<p>Ripehouse Advisory estimated locations heavily exposed to tourism and travel had quickly experienced an average reduction in value of 2.5 per cent, and some have seen more than 10 per cent.</p>

<h2>Gold Coast Projects</h2>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=22057]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=27575]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=7840]</p>

<h2>Sunshine Coast Projects</h2>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=13241]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=29119]</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=22041]<br><br>
[smartcode_project:default project_id=29122]</p>
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The 13 destinations include the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, and the Whitsundays region

jchancellor

Half price airline tickets to boost property investor interest in coastal Queensland locations

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<p>A Singaporean tourism developer has snapped up a vacant site in Albany as Lots 1&amp;2 Frenchman Bay Road sold for $1,050,000 following a successful campaign.</p>

<p>The two combined lots were zoned for tourism use and offered a total 3.2594 ha site area, with Lot 1 occupying 1.8987 ha, and Lot 2 occupying 1.3607 ha.</p>

<p>The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial (WA) Senior Property Advisor Brett Wilkins and Hotels, Tourism and Leisure Advisor Phil Zoiti.</p>

<p>“The land is unique in relation to its location and views and is close to a number of attractions including Whale World, the Salmon Holes, and the Torndirrup National Park. The site is currently vacant and has planning approval in place for development of 24 accommodation units - together with a caretaker’s residence and café,” Mr Wilkins said.</p>

<p>Mr Zoiti said, “Investment sentiment is positive for regional tourism assets - whether it be bricks and mortar or development sites - which is indicative of the market in 2019 and before the COVID-19 pandemic."</p>

<p>“Whilst there was a temporary setback with COVID-19 back in March 2020, we have seen a strengthening of the sector - especially in the accommodation and caravan park markets - in both visitor nights and spend. "</p>

<p>“Overall, enquiry levels for regional hotel and tourism assets has increased tenfold in the past six months with investors looking to buy in key tourism areas such as Kununurra, Broome, Carnarvon, Shark Bay/Denham, Kalbarri, Dongara, Bunbury, Margaret River/Busselton, Albany and Esperance,” he concluded.</p>
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The tourism developer snapped up a vacant site in Albany as Lots 1&2 Frenchman Bay Road sold for $1,050,000 following a successful Ray White campaign

urban.com.au

Singaporean developer purchases Albany tourism site for $1.05 million

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<div>Net permanent and long term migration into Australia seems to be steadying, summimg +266,400 in the year to August, according to the latest ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures. </div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge </a></p>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C2.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>The number of permanent settlers per annum appears to be very gradually rising again, with 57.1 per cent of settlers hailing from Asia. </div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C5.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C5.jpg" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div>It feels as though annual population growth in 2016 will be tracking at around +1.3 per cent, or somewhere between +300,000 and +350,000. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, the composition of growth has changed very significantly since the peak of the mining investment boom in 2012, with Sydney and Melbourne accounting for a record and ever-greater share of the headcount growth. In aggregate, regional population growth has slowed. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chinese arrivals</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>More dramatically, total annual short term arrivals increased by a very strong +10.6 per cent over the year to August, to sit at a smidgen under 8 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Outbound trips are still increasing too, but at a far less sprightly pace (in fact the pace of outbound growth is less than half of that of short term arrivals, meaning that a positive rebalancing continues). </div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C3-1.jpg" target="_blank"> Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C3-1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<p>The annual number of Chinese arrivals continues to accelerate at an astonishing pace, increasing by +23.1 per cent over the past year to a new high of 1.18 million. </p>
<div>There are now more annual visitors from China and Hong Kong to Australia than there are from our more proximate neighbour New Zealand. </div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C4.jpg" alt=""> </p>
<div>While many are short term arrivals <em>bona fide</em> tourists, a total of precisely 500,000 short term arrivals into Australia over the year to August were primarily for the purposes of education.</div>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/11/C1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a><br><img src="/images/2016/10/11/C1.jpg" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div>Higher education is hugely attractive for international students from Asia, since it comes with the lure of potential permanent residency, obviously a big drawcard. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Note that there are now more than two years of water under the bridge since the higher education boom really teed off in earnest, meaning that over the next year or two there may is likely to be a very strong uplift in students being granted permanent residency (as indeed is forecast by the DIBP) or sundry visa types.</div>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The wrap</span></strong></p>
<p>While permanent and long term migration to Australia seems to have levelled out, arguably the more significant trends are taking place beneath the surface. </p>
<div>There is plenty of noise in month-to-month figures, but simply following the trend in the number of monthly visitors from China shows a doubling from less than 50,000 per month in early 2012 to well over 100,000 per month in Q3 2016. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In terms of the property sector, while it's true that that the incoming wave of Chinese capital most impacts new and off-the-plan properties, there are now so many permanent residents and citizens of Chinese heritage that the impacts have shifted into established property too. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<em>News</em> draws a tangible link between education arrivals and Chinese property buying activity, notably in inner Sydney suburbs such as Haymarket, Ultimo, Kensington, Surry Hills, Waterloo, and other parts of South Sydney, for example. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Chinese visitors more than double in 4 years: Pete Wargent

