South East Queensland developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a>’s entry into the Gold Coast apartment market has progressed from pipeline to market, with its Chevron Island project Bronze on Chevron now formally available to purchase ahead of a planned 2029 completion.

The 119-apartment development on Mawarra Street marks the Brisbane-headquartered builder-developer’s first residential play in the Gold Coast, following its expansion south from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> comprises a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, with pricing starting from just over $1.5 million. The project is being delivered under Gardner Vaughan’s fully integrated model, with the group acting as both developer and builder, a structure it has consistently applied across its South East Queensland portfolio.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367182]

Architecture has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jeremy-ferrier-landscape-design">Jeremy Ferrier</a>. The building presents as a single-tower scheme, with a focus on maximising outlook across both the Surfers Paradise skyline and the Nerang River.

Apartments have been planned with open-plan living zones extending to generous balconies, a response to the site’s dual-aspect positioning between river and ocean. Interiors follow a restrained coastal palette, with two colour schemes offered, and an emphasis on natural light and cross-ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367181]

Resident amenity is concentrated across more than 1,250 sqm and includes a resort-style pool, gym, yoga lawn and rooftop entertaining areas. A function space with catering facilities forms part of the upper-level offering, alongside north- and south-facing outdoor areas.

Ground level will incorporate two retail tenancies, intended to extend the existing village character of the surrounding streets.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367200]

The project sits within walking distance of Thomas Drive’s established dining strip, while maintaining proximity to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Surfers Paradise</a> beach and broader Gold Coast amenity. The location, positioned on Chevron Island between the river and coastline, has increasingly attracted mid- to high-density development in recent years as the precinct evolves beyond its low-rise origins.

Gardner Vaughan’s move into the Gold Coast was first signalled in 2025, with the group identifying the region as a natural extension of its operations. Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge described the expansion as both “strategic and natural”, citing demand for well-designed apartments in lifestyle-driven markets.

Construction is expected to complete in early 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]

Joel Robinson

Gardner Vaughan brings Bronze on Chevron to market as Gold Coast debut

One of the penthouses at Lily Lane, the latest stage of Carrington Place by Ellipse Property, has set a new local apartment price record.

The four-bedroom residence, purchased by a local downsizer, sold for $5.75 million—around 75 per cent higher than the previous record of $3.3 million.

Over 40 per cent of the first release of apartments at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-lane-at-carrington-place-castle-hill-32-carrington-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Lily Lane</a> have already been snapped up just six weeks since it launched to the market.

&nbsp;

Located at 32 Carrington Road, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a> and designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ptw">PTW</a>, Lily Lane is directly opposite the Hills Showground Metro station. It offers a total 213 units over two 12-storey towers - a mix of 67 one-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom and 46 three-bedroom apartments - with a ground-floor retail offering.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368352]

Blake Schulze, National Director – Residential at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a>, says around 44 per cent of buyers are&nbsp;owner occupiers, with 35 per cent being investors and 21 per cent first homebuyers.

“Developments of this calibre are very rare in the Hills District, and Lily Lane’s sales success demonstrates the depth of demand for over-sized apartments that genuinely compete with freestanding homes," Schulze says.

"We are seeing particular demand from downsizers who want to remain in the area but transition into spacious, high-quality apartment living."

On the penthouse sale, it says it shows buyers&nbsp;are prepared to pay a premium for scale, quality, and direct access to the Metro.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368351]

One-bedroom apartments are sized from 50-72 sqm with prices starting at $745,000, while two-bedrooms are priced from $990,000 with sizes from 75 to 132 square metres. Three-bedroom floorplans are sized between 97 and 182 sqm,, with prices starting at $1,395,000.&nbsp;

The three remaining penthouses, spanning up to 262 sqm, are priced from $2.9 million.

Over 75 per cent of apartments include dedicated studies, multipurpose rooms or family rooms, with select layouts offering walk-in pantries and laundries. Apartments are appointed with premium Miele appliances including ovens, washing machines, dryers, gas cooktops and dishwashers, while larger residences also incorporate integrated Miele microwaves, Fisher &amp; Paykel integrated refrigerators and five-burner Miele cooktops.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360285]

Lily Lane will be constructed by award-winning iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/decode">Decode Group</a>, with construction to commence in mid-2026 and expected to complete early 2029.

