Macquarie York has appointed Roberts Co to as the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) partner for its upcoming new Surfers Paradise apartment development, Sunset Residence.

Located at 50 Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Residences is a riverfront, design-driven tower set to elevate one of Surfers Paradise’s most rapidly transforming enclaves. The refined scheme, designed by Plus Studio, features 72 luxury residences, enhanced amenity, and improved connectivity to the Nerang &nbsp;River.&nbsp;

As ECI partner, Roberts Co is working closely with Macquarie York and the design team to optimise buildability, program, staging and procurement strategies ahead of construction commencement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Macquarie York Director, Roy Skaf, said Roberts Co’s early engagement will help ensure the landmark development realises its full potential.&nbsp;

“Sunset Residences is a signature project for Macquarie York, a chance to define a new level of riverfront living in Surfers Paradise," Skaf said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Roberts Co appointed Early Contractor Involvement partner for Macquarie York’s Sunset Residences on the Gold Coast" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dd22a45-168b-4e00-b6d2-4e7310b02084" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/SunsetResidences_Interior.jpg?VersionId=NAWvGq7l6BFB4vvh6u0xXWWISboHTi6q" />

“Partnering with Roberts Co under an ECI arrangement gives us the confidence that design decisions, construction methodology and programming are being rigorously considered from day one. Their collaborative mindset and technical capability are exactly what a project of this quality demands.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Construction is expected to commence following completion of the ECI phase and final design resolution.

Sunset Residences is one of three projects Macquarie York has locally. They have Rana Palm Beach, 60 apartments on Twenty Third Avenue, and Azariah, just nine residences on the dress circle Jefferson Lane, also in Palm Beach.

Joel Robinson

Macquarie York appoints Roberts & Co for early works agreement at Sunset Residences

Few developers in South East Queensland have shaped the new development apartment market as profoundly, or as consistently, as Mosaic Property Group. In 2025, the business delivered another very strong year across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, building on the foundations of nearly two decades of discipline, long-term thinking, and relentless refinement of its craft.

Their continued success is driven from the top. Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan, very much credits the success to a workforce of “massive grafters”, and a culture where complacency simply doesn’t exist.

“In every part of our business, we’re constantly pushing to get better” Monahan told <a href="http://apartments.com.au">Apartments.com.au</a>. “We never rest on our laurels.”

The company’s growth continued its upward trajectory, with the developer completing six luxury projects in 2025, representing approximately $850 million in value and delivering 536 new luxury homes. Mosaic also sold over $1.4 billion worth a new luxury apartments at an average price point of $3.41 million in 2025.

Heading into 2026, they have a further five projects under construction and an immediate pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, representing just shy of $2 billion in value. I spoke with Brook about everything from the evolution of Mosaic’s business to the fundamentals driving the SEQ property market.

<hr />
<h2>A market defined by two forces</h2>

The fundamental drivers of SEQ’s housing dynamics in 2025 are straightforward: a generational transfer of wealth on a scale Australia has never seen, and migration numbers that continue to exceed expectations.

“An enormous amount of wealth will move through the next decade,” Monahan explains. “That wave isn’t going anywhere.” Simultaneously, “you can’t run migration at the numbers we’re seeing, while also having a generational shift of wealth from boomers, and not expect demand to remain strong. People move here, they bring money, they want to buy a home and create a future.”

While top-end product in some pockets has softened from the frenzy of 18 months ago, Monahan believes&nbsp; the wave will remain “pretty strong,” especially for developers with brand trust and a long-term track record.&nbsp;

“The $4 million to $10 million segment remains fairly robust, but buyers are much more educated now than they’ve ever been. They have access to information and they’re smart people. They’re generally not&nbsp; willing to trust a new entrant asking $15 million with no track record.”

This heightened consumer discernment, he notes, is reshaping how premium projects are evaluated by developers.

<hr />
<h2>The problem behind the crisis</h2>

Despite strong demand, SEQ’s housing market remains severely undersupplied. Brisbane needs around 12,000 new homes per year, yet delivered only 4,000 last year. The Gold Coast requires around 6500 but delivered less than half of that. The backlog is massive.

“We’re probably 54,000 homes short in the next five years in Brisbane alone,” Monahan estimates. “Maybe 100,000 across the whole of Queensland.”