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<p><span>EXPERT OBSERVER</span></p>
<p><span>Australia's trade balance is now falling away.</span><br><br><span>In fact, it was already tailing away by the end of February.</span></p>
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOmhb_SA0jA/Xoxjg6jjTAI/AAAAAAAA1I4/z6XkdAsKbEEsekV4D5rPxPY-9iwwGHnwACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IT1.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOmhb_SA0jA/Xoxjg6jjTAI/AAAAAAAA1I4/z6XkdAsKbEEsekV4D5rPxPY-9iwwGHnwACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IT1.jpg" width="640" height="372" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1402"></a></div>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Coal exports were dropping away in the early months of 2020.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xILeCnbw360/XoxjhNrg4gI/AAAAAAAA1I8/_YE1hMJWV5A8JbIEaqS5y5KyO7YFa1_oQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IT2.jpg" style="font-size: 12.16px;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xILeCnbw360/XoxjhNrg4gI/AAAAAAAA1I8/_YE1hMJWV5A8JbIEaqS5y5KyO7YFa1_oQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IT2.jpg" width="640" height="388" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1369"></a></p>
<p><span>And commodity export values had rolled over.</span><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XinURAg-fLg/XoxjhIC658I/AAAAAAAA1JA/7IOfS1zHzgcbMnLHiaYwpBlodZB4CfuOwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IT3.jpg" style="font-size: 12.16px;"></a></p>
<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XinURAg-fLg/XoxjhIC658I/AAAAAAAA1JA/7IOfS1zHzgcbMnLHiaYwpBlodZB4CfuOwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IT3.jpg" style="font-size: 12.16px;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XinURAg-fLg/XoxjhIC658I/AAAAAAAA1JA/7IOfS1zHzgcbMnLHiaYwpBlodZB4CfuOwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IT3.jpg" width="640" height="370" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1441"></a></p>
<p><span>Worryingly, even in February services credits were hammered, as tourism began to dry up.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpYKdHb0Tn4/Xoxjh8WkNAI/AAAAAAAA1JE/BLjF-zHbAN4U6BUBPBbalg5wG7WV-LYiwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IT4.jpg" style="font-size: 12.16px;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpYKdHb0Tn4/Xoxjh8WkNAI/AAAAAAAA1JE/BLjF-zHbAN4U6BUBPBbalg5wG7WV-LYiwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IT4.jpg" width="640" height="390" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1364"></a></p>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator"><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">The Reserve Bank didn't sugar-coat anything in its Minutes today, predicting a sharp contraction in growth and a substantial rise in unemployment.</span></div>
<div> </div>
<div>The RBA noted that financial markets have been operating somewhat more effectively, partly thanks to central bank measures around the world, with a starburst of co-ordinated fiscal and monetary stimulus coming down the pipe. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Borrowing costs for some new borrowers are declining, but note that these trends impact borrowers on a case by case basis, and in some respects lending standards and assessments have been tightening and becoming more conservative.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<strong>PETE WARGENT</strong><em> is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.</em>
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Australia's trade balance is falling away: Pete Wargent

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<div>
<p><span>The significant depreciation of the Aussie dollar has encouraged a record 7.2 million short-term visitors to Australia over the past year.</span></p>
<p><span>But why are people coming?</span></p>
<p><span>The main reason is for holidays (3.24 million), and ever more so from China and its provinces.</span></p>
<p><span>Increasingly, though, folk are also coming to Australia to visit their friends, families and relatives, with more than 2 million people falling into this category.</span></p>
<p><span>The other huge growth area is for education, with a smashing 451,000 education arrivals in the past year, a massive annual increase of well over 17%.</span></p>
</div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/10/08/Arr.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/10/08/Arr.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>These figures suggest a boost for tourism economies such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Tasmania, for example.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The latest available government data shows that the boom in foreign students is overwhelmingly a capital city dynamic.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
</div>
</div>
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Why are people coming Down Under? Pete Wargent