Carrington Place comprises more than 800 apartments and is being delivered across multiple stages, with completion expected in 2032. Integrated with neighbouring bushland, the project will feature over 20,000 sq, of outdoor recreational area, including a one-kilometre boardwalk to Fred Caterson Reserve.&nbsp;

The Hills Showground Metro Station is just a two-minute walk away, offering fast connectivity to Sydney’s CBD, North Sydney, Chatswood, Macquarie Park and Norwest Business Park.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151821]

Ellipse sets Castle Hill apartment record with $5.75 million Lily Lane penthouse sale

Fresh off completing its Delano Crows Nest development, Lindsay Bennelong has lodged plans for its next project, this time turning its attention back to the beach.

The developer, started 20 years ago by Clarendon Homes founder Peter Campbell, is proposing a 37-apartment scheme at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-25-ashburner-street-manly-nsw-2095">17-25 Ashburner Street</a>, Manly, positioned between the southern end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/manly-nsw-2095">Manly</a> Beach and East Manly Cove.

Lindsay Bennelong called on local architecture firm Platform Architects to design the new building, given their success at Finn, Lindsay Bennelong's current luxury apartment project on North Steyne.&nbsp;

According to the Design Verification Statement by Bridie Gough of Platform Architects, the proposal “relates to the current context but also the desired future character of taller buildings suitable to the new planning controls.”

The site has been identified as a Low to Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) location, given its position within 400 metres of the Manly Town Centre E1 Business Zone. The LMR controls are intended to unlock additional housing supply in well-located areas close to public transport, allowing developers to seek increased height limits to support greater density.

“The proposal seeks to provide this increased level of housing whilst being respectful of some of the smaller scale buildings also nearby,” the statement reads.

Lindsay Bennelong Development Director Leigh Manser said the project has been carefully aligned with the intent of the LMR controls. The proposal will significantly increase housing yield on the site, replacing four houses and 10 apartments, comprising 25 bedrooms, with 37 new apartments delivering a total of 94 bedrooms, whilst remaining compliant with the LMR controls.

“Sydney is in a severe undersupply, and delivering more dwellings and more bedrooms than what currently exists is exactly what the LMR policy is designed to activate,” Manser said, noting that nine of the apartments will be allocated as affordable housing for frontline workers.

“We have already commenced discussions with our community housing provider to determine the rental levels that frontline workers can realistically afford in this location,” he said. “These will need to sit well below the standard affordable housing benchmark of 20 per cent below market rent, and that has been factored into our feasibility and pricing.”

<img alt="Manly" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad03000f-19f9-48b4-b27d-e85ca800a1da" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%208.41.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=a.txHwCZgbCInlQ6QXbIrI.umvW1T.r8" />

The design of the building incorporates a wave-like indentation running through the façade, referencing the nearby coastline and anchoring the building within its local context.

The&nbsp;Design Verification Statement says careful consideration has been given to the articulation of the building, ensuring the bulk is broken down to a more human scale through a defined four-storey podium."

The scheme includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a full-time building manager's office and wellness facilities including a sauna and a gym.

“The design ensures a high level of amenity, with apartments offering generous private open space, many with expansive views, and all with comfortable proportions."

<img alt="Bennelong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6a7f2812-72a1-4959-84b0-997e8cd88aed" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%2010.15.50%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6iMxU3MkXmHVHAoNhYBjnqgka8CUZNbk" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lindsay-bennelong-developments">Lindsay Bennelong</a>&nbsp;is currently developing Finn Manly, just four full-floor luxury apartments on North Steyne. They recently welcomed residents to its 81-unit Delano Crows Nest development, a&nbsp;carefully scaled infill project designed to bridge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/crows-nest-nsw-2065">Crows Nest</a>’s lively village centre with its surrounding heritage streets.

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ajc-architects">AJC Architects</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/delano-crows-nest-27-57-falcon-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Delano</a>&nbsp;is arranged across three low-rise buildings, incorporating a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments alongside a limited number of townhomes addressing Hayberry Lane. The architectural approach drew on the area’s Art Deco lineage, reinterpreted through contemporary detailing and framed by landscaped communal gardens.

The developer also has a development site in Maroubra.

First look: Lindsay Bennelong's new Manly apartment development revealed

Fifty-nine residences across 37 levels. No more than two per floor. With 80 per cent now sold, what remains at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-broadbeach-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline by Mosaic</a> is a short list.