The core issue however isn’t planning.&nbsp;

“The planning environment is actually super supportive right now,” he says. “Approvals aren’t the problem. It’s turning approvals into real supply.”

The gap between development approvals and project starts has widened significantly as construction costs escalate, contractors disappear from the market, and inexperienced developers try, and fail, to bring projects to life.

“A development application (DA) is only part of the equation, it means little without the ability to deliver,” he explains. “Many applicants underestimate the complexity involved. It’s not just about securing a site; you need the right formula and all the right ingredients to make it work. Without that, the end result will fall short of expectations and increase the risk of project failure.

The result is market distortion: sites tied up by entrants who lack experience, capital certainty, construction understanding, or a realistic feasibility model. “It’s not good for the industry,” he says. “You get more and more mooted supply but very little real delivery.”

<hr />
<h2>Construction realities and the coming resource crunch</h2>

Beyond development capability, SEQ faces macroeconomic pressures. Over $7 billion must be delivered by late 2031 just for Olympics-related obligations. Add $18 billion in hospital and health infrastructure, and the region faces a “resource drain” Monahan believes will reshape delivery timelines and construction pricing for years.

“It will ultimately be great for SEQ for the next 20 years,” he says. “But it puts enormous pressure on an already chronically undersupplied housing market.”

This pressure will inevitably influence pricing. Double-digit growth cannot continue indefinitely, but Monahan sees no path to meaningfully lower construction costs. “It’s impossible to meet demand at a cheaper price point given labour capability and resource competition,” he says.

“Those who can afford it will keep paying more and the rest are fighting to get a foothold. That’s why the market keeps creeping upward.”

<hr />
<h2>Mosaic’s disciplined blueprint: Only A-Grade, iconic, irreplicable</h2>

With a long track record of delivery and in-house construction expertise, Mosaic works backwards from the cost of delivery to determine the right price for a site—a disciplined acquisition model they’ve adhered to from day one.

&nbsp;“We’re never out of the market,” Monahan says. “But we’re extremely disciplined. We don’t buy B+ sites. We won’t buy run-of-the-mill locations. Ever. That’s not our brand and it’s also not economically viable for us in most instances.”

Mosaic’s nine current developments illustrate this discipline:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-by-mosaic-4-rosewood-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Lily</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/marella-146-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">Marella</a>, Broadbeach: Two 30-storey buildings with permanently protected views over parkland, beach and coastline 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/isabel-by-mosaic-96-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Isabel</a> and, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/josephine-by-mosaic-166-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Jospehine</a>, Burleigh Heads – all “masterpiece” sites on the Esplanade with enduring view corridors of beach, water and coastline in the heart of Burleigh 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sophia-by-mosaic-1357-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Sophia</a>, Palm Beach- directly on the dunes of the most highly sought after stretch of northern Palm Beach beachfront real estate 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline</a>, Broadbeach – “180 degrees beach, water and coastline views, great walk score” 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford</a>, Kangaroo Point – a site Mosaic first identified in 2016. Amazing walk score, views and inner city connectivity 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a>, Kangaroo Point – in between the Gabba and the Kangaroo Point peninsula with amazing walk score and uninterrupted and expansive northern city and river views 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1">South Brisbane (launching 2026) – core inner-city Brisbane river waterfront site on the northern end of the peninsula with amazing river connection and permanent river and city views, amazing walk score</li>
</ul>

“Nothing we buy is guesswork,” Monahan says. “It’s always an iconic suburb where people genuinely want to live, with strong connections to water, lifestyle, amenity, or permanent view corridors.”

“Mosaic’s two most recent Brisbane acquisitions were several years in the making. The Bedford, launched on the prestigious Kangaroo Point peninsula and achieving 90 per cent sales within months was a site they identified back in 2016. The second, which is the yet to be released at 91 Montague Road in South Brisbane, has been on Mosaic’s radar since 2017.&nbsp;

Arguably one of Brisbane’s last great inner city riverfront sites, it sits within the city’s most dynamic cultural hub, offering unrivalled connectivity, lifestyle, and amenity, and standing as a landmark opportunity to define the next era of riverfront living.