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<p>A new five-star resort in the tourism hotspot has been announced for Western Australia’s Margaret River region.</p>
<p>The Westin Margaret River Resort &amp; Spa is a joint development between Saracen Properties and Security Capital Australia.</p>
<p>CBRE Hotels and KWM acted as joint exclusive advisor to negotiate the Hotel Management Agreement with operator, Marriott International.</p>
<p>Located on the southern headland of Gnarabup Beach, the luxurious resort has been designed by architects, Christou Design Group.</p>
<p>The earmarked site has direct access to the famous Cape to Cape walking trail, nearby national forests, ancient caves and world-class surf breaks.</p>
<p>The resort will be positioned in the heart of the famous wine region, just 10km from the Margaret River town centre.  </p>
<p>CBRE’s Head of Capital Markets for Western Australia, Aaron Desange said the announcement was particularly welcomed in the current climate.</p>
<p>“The Westin Margaret River Resort &amp; Spa will be a major drawcard for the South West region and will further boost Margaret River’s presence on the international stage. More than 15 regional and international operators bid for this opportunity, which underlines the scarcity of five-star resort development opportunities in thriving regional Australian leisure markets,” he said</p>
<p>“Importantly, this announcement will increase the region’s luxury tourism appeal, which will help contribute to injecting much-needed revenue back into our state after particularly challenging economic times.”  </p>
<p>Scheduled to open in 2023, the Westin Margaret River Resort &amp; Spa, is expected to feature 120 guestrooms, three on-site dining venues, 400 square metres of meeting space, extensive leisure facilities, including a resort-style outdoor swimming pool, and day spa.</p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

New five-star resort announced for Margaret River region

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<p>EXPERT OBSERVER</p>
<p>When live auctions were banned due to the health crisis, the number of auctions dropped dramatically with a double hit coming from a broader drop in listing volumes.</p>
<p>Yesterday, there were 137 auctions scheduled in Sydney and 110 scheduled in Melbourne, representing a significant drop compared to this time last year – and auction numbers were already very low due to the 2019 federal election.</p>
<p>While clearance rates only look at a very small portion of the market, the big spike in the New South Wales clearance rate last weekend to 77% is perhaps proof that buyer activity remains strong and that buyers are more comfortable buying in-person than online. This theory is also supported by increased levels of buyer enquiry and search activity on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/buy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">realestate.com.au.</a></p>
<p>This weekend, the clearance rate hit 72% in New South Wales and 70% in Victoria.</p>
<p><strong>Restrictions on overseas travel could be a boon for domestic tourism</strong></p>
<p>Australians love overseas travel, spending more money overseas ($58.3 billion) in 2019 than foreign tourists spent in Australia ($44.6 billion).</p>
<p>With borders shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that $58.3 billion will stay in Australia and it’s likely a fair proportion of it will be spent on domestic travel. Once domestic travel is up and running again, we may even get close to the $80.7 billion spent on domestic overnight travel last year, or perhaps even exceed that figure.</p>
<p>Tourism Research Australia provides a high level of detail on where both domestic and overseas tourists like to travel. In every part of Australia, domestic tourists spend more than overseas tourists except in one location – Sydney.</p>
<p>If our travel patterns remain consistent, then the area that will benefit most from a domestic tourism boom will be Melbourne, followed by Sydney and Brisbane. The regional areas that will benefit include the northern coast of New South Wales, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.</p>
<p>Domestic tourism could surge on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast after COVID-19.</p>
<p>There is a lot of uncertainty about whether domestic travel patterns will remain consistent. Can Melbourne continue to offer the sporting and cultural events it is so famous for in this environment? Will some states continue to maintain border closures?</p>
<p>The rate of domestic tourism will also depend on marketing expenditure – big campaigns may get us all travelling to the outback, the Limestone Coast or the Fleurieu Peninsula.</p>
<p><strong>Banks are flush with cash but access to funding isn’t easy</strong></p>
<p>The one positive in this downturn is that we are not in a financial crisis. Our banks are well capitalised and, at this stage, are not weighed down by bad debt.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, according to mortgage brokering business Smartline, the banks are being very cautious and taking measures to:</p>
<p>1.Tighten lending policies including discounting of non-core income such as bonuses, casual income and overtime and;</p>
<p>2. Introduce more questions and forms to mitigate losses from people who have been impacted by COVID-19;</p>
<p>3. Meanwhile, Smaller lenders who are less able to weather the storm are being even more cautious – some have even lifted interest rates – and service levels are now varying greatly – those that have relied on off-shore lending operations seem far more heavily impacted. Insurers are also being much stricter.</p>
<p>While access to funding isn’t easy, it hasn’t dented demand for home loans and many people are looking to refinance to get a better deal. Total submissions for home loans through Smartline have increased 21% while settlements have increased by 8%.</p>
<p><strong>NERIDA CONISBEE</strong> <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/author/nerida-conisbee/" target="_blank"><em>is the chief economist for the REA Group</em></a></p>
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Return of live auctions is great news for Australian property: REA's Nerida Conisbee