Madeline was always conceived at a scale that sits outside the normal register of Gold Coast apartment living. The residences are half- and full-floor configurations, with the largest spanning more than 400 sqm, dimensions that place them closer to the penthouse end of the market regardless of where they sit in the building.

That scale is the organising principle of everything else: how the floorplans are laid out, how the materials read, how the connection between inside and outside works.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355941]

The interiors were developed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a>, the architecture practice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic</a> brought in as design partner for the first time on this project. The palette runs to natural stone, textured timbers, and soft metallics, materials chosen as much for their tactile quality as their appearance.

Light cleverly shifts across surfaces through the day, and the design is explicit about wanting that to be noticed. Full-height glazing runs across the primary living areas, and where the building faces east toward the ocean, those walls of glass are doing real work: framing a view corridor that the site's position directly opposite Broadbeach State School's playing fields keeps permanently open.

That outlook is the site's most consequential asset. In a suburb where new towers continue to rise, a protected view line is genuinely rare, and the Mary Avenue address secures it. Residents at Madeline will look out over open parkland rather than the rear of another building, a distinction that becomes more meaningful with each new development approved nearby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355939]

The private outdoor spaces are sized to match the residences themselves. Terraces on the upper levels frame uninterrupted ocean panoramas, and the planning ensures that living areas extend into those outdoor zones rather than treating them as separate attachments. The flow between the two is part of the design intent, not an afterthought.

Inside, the finish specification reflects the same approach. Rich stone benchtops, warm timber joinery, bespoke hardware, each element specified to hold up over time rather than read as a moment in a particular trend cycle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=3409]

Beyond the residences, the amenity offering extends that register. A lap pool and sun deck anchor the outdoor space, alongside a magnesium pool, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna.

A commercial-grade gymnasium, residents' lounge, library, and boardroom round out a programme that functions more like a private members club than a standard building amenity floor.

Construction has commenced under Mosaic's in-house building arm, with completion scheduled for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150135]

Madeline by Mosaic delivers penthouse-level living across every apartment

Developer Fortezza Group is the latest to take its new apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-belvedere-5-7-church-street-nelson-bay-nsw-2315">The Belvedere in Nelson Bay</a>, to the NSW Government.

Fortezza, predominantly a South East Queensland developer, is the latest to apply for State Significant Development&nbsp; status through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority, a pathway becoming favoured by developers to speed up the approval process.

They are planning 57 two- and three-bedroom apartments across 5-7 Church Street and 42 Donald Street, near d'Albora Nelson Bay Marina. The diverse apartment mix has sizes from just over 80 sqm to the largest three-bedroom penthouses that reach nearly 200 sqm.

<img alt="Fortezza" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="090360e1-66d7-43ad-b686-aba81f173bf2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-29%20at%2010.22.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DMqF96eBZolqSAAAcugX0l66ueWng66m" />

Fortezza calls the project a "piece of Istria in Nelson Bay,"&nbsp;referring to the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, shared by Croatia (90%), Slovenia, and Italy, which is known for its Roman history, Venetian-style coastal towns and inland hilltop villages.

They say the The Belvedere is strategically positioned at the apex of Nelson Bay, offering unrivalled views of the ocean, the bay and captivating topography of the area.

"Our commitment to maintaining the integrity of every view and sight line has been relentless," Fortezza Group says.

"Through extensive modelling and analysis, we ensure that each apartment enjoys the natural beauty of Nelson Bay, regardless of future developments. Each design element is carefully curated to harmonise with our European heritage, drawing profound inspiration from the Roman architectural marvels in Istria. The arches, the cascades of greenery and the stonework that define our project pay homage to the structures that once exemplified Roman grandeur."

Residents will have access to a pool, communal green spaces, an office and a coffee shop.

First look: Fortezza Group takes The Belvedere, Nelson Bay apartment development, to NSW Government

VCAT

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VCAT has handed down decisions in recent weeks regarding two major developments in Melbourne's suburbs.

Last week the tribunal ruled on a proposal for Brunswick's 8 Ballarat Street. The Plus Architecture-designed apartment building included 147 apartments and 158 car parking spaces as originally submitted; apartments in the 8 level proposal are split between 50 single bedroom and 97 double bedroom options.