“We know exactly what is and isn’t a Mosaic project. Strategic site selection is the critical foundation of everything we do. We’re always assessing opportunities, but based on our two most recent Brisbane acquisitions, it’s entirely possible that the sites we’re looking at today won’t transact for several years. That discipline is what ensures every project meets our exacting standards.”

<hr />
<h2>The Mosaic engine: Consistency, capability, and relentless execution</h2>

What separates Mosaic in a crowded field is not the ability to attract capital or buy a site, but the ability to deliver highly complex high end buildings, whether that is 37 storeys or 18 storeys, repeatedly and consistently.

“These buildings are inherently complex to deliver well,” Monahan says. “It takes a long time to know exactly what the market wants, how to deliver it, how to secure the right contractors and consultants, and how to align the product with what the market is actually willing to pay and can afford.”

With so many contractors exiting the market in recent years, genuine delivery capability has become increasingly rare. Monahan welcomes credible new entrants but cautions that underestimating the complexity of luxury development can lead to poor outcomes.&nbsp;

“It’s easy to assume high-end projects equal high returns, but without the right experience, track record, and capability, it’s a tough road. Attracting capital is one thing—delivering on expectations is another, and when that doesn’t happen, it impacts the entire market.’”

<hr />
<h2>Looking to 2026: A pipeline built on patience and precision</h2>

As 2025 draws to a close, Mosaic stands at the strongest point in its history. Since 2012 alone, the company has completed more than $2 billion in projects and is set to deliver another $2 billion worth of developments, hundreds of luxury apartments, all bearing Mosaic’s hallmark of impeccable delivery.&nbsp;

Next to launch are two standout projects: Josephine, an exclusive collection of just 30 half- and full-floor ultra-luxury residences coming soon to the Burleigh Heads beachfront, and a landmark tower on Montague Road in South Brisbane, comprising 204 apartments in the heart of the city’s cultural hub on the banks of the Brisbane river.

“We never arrive. There’s no finish line for us,” said Monahan. “Our focus is on continuing to evolve in the luxury space, creating incredible, design- and lifestyle-led properties that people love living in and that stand the test of time.” 
&nbsp;

What’s ahead for South East Queensland’s next development wave: Five minutes with Mosaic’s Brook Monahan

Developer Third.i has topped out its luxury Potts Point apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/muse-potts-point-30-34-brougham-street-potts-point-nsw-2011">Muse</a>.

Under construction by Dilcara and expected to complete in mid-2026, Muse comprises just 13 apartments designed by acclaimed architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/wmk-architecture">WMK Architecture</a> and Mathieson. The building’s design celebrates Potts Point’s heritage character while introducing refined modern elements like advanced building technology and private balconies and terraces that offer views of the Sydney city skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112613 project_image_fid=231687]

Luke Berry, Director &amp; Co-Founder at Thirdi Group, said Muse is a celebration of Potts Point’s unique character and charm.

"With only 13 residences, we’ve created something truly special for those who appreciate exclusivity and design excellence," Berry says"

"The views, the location, and the lifestyle make Muse a rare opportunity in Sydney’s property market. We’re thrilled to see the project take shape and look forward to welcoming our residents in mid-2026.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112613 project_image_fid=231686]

Only a limited number of residences remain at Muse.

Third.i recently launched The Rushcutters nearby, also just 13 large-scale apartments. The two-bedroom apartments were all snapped up in double-quick time. The three-bedroom apartments are priced from just under $5 million.

Potts Point has always been popular for apartment living, but given the lack of suitable development sites in the affluent suburb, new apartment developments have been few and far between.

Early next year Ceerose will launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/belgravia-potts-point-117-victoria-street-potts-point-nsw-2011">Belgravia</a>, a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments on Victoria Street.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112613]

Staff Writer

Third.i tops out Muse, Potts Point apartments

Buyer interest in Capital Corporation’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> has been gaining momentum following the recent groundbreaking and the commencement of construction.

Enquiry data has pointed to a clear theme: larger apartments are leading demand, particularly among downsizers who want to remain on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.

Since June, three-bedroom layouts have attracted the highest level of enquiry. The three-bed, two-bath, two-car apartments priced from $1.69 million generated the most enquiries, the highest of any floorplan, followed by the larger three-bed garden residences which are priced at $2.25 million.