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<p class="legacy">GUEST OBSERVATION</p>
<p>Until a trans-Tasman travel bubble is <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-04/trans-tasman-bubble-coronavirus-what-might-happen-next/12212580" target="_blank">established</a>, there is little doubt the New Zealand tourism industry will <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/413845/covid-19-domestic-travellers-eyed-to-keep-tourism-sector-viable-after-lockdown" target="_blank">rely entirely</a> on domestic travel post-COVID-19.</p>
<p>Without underplaying the impact the pandemic will have on discretionary spending in both countries, however, there may be a silver lining to the crisis.</p>
<p>New Zealand is in the fortunate position of having an <a href="https://tia.org.nz/about-the-industry/quick-facts-and-figures/" target="_blank">already strong</a> domestic tourism sector. Domestic tourists spent NZ$23.7 billion annually (or NZ$65 million a day) pre-COVID-19, compared to a total spend of NZ$12.7 billion (or NZ$47 million a day) by international visitors. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/11857" target="_blank">Research</a> pre-COVID-19 showed 65% of New Zealanders wanted to explore more of their country, a figure expected to increase.</p>
<p>True, New Zealanders generally don’t have the deep pockets international tourists have. Their higher overall spend is a reflection of their numbers, not their bank balances. But with the big ticket tourist attractions now missing the bigger spenders, the market will rule.</p>
<p>Regional tourism organisations, attractions and operators may need to rethink their offerings and their pricing. While tramping the <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping/great-walks/" target="_blank">great walks</a> may be perfectly affordable for a family of four, taking the family on a whale watch, a bungy jump or a cruise on Milford Sound may not be – especially as parts of one big holiday. Indeed, it has been found that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/11857" target="_blank">price</a> is the major decision-making factor for 30% of New Zealanders when it comes to holidays.</p>
<p>So this is also an opportunity to give New Zealanders back a piece of the summer pie – not only for the COVID-19 recovery but in the longer term. Summers have tended to be characterised by a large influx of international tourists, with Kiwis settling for shoulder seasons (and unfavourable weather) to tramp the famous tracks when they are <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/99088942/tourists-outnumber-new-zealanders-on-the-great-walks--and-the-gaps-growing" target="_blank">less crowded</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/331898/original/file-20200501-42929-8lze50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></p>
<p><span class="caption">Attractions such as the famous Shotover Jet near Queenstown may have to adjust costs to suit Kiwi pockets.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">www.shutterstock.com</span></span></p>
<p>But domestic tourists who have grown accustomed to off-peak holidays away from high-cost destinations will soon tip the scales. Now is the time for operators to win back their hearts.</p>
<p>With New Zealand’s gradual easing of its strict lockdown (possibly to the stage of allowing non-essential travel by mid-May), tourism can clearly support the economic revival of local communities. The challenge is how to reinvent New Zealand tourism as an initially purely domestic industry.</p>
<p>Overall, only a handful of New Zealand destinations have depended entirely on international tourists. These also happen to be the places most heavily associated with overtourism in the past. Given that the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14616688.2020.1759131" target="_blank">growth model</a> driven by short-term, dollars-first business thinking has led to an <a href="https://www.noted.co.nz/money/money-economy/nz-tourists-should-we-limit-number-visitors" target="_blank">unsustainable</a> tourism market, might this also be a chance to restore some equilibrium?</p>
<p>That will mean no more killing the goose that lays the <a href="https://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/pristine-popular-imperilled-the-environmental-consequences-of-projected-tourism-growth" target="_blank">golden egg</a>. Some hotspots, such as the <a href="https://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/" target="_blank">Tongariro Alpine Crossing</a> and <a href="https://www.thecoromandel.com/activities/must-do/hot-water-beach/" target="_blank">Coromandel’s Hot Water Beach</a> may be managed by restricting visitor numbers.</p>
<p>Such strategies have long been in place in other places, such as the <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/" target="_blank">booking requirement</a> for the Milford Track. We have also seen tremendous problems associated with too many cruise ships in too small places. Akaroa is a prime example, and limiting both the number of visits and the size of vessels may be a feasible <a href="https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018685520" target="_blank">future strategy</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/331899/original/file-20200501-42929-1nm13fy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></p>
<p><span class="caption">A cruise liner arrives at tiny Akaroa in the South Island: limiting the number of visits to small centres has already been proposed.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">www.shutterstock.com</span></span></p>
<p>As part of our own research (yet to be published) into the pressing issues of overtourism we conducted interviews with various tourism stakeholders around New Zealand, including city and regional councils, the Department of Conservation, residents and operators. This took place just before New Zealand’s strictest lockdown level was imposed, without any real foreknowledge of the eventual economic impact of COVID-19.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, our interviewees shared very similar sentiments when it came to how the industry can evolve sustainably only if New Zealanders themselves embrace the behaviours they expect (and sometimes demand) of foreign tourists. According to our subjects, too many Kiwis still hold on to a past when the country’s population was half its current size and SUVs and large motorhomes didn’t crowd the roads and parking lots.</p>
<p>Initiatives such as the <a href="https://tiakinewzealand.com/" target="_blank">Tiaki Promise</a>, which promote environmental and cultural sensitivity to tourists, have largely targeted international visitors. These now need to turn the lens inwards so that Kiwis become better ambassadors within their own backyard.</p>
<p>Kiwis love their country, but they will now need to truly discover what it has to offer, not only for a weekend of tramping or a quick getaway, but for their main summer holiday. And they will have to become better kaitiaki (or guardians) of their homeland in the process.</p>
<p>The absence of international tourists will be a huge challenge, but also an opportunity. If we get it right, when those foreign visitors are allowed to return (most likely at first from Australia) we will have found ways to grow – or limit – their numbers and their expectations so that our tourism industry can thrive as well as survive.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/137256/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;"></p>
<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sabrina-seeler-744896" target="_blank">Sabrina Seeler</a>, Postdoctoral Researcher, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/nord-university-3607" target="_blank">Nord University</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-lueck-804450" target="_blank">Michael Lueck</a>, Professor of Tourism, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137" target="_blank">Auckland University of Technology</a></em></span></p>
<p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-coronavirus-survival-challenge-for-nz-tourism-affordability-and-sustainability-137256" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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The coronavirus survival challenge for NZ tourism: affordability and sustainability