Developer 8 Ballarat Street Pty Ltd challenged Moreland City Council's conditions for the substantial development, one of which would have seen the top two floors sheared off the design.

In light of amended plans amended plans prepared by Plus Architecture, the full 8 level form was given the green light, albeit with reworked setbacks across upper levels. 

Now approved, 8 Ballarat Street joins the hundreds of additionally approved apartments across a gamut of residential projects that have yet to be delivered across Brunswick. VCAT's decision may also influence future intentions for the adjoining 10 Ballarat Street which was offered for sale during 2017.

Across a 4,247 square metre land plot, the site's sale was handled by Colliers and came with indicative design also spanning 8 levels.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image3ballarat.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="8 Ballarat Street alongside a conceptual 10 Ballarat Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="205" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3ballarat.jpg?itok=ilsbYmh-" title="8 Ballarat Street alongside a conceptual 10 Ballarat Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>8 Ballarat Street alongside a conceptual 10 Ballarat Street</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, VCAT last month also ruled in favour of a major stand-alone Box Hill hotel development.

LongRiver Group can now make good on the prospect of delivering a DoubleTree by Hlton onsite. The Buchan Group's design sees a woven facade over the tower's 25 levels. Expected within the tower are 200 rooms according to Development and Project Manager APP.

VCAT for their part noted that Whitehorse City Council did not object to this proposal on the basis of the appropriateness of the land use, but on grounds relating to the appropriate level of car parking required to service the project.

With conditions ruled upon, the design at 874-878 Whitehorse Road can join LongRiver Group's other Box Hill tower, namely <a href="/buildings/east-central-tower-820-whitehorse-road-box-hill">East Central Tower</a> at 820 Whitehorse Road.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image4_20.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Buchan Group's woven facade across 874-878 Whitehorse Road"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image4_20.jpg?itok=VyzZ_wmV" title="Buchan Group's woven facade across 874-878 Whitehorse Road" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Buchan Group's woven facade across 874-878 Whitehorse Road</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

VCAT rules in favour of two major Melbourne developments

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A 17-storey student housing building at 500 Swanston Street is off to VCAT after the applicant, Journal Property Limited, decided to appeal the matter after City of Melbourne council failed to make a decision within the requisite 60 statutory days.

During its meeting on Tuesday night, the City of Melbourne's Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee resolved that it would have issued a permit subject to conditions, had the appeal to VCAT not been made.

These conditions would have included a reduction in height of two levels taking the overall height down to 15-storeys or approximately 51.5m, which according to Council planners would provide a better transition between Upper House to the north (17-storeys), Arrow on Swanston Street to the south (12-storeys) and The Eminence (15-storeys) to the north-east.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/swanston_street_elevation.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Amended Swanston Street elevation dated March 2018. Image: Metier3 Town Planning documentation"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/swanston_street_elevation.jpg?itok=fKJ22BUL" title="Amended Swanston Street elevation dated March 2018. Image: Metier3 Town Planning documentation" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Amended Swanston Street elevation with reduced height (March 2018). Image: Metier3 Town Planning documentation</figcaption></figure>This would reinforce Upper House's prominence on the corner and ensure that the proposed tower is not as prominent when viewed from Swanston Street, argues Council. Additionally, Council would have required levels 11 and above to be reconfigured to increase the setbacks from the southern boundary reducing their dominance and bulk further.

Increasing the setbacks will also improve internal amenity for student accommodation modules and improve the external amenity impacts by creating a greater separation from surrounding residential properties.

Council's planners provided their appraisal based on plans prepared by Metier3 in November 2017, which were subsequently amended in March 2018 with the following changes:

<ul>
<li>Deletion of levels 15 and 16 to reduce the overall building height by two levels to 15 storeys;</li>
	<li>Increased setback of Building D upper levels (11-14) from the south boundary to provide a 9m setback from the Arrow building, as well as reducing the overhang to allow more natural daylight to lower levels of accommodation;</li>
	<li>Introduction of light wells to Building D upper levels (11-14) to allow for improved natural light and ventilation to hallways on levels 11 to 14;</li>
	<li>The removal of rooms to allow for two additional windows per level to improve natural light and ventilation to hallways in Upper Mezzanine to level 10;</li>
	<li>Deletion of all 13 rooms in the lower mezzanine to remove all rooms with restricted daylight access. Part office and communal areas relocated to this space allowing for the deletion of basement.</li>
	<li>Introduction of four rooms to ground floor. Two twin share rooms added to ground floor made possible as result of the consolidated office space spread across two levels. Rooms were introduced to offset 13 rooms deleted from lower mezzanine below as these four rooms have adequate access to natural daylight;</li>
	<li>Deletion of basement;</li>
	<li>Deletion of east-west facing windows on northern boundary;</li>
	<li>Rationalised internal communal space to levels 10 and 11 to allow for additional rooms;</li>
	<li>Relocation of bike store to ground floor to enable direct access off building entry/street level;</li>
	<li>Overall reduction in number of beds from 710 to 587;</li>
</ul>
The original plans included three building elements providing 710 student accommodation units via a mix of studio, two-bed, three-bed, four-bed and five-bed units.