It's been a prevailing theme for Capital Corporation, who, in the early stages of marketing, reacted to buyer feedback to create more three-bedroom apartments.

The numbers echo what <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a> has observed since the project’s early stages. Buyers want generous internal space, established amenity and the ability to age in place without leaving the area.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=284378]

Capital Corporation Managing Director Jim Hunter said this was a major factor in the estate’s momentum, noting that “the combination of premium design, convenience and direct access to Sydney’s leading private hospital has proven to be a major drawcard”.

That connection to health and wellbeing has proven especially influential for older owner-occupiers. Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that one in three Australians downsizing do so for health-related reasons, with a third specifically seeking proximity to medical facilities.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262185]

The buyer profile emerging at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a> Estate reflects this shift. Local residents Peter and Corinne Collins, both in their mid-70s, are among those who chose to downsize within the suburb after decades in their family home. They secured a top-floor three-bedroom apartment after queuing on launch day in March, citing the bushland setting, walkability, and peace of mind of being close to medical services as key reasons for their purchase.

“Being able to walk everywhere, including to the hospital if we need to, really gave us peace of mind,” Corinne told Apartments.com.au.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/from-family-home-to-bushland-retreat-why-peter-and-corinne-chose-the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate">From family home to bushland retreat: Why Peter and Corinne chose The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=3629]

Architecture firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">Group GSA</a>&nbsp;are behind the design at The Residences at Wahroonga Estate. There are 128 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, complete with interiors&nbsp;by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>. Floor-to-ceiling glass maximises views of the bushland ridgeline, while on-site amenity includes a residents’ lounge, pet-friendly Green Spine, BBQ pavilion and direct access to Coups Creek bushland and walking tracks.

Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;appointed earlier this year to deliver The Residences at Wahroonga Estate. They are expected to complete the building in late 2027, with residents to move in shortly after.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Downsizer demand continues to shape The Residences at Wahroonga Estate

With Brisbane’s housing market soaring and home ownership becoming increasingly out of reach for many buyers, townhouses have emerged as the new urban dream, offering private, low-maintenance retreats complete with pools, parklands, and lifestyle amenities.

As Brisbane faces a growing shortage of quality new residential offerings, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/honeycombes-property-group">Honeycombes Property Group</a> has released to the market Songbird Terraces, a boutique development of just 34 terrace homes in the heart of the leafy residential enclave of Oxley.

Offering a more affordable option to the white picket fence house, buyers can purchase a brand new architecturally designed three bedroom terrace home overlooking park and bushland with a communal heated pool, BBQ terrace, private parklands and an on-site café, while being just minutes from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/oxley-qld-4075">Oxley</a>’s village centre, train station, and a range of schools and amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5241]

Each of the spacious three bedroom plus multi purpose room or four bedroom townhomes feature premium finishes, landscaped courtyards, designer kitchens, two-car accommodation, and optional upgrades for tailored living.

Honeycombes Property Group Managing Director Peter Honeycombe said with completion anticipated in early 2027, this was an incredibly rare chance to buy a fixed-price, brand-new, off the plan home in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held and liveable suburbs, without the stress of auctions and chaotic open homes.

“With prices starting from $1.195 million, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/songbird-terraces-oxley-10-honeyeater-circuit-oxley-qld-4075">Songbird Terraces</a> are designed for owner occupiers seeking space, style and lifestyle, without the maintenance,” Honeycombe said.

“Surrounded by natural bushland and close to manicured parks, walking trails, boutique shops, cafes, cinemas and golf courses, Oxley continues to stand out as one of Brisbane’s most liveable suburbs.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=355541]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Residential Director Andrew Scriven said with a limited number of homes available, Songbird Terraces was attracting strong interest from families, upsizers, first home buyers and downsizers looking for quality, location and long-term value.&nbsp;

“Demand is high, supply is low, and the market is crying out for high-quality homes in established well connected areas like Oxley,” Scriven said.

“What was once seen as a compromise between a house and an apartment a townhouse has now become a lifestyle choice, more and more homebuyers are shifting their focus from traditional detached houses to modern, low-maintenance townhouses that offer greater value and convenience.