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<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Australia is projected to lose $25 billion in foreign spending as COVID-19 cripples tourism from outside of Australia, according to Finder.com.au.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">In this month’s Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey™ – the largest of its kind in Australia – 42 experts and economists weighed in on future cash rate moves and other issues related to the state of the Australian economy. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">The vast majority of experts (87%, 27/31) who weighed in on tourism, expect Australia’s borders to remain closed for the rest of the year, with only four respondents (13%, 4/31) indicating international travel restrictions would be lifted in 2020.</span></p>
<p><strong id="x_m_-4821919292617302644docs-internal-guid-dd5a3120-7fff-cf60-28f1-49d94bdf4397" style="font-family: 'proxima nova', 'helvetica nue', Helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZdyacFGEAxiw86iiqygX2ck5EbsLNId8PHvfw-NrEyS91Ab3Gf3X9wctdwrMHIzmZ6YDNjhmgM5iySPAicizgnjLEcYqDMIoJuqVyEqlt6O5gET_Hx9U21Zl70bwtEdFrvI1Jzud" width="619" height="484" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: inherit; outline: none;" data-imagetype="External"></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">In total, 13 believe the border will fully reopen in the first 6 months of 2021, while 12 think it will happen later in the year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder said there is a risk that the volume of international travellers won’t return for many years. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">"Continuing restrictions are projected to result in millions of fewer tourists into 2021 and with it, billions in foregone spending.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">“This is a problem for all corners of Australia, with 44 cents of every tourism dollar spent in regional destinations,” Cooke said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Tourism directly employs 666,000 Australians making up 5% of Australia’s workforce, according to Tourism Australia.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Australia shut its borders to non-residents amid the coronavirus pandemic on March 20.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">International tourists delivered $45.4 billion to the economy last year, Tourism Research Australia figures show. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Of that, $17.2 billion was spent by holidaymakers and $7.6 billion was spent by tourists visiting friends and relatives. Just over $13.3 billion was on education from visitors on a student visa. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;">Foreigners typically spend around $5,211 on Australian travel and tourism per trip. </span></p>
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