A food and drink, and two retail tenancies are located at the ground level, while the basement would contain a laundry, workshop, storage for 80 bicycles, and building services.

The lower ground will largely accommodate communal student areas including two landscaped courtyards, lounge, communal and private study areas, kitchen and dining area, entertainment, well-being and gym areas and gaming room.
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Laurence Dragomir

500 Swanston Street off to VCAT - City of Melbourne provides conditional support

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Ballarat estate agency Gull and Company has been reprimanded and penalised $5,000 by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for operating without a licence during 2015. 
The company operated without a licence between 27 August and 19 October of that year, during which time it carried out estate agent functions. 
In June and August of 2015, the Business Licencing Authority (BLA) emailed Gull and Company, reminding it to lodge its annual statement and pay the required fee, which the company did not do within the required time. As a result, Gull and Company’s licence was automatically cancelled. 
The company initially claimed that it had not received the second email, and was therefore not given sufficient notice of its annual statement and payment obligations, as required under the Estate Agents Act 1980. 
Prior to the VCAT hearing, Gull and Company arranged for a forensic examination of an old computer server, which showed that the company had received the second email.
As well as the penalty and reprimand, Gull and Company must also: 
<ul>
<li>advise vendors that it acted for while unlicensed that, among other things, it was not a licensed estate agent at the time </li>
<li>establish a system to ensure that it lodges its annual statements and pays the required fees on time. </li>
</ul>
Gull and Company applied to the BLA for a new licence, which was granted on 20 October 2015.  
The $5,000 penalty must be paid into the Victorian Property Fund. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Ballarat estate agency cops fine after licensing mixup

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The future existence of Fitzroy’s Spanish Club on Johnston Street has been thrown into jeopardy, after a recent VCAT decision denied a planning permit for the redevelopment of the existing building.
Papers have already been lodged to Supreme Court to appeal VCAT’s decision.
The site’s developer Tim Gurner had agreed to absorb the Club’s substantial debt and transfer ownership of that debt into his company’s name to ensure that the banks could not pursue the Club for costs whilst the redevelopment was ongoing.
Proposed plans by his GURNER firm would have seen the 787 sqm site transformed into a new Spanish bar and restaurant, with clubhouse facilities at ground level and apartments occupying the 5 – 6 levels above.
After successfully mediating with all objectors except for one, the permit was denied on a technicality due to an adjoining property owner’s automotive paint shop, and this landowner’s refusal to negotiate a new location for an exhaust flue on the shared boundary.
The elected president of The Spanish Club, Margarita Ros, explained that unless the decision is overturned the business will have to sell up and close, as without the support of redevelopment its business model cannot remain viable in its current form.
“Tim Gurner had taken on personal liability for the Club’s existing debt and has been paying our interest for over a year to ensure that we could continue trading and operating in the community until the redevelopment had been completed, however now I don’t see how we can repay the debt and continue to function as a community,” Ros said.
“The Club has played a vital role in helping to integrate and promote multiculturalism in Victoria. Over the years, it has also assisted the broader community through fundraisers for various disaster recover appeals. To think that this might be our last year working with the community is too upsetting to contemplate. It’s just devastating.”
The location of the flue fails to meet Environmental Protection Authority guidelines and is also a non-conforming use within the current mixed use zoning, leading the VCAT Member to rule that the flue was in an unacceptable position for the proposed development. 
Commenting on the matter, Tim Gurner said that it was disappointing to see the permit denied on such a small technicality.
“To have a scheme overturned due to a neighbouring land use that is not even allowed in this zone, and from an exhaust flue that is not compliant with EPA guidelines is incredibly disappointing and shortsighted,” he said.
“The Spanish Club has been celebrating the unique culture of Spanish immigrants for the better part of 50 years; it is run by a voluntary committee and all income that is generated is reinvested into the Club.”
Immigrant social clubs all over Australia have been ordered to either adapt or close their doors for good in recent years. The Sydney Spanish Club was forced to shut in 2013, while Melbourne’s Celtic Club has been on the market for many years after failing repeatedly to forge agreements to redevelop the ailing pub.
“We will be challenging the decision at the Supreme Court to attempt to keep the Spanish Club alive and thriving into the future,” Gurner added.
“What doesn’t make sense is that the VCAT Member even stated he was in support of the project in terms of its overall design outcome and height. Why then fail to provide a permit on a technicality, why not instead issue a permit pending the ability to resolve the issue.”
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Spanish Club in jeopardy after VCAT decision