“As the city’s population grows and urban sprawl becomes less sustainable, Brisbane’s townhouse market is set to expand even further.&nbsp;

“There’s definitely a panic from buyers who’ve been pushed out of the house market but still want to stay in well-connected suburbs with great schools and amenities, they are worried they will miss out as property prices continually rise.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5238]

After eight years of calling Australia home, Agnes Skoraczewska and Matt Biskupski decided it was finally time to take the next step and purchase a home of their own. With property prices continuing to climb, the couple didn’t want to wait any longer and secured a three-bedroom plus multi purpose room townhouse at Songbird Terraces, locking in a fixed price ahead of their move in 2027.

“The truth is, we didn’t want to wait any longer,” Biskupski said. “Seeing what was happening in the market, we realised now was the right time to buy. It gives us peace of mind knowing we no longer have to worry about renting.”

When they discovered Songbird Terraces, the decision came easily.

“The area is lovely and quiet, yet still so close to the city, it’s the perfect balance for work and life,” Skoraczewska said. “It’s a place where we can recharge our batteries while staying connected to everything we need.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5237]

For Agnes and Matt, buying off the plan offered the ideal solution, the confidence of securing their dream home at today’s prices, and the excitement of planning for the future in a community that perfectly fits their lifestyle.

As the final residential precinct within the Songbird Oxley master plan, Songbird Terraces will continue to breathe new life into the area and help create a suburb destination rich in lifestyle amenity.

Colliers Residential Director Lily O'Connell said Songbird is positioned to take full advantage of elevated north and east-facing parkland views, the homes feature low-maintenance design and high energy efficiency to reduce ongoing costs while enhancing everyday comfort.

“And with an array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles this is an offering for all,” O'Connell said.

“This is the final release in a masterplanned community that’s become one of Oxley’s most desirable addresses, offering a last chance to enter this community where opportunities are few and far between.”

The homes will be delivered by Clearcon Builders, specialists in premium townhome construction. They will commence construction before Christmas, and is aiming to complete the development in early 2027.

<h2>Songbird Terraces Snapshot</h2>

<ul>
	<li>34 architecturally designed 3 bedroom + multi-purpose room terrace homes.</li>
	<li>An array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles.</li>
	<li>Perfectly positioned to take advantage of north and east views over park and bushland.</li>
	<li>A multi-purpose room, which can serve as a second living area, teen retreat, study or fourth bedroom.</li>
	<li>Designer kitchens featuring high quality engineered stone benchtops and European appliances.</li>
	<li>Spacious outdoor living areas and landscaped courtyards perfect for alfresco dining.</li>
	<li>Generous internal and external spaces, designed to take advantage of views overlooking park and bushland.</li>
	<li>Low maintenance, energy efficient &amp; two car accommodation.</li>
	<li>Access to a heated resort-style pool, outdoor entertaining terrace and beautifully landscaped gardens and park.</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149443]

Songbird Terraces offer 34 architect-designed townhomes in private enclave, surrounded by bushland, parks and resort style amenity

Townhouse living, Brisbane’s new affordable urban dream?

Urban Sprawl

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Melbourne is well-suited to urban sprawl; it’s flat, easy to build on and lacks geographic boundaries like waterways and cliffs that force other cities into higher densities.
It’s possible to continue building low-density housing out as far as Geelong in the west, Seymour in the north and Warragul in the east. But is that really the best way forward for Melbourne’s population growth and housing affordability?
Broadly speaking, urban sprawl works in this country because Australians prefer to live in houses with a yard. The most popular search criteria on realestate.com.au in 2016 was for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car garage house on a 708 sqm block, all for the bargain price of $520,000. But, finding a house that fits this criteria in Melbourne is almost impossible in the inner and middle ring suburbs. And the preference for the Aussie house means neighbourhoods end up opposing council plans for higher density developments. The result is far greater house and land development on the outer fringes of the city.
So far, Victoria has done very well out of its widening sprawl. One of the key drivers of the Victorian economy over the past decade has been housing development on the fringes. Victoria has developed more housing than any other state, which means greater affordability for all job types, not all of whom are high-income earning.
Affordability may seem like a big problem in Melbourne, but Sydney is worse. Sydney has built 30% fewer dwellings over the past 10 years than Melbourne and housing continues to be the main problem in the NSW capital. Continuing to provide affordability through increasing housing supply has been crucial in maintaining Victoria’s economic growth. 
If more housing is the key to maintaining affordability, and if people prefer to live in big homes and are happy to live on the fringes of big cities to do so, then why do we need to consider alternatives? There are three main problems with this scenario:
1. Cost: It’s far more expensive to develop and maintain infrastructure and public services in low density areas. From greater car dependency to the provision of water, sewers and electricity, many of these government-funded services are more expensive to provide in outer areas.
2. Isolation: There are important social disadvantages in living in low densities. There is less social interaction, there is a lack of walkability in neighbourhoods because destinations like shops, services and and restaurants are concentrated too far away from housing, and residents often face long commutes to places of employment.
3. Jobs: The final challenge is that it’s easy to get urban sprawl but harder to form employment hubs close to where the sprawl is occurring. The radial nature of our road and public transport networks makes it easy to get people into the CBD and inner suburban locations, not fringe employment hubs. Ultimately, companies want to locate in areas where they can get the best talent.
Locating in an outer suburban area close to where much of the house and land development is taking place, such as Craigieburn or Cranbourne, would make sense for some occupiers, but the reality is that the majority of people would find it far easier getting to the CBD. Rent may be cheap but access to the right type of workers is almost impossible.
The solution is to provide the housing that people want while reducing the sprawling nature of our cities. That will mean developing regional cities where people can access houses without being isolated from the city centre, and encouraging a greater acceptance of apartment dwelling in Melbourne.
Although large homes remain the preferred dwelling type on realestate.com.au, suburbs that provide good schools, public transport and retailing tend to see the highest engagement. These amenities are typically found in the inner and middle ring suburbs, which will require higher densities if more housing is to be provided. However, more and more, they can also be found in regional cities such as Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat. Importantly, these cities also contain employment.
For those wanting to remain close to central Melbourne, people need to get more comfortable with the idea of apartment living. Over the next five years, living in an inner Melbourne house will continue to become more expensive, but apartment living, influenced by massive development, is going to become more affordable.
In the Melbourne CBD alone, around 18,000 apartments will be completed this year, almost 10 times the annual average. Prices are already coming down and affordable options are no longer restricted to the urban fringe.
Urban sprawl is the simple solution to providing affordable housing in a growing city, but it is not the best way forward. By focussing on regional city development, as well as continuing to encourage higher densities in inner and middle ring suburbs, we can create the types of housing that people most desire, or alternatively, housing in locations that people most desire. This will give people choice and allow them to make trade-offs between living in a big city but small home, or in a smaller city with a big home.
Nerida Conisbee is REA Group Chief Economist. 
This article was first published on <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/" target="_blank">Pursuit</a>.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Greater residential density or urban sprawl - solving the housing challenge 