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Public comments and submissions are invited on a proposed new fee structure for the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The existing regulations governing fees at VCAT are set to expire on 30 June 2016. The government is taking this opportunity to design a new fee structure that will more accurately reflect the cost of operating VCAT and more fairly distribute the proportion of that cost that is paid for by users.
In accordance with the Victorian Guide to Regulation, the government now seeks the views of the public on the proposed regulations, in the hope that their quality and usefulness can be improved by integrating the information and perspectives of the community.
Submissions
Public comments and submissions are invited on the attached Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and proposed regulations. Submissions must be received no later than 5pm on Monday, 2 May 2016. The submissions will be considered before the proposed regulations are made.
All submissions will be treated as public documents, will be provided to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, and are subject to legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
For more information, <a href="https://myviews.justice.vic.gov.au/vcat-fees-regulations-2016" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Property 101: Submissions open for new VCAT fee structure

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A Melbourne estate agency and its director have been fined a total of $7,000 over the agency’s poor conduct in the sale of a four-unit development in Malvern.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has also ordered, with the consent of the parties, that estate agent, Frank Valentic, 46, of Elwood, have his estate agents licence suspended for six months, starting from 1 April 2016.
Mr Valentic is sole Director and Officer in Effective Control of Advantage Property Consulting Pty Ltd, which provides buyers' advocate services.  
Advantage Property has also been ordered to begin a three-year compliance, education and training program to ensure it complies with the Estate Agents Act 1980 and the Estate Agents (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2008. 
Consumer Affairs Victoria took action against Mr Valentic and Advantage Property following a complaint from a purchaser of one of the units.
Its action alleged that:
<ul>
<li>purchasers were assured that they would have exclusive access to part of a courtyard that was actually common property, despite this needing to be agreed to by the owners corporation after the settlement</li>
<li>Mr Valentic twice entered a tenanted unit without the tenant’s knowledge or consent that the inspections were taking place</li>
<li>Mr Valentic appointed Advantage Property as owners corporation manager even though he had no authority to make that appointment</li>
<li>Advantage Property charged two purchasers a ‘consulting fee’ of $13,750 for services that should have been better described to them</li>
<li>Advantage Property instructed purchasers to backdate legal documents</li>
<li>Advantage Property required purchasers to use a particular solicitor to undertake the conveyancing work.</li>
</ul>
Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria Simon Cohen said this was a good outcome that highlighted that the regulator would pursue unprofessional conduct by estate agents.
“Victorians need to be able to trust that buyers advocates are acting in their best interests and not engaging in conduct that is motivated by self interest,” Mr Cohen said.
“The actions of Mr Valentic were reprehensible and designed to put the purchasers of these properties at a disadvantage, while profiting from his actions.”
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VCAT fines Frank Valentic's Advantage Property Consulting

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The director of a former estate agency in Melbourne’s Boronia has been declared ineligible to hold an estate agent’s licence, or be an estate agent’s representative for five years, after he admitted to knowingly authorising and permitting the agency to convert trust money to its own use.
Michael Knight, 49, was found guilty by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal of breaching the Estate Agents (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2008 on several counts, such as not acting with care and diligence in his role as an estate agent.
His company, Michael Knight Real Estate Pty Ltd, was also found to have violated the Estate Agents Act 1980 by:
depositing trust money directly into the agency’s business account for its own use thrice
causing a deficiency in the trust account by withdrawing trust money prior to property settlement a further three times
not completing a number of monthly trust account reconciliations, or completing them incorrectly
failing to have the agency’s trust account audited for the 2013-2014 financial year.
The tribunal reprimanded Knight and declared him ineligible to hold a real estate agent’s licence, or to be an agent’s representative for five years.
Knight also gave an undertaking to the tribunal that he would never apply for, or seek to hold another estate agent’s licence. He must also inform any estate agent that employs him in future about the ruling against him.
Michael Knight Real Estate Pty Ltd was also reprimanded and declared ineligible to hold a real estate agent’s licence for five years.
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Victoria court rules against Boronia estate agent 

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Joel Phillip Murray, an estate agent, was reprimanded and had his licence suspended for three months and conditions attached to it, after failing to have his trust accounts audited. 
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that Mr Murray, 41, of Berwick, contravened the Estate Agents Act 1980 and the Estate Agents (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2008.
Mr Murray failed to cause his trust account to be audited within three months of the end of the 2010-2014 financial years, and to lodge copies with the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, as required by the Act.
The tribunal found that Mr Murray contravened the Regulations by failing to exercise due skill, care and diligence in performing his functions as an estate agent, and by engaging in unprofessional conduct.
He was reprimanded and had his licence suspended for three months from 20 October 2015 until 19 January 2016.
His licence was also made subject to a condition that, on or before 19 October in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017, Mr Murray must notify the Director in writing whether or not he has complied with his trust account audit and lodging requirements for the previous financial year.
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Strict trust account audit requirements for estate agent Joel Phillip Murray

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Carlton conveyancer Mandeep Johal, 37, has been reprimanded and had conditions placed on his licence, by his and Consumer Affairs Victoria's consent, after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found he contravened the Conveyancers Act 2006.
Consumer Affairs Victoria applied for an inquiry into Mr Johal's conduct after receiving numerous complaints when he was trading as MM Conveyancing, Metropolitan Melbourne Conveyancing and Budget Conveyancing.
The tribunal found Mr Johal had contravened the Act and its associated regulations by failing to:
<ul>
<li>disclose a potential or actual conflict of interest relating to his conveyancing services</li>
<li>disclose the costs of conveyancing work to his clients, and including legally required information in his cost disclosures</li>
<li>notify the Business Licensing Authority of information required in his conveyancer's licence application</li>
<li>comply with the rules of conduct a conveyancer must adhere to under the law.</li>
</ul>
As part of the conditions placed on his licence, Mr Johal must:
<ul>
<li>install a voicemail and email notification advising clients that their telephone call or email will be responded to within 48 hours</li>
<li>implement and publish a complaint-handling procedure, have it audited every six months for three years, and provide a copy of the audit report to the Director within five days of receiving it.</li>
</ul>
Mr Johal was also ordered, by consent, to undertake an Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing at the Melbourne Polytechnic within nine months of the date of the tribunal's order, and to notify the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria after successfully completing it.
Mr Johal was also ordered to pay a penalty of $1000 into the Victorian Property Fund.
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MM Conveyancing told to get some education: VCAT

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Consumer Affairs Victoria has ordered that estate agent Scott Hoare may not hold a licence or act as an agent’s representative until October 2024.
Scott Hoare, 40, of Tanjil South, was previously the sole director of SLGH, which traded as Stockdale &amp; Leggo Trafalgar in regional Victoria.
The trust account deficiency was confirmed in early April 2014, after SLGH's trust account auditor advised Consumer Affairs Victoria of irregularities occurring outside the annual audit period beteween July and September 2013.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found that Scott Hoare fraudulently withdrew $37,490 from the trust account.
He also failed to transfer $5,090 of rent into the account after the group’s internal structures brought the matter to the attention of the authorities.
“Scott was expelled from the Stockdale &amp; Leggo group on 19 March 2014 as soon as these issues became apparent, and it was through our due diligence that the authorities were able to act so quickly,” Stockdale &amp; Leggo <a href="https://www.rebonline.com.au/breaking-news/9349-pressured-real-estate-boss-banned-for-fraud" target="_blank">advised the REB industry website</a>.
According to VCAT, the trust account fraud involved “10 instances of early sales commissions drawn, cash deposits not banked and unconfirmed disbursements” between July 2013 and September 2013, instead for personal purposes including evidence that he had made withdrawals at a casino.
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