<html><body>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63930/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
With state governments across Australia acknowledging the need to limit urban sprawl, fill the gaps within existing metropolitan areas and build higher-density housing on selected sites, many opportunities have opened up. Demonstration projects are key to ensuring quality outcomes, and government has a leading role to play.
The Western Australian target for urban infill is at the lower end compared to other states. In August 2010, the Department of Planning and the Western Australian Planning Commission released Directions 2031 and Beyond, a report that proposed a more consolidated Perth, with an infill target of 47% of new housing.
The report stated that 328,000 new dwellings would be needed by 2031. The 47% target translates to 154,000 of these. This target was a 50% increase on infill trends at the time.
In 2015, the same two government agencies released the draft document, Perth and Peel@3.5 million, which again nominated the 47% infill target. However, the authors acknowledged that urban infill rates had reached only 28% in 2014. This means that, to reach the 47% goal, the required increase in infill has moved from 50% to 68% more than the actual infill numbers in the five years between the two reports.
<h2>Filling the housing gap</h2>
This is a substantial change, and one that will require significant shifts from “business-as-usual” approaches to housing delivery along with community acceptance of higher residential densities. Government can assist with these shifts and, in doing so, help to fill a conspicuous gap in the content of the reports.
This gap is the absence of anything more than the briefest of references to the nature of the housing that will provide the increased infill and density. There is no real discussion of housing types and design, methods of construction and delivery, or forms of ownership that may encourage a greater take-up of such housing.
Higher residential density and infill continue to face a level of community resistance. Some of this is justified, in that much of the completed suburban infill is of a poor quality and too fragmented to deliver the positive changes and level of amenity that higher density can bring.
A quick Google Maps scan across the middle suburbs of Perth shows the dominant form of suburban infill in the city. It is a compressed suburbia. Large houses are squeezed together onto sites, shrinking usable private outdoor space to leftover space, reducing access to sun and cross-ventilation, and diminishing existing tree canopy. Driveways, car courts and double garage doors engage with the street. 
<h2>How do we improve infill?</h2>
Looking at this prompts the question: how do we improve the standard? Researchers at Swinburne and Monash universities in Melbourne and at the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) at the University of Western Australia have proposed solutions.
The Monash project, Infill Opportunities: Design Research Report, prepared for the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, explores how considered design strategies can contribute to better-quality infill redevelopment in the middle-ring suburbs.
The strategies include:
<ul>
<li>
going above a single storey, with the height shifted away from site boundaries to reduce overlooking and shadow-casting of neighbours;
</li>
<li>
allocating usable private courtyards to each unit;
</li>
<li>
providing good solar access, cross-ventilation and outlook; and
</li>
<li>
developing a car-parking strategy that can change over time.
</li>
</ul>
In addition, the idea is for the units to have a degree of inbuilt flexibility so they can adapt to changing household circumstances. While this work remains diagrammatic, it nevertheless demonstrates that, with a clear focus on how design can enable amenity to be optimised, suburban infill can provide attractive housing options.
There are infill projects being built in Perth that demonstrate what is possible when real design intelligence is at play.
For example, LandCorp’s stage 1 development of Knutsford, 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Fremantle, provides a mix of well-considered housing types. These feature good indoor-outdoor relationships and clever spatial strategies to enable a high degree of internal flexibility.
This housing is being offered to the market at very reasonable prices. In stage 1, 23 units were completed, with 33 being built in stage 2, all designed by Spaceagency.
We need more good examples like this, with a greater diversity of housing types. The potential that is implicit in higher-density housing – the opportunities for social engagement, sharing of facilities, fewer cars, richer urban potential, better public space and urban realm – needs to be made explicit.
<h2>Time to revisit the display village</h2>
For more than 50 years, display villages have been used to promote and sell detached project housing. These displays have enabled buyers to see what they are buying and to understand the potential of the broader setting of the house.
Historically, display villages promoted, through built example, the houses that eventually formed suburbia. In the same way, a display village for higher-density housing units could promote options that are not currently on offer in the housing market.
Potential buyers would be able to experience and understand the qualities of the housing on display. A higher-density display village would demonstrate how, with intelligent design, these units can be spacious, adaptable and work effectively with outdoor space.
For Perth, such a display village would provide a valuable means for industry to innovate with housing types and forms of construction. A government imprimatur and the willingness to underwrite the first projects should ensure this outcome.
The village would offer design diversity in terms of type and form, construction innovation including modular and prefabrication techniques, use of new materials, and the ability to test new strategies for utilities and waste.
It would showcase design for low energy use on a precinct scale and for reduced car dependency. It would take advantage of Perth’s climate and allow a fluid relationship between indoors and outdoors, creating a sense of space, light and air.
<h2>Infill can add value to suburbs</h2>
Government and industry would plan and promote the project. Government would provide the land and industry would build the housing. The display housing would be open to the public for a period of time, then sold to individual buyers.
Affordability remains a major obstacle to broader acceptance of higher-density housing. This is because selling prices per square metre are considerably more than those of a detached new house on the suburban fringes. The display village could explore alternative forms of land and house delivery and ownership.
Higher-density housing isn’t necessarily a threat to the traditional Australian notion of suburbia. It need not be seen as a denigration of the values that recognise suburbia as having a particular quality that helps establish the idea of an Australian way of life based on the detached house and its backyard. There is a vast existing stock to ensure those values will remain in place.
The development of well-designed, high-performing and higher-density infill housing will, in fact, protect existing suburbs from the poorer-quality infill that is occurring, while allowing the benefits of an enhanced public realm to be shared.
The WA government has a major challenge in meeting its infill targets. It can help meet this challenge by initiating a government-assisted display village of quality higher-density housing. It would be the first state government in Australia to do so.
Geoffrey London is professor of Architecture, University of Western Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/geoffrey-london-292101" target="_blank">here</a>.
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