<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/draycon">Draycon Building</a> is nearing completion of Boutique Chevron Island, a 42-apartment development on the northern end of Chevron Island at 17–19 Parneno Street, with a limited-time offer of fully furnished apartments available.

Now more than 90 per cent complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/boutique-chevron-island-17-19-parneno-chevron-island-qld-4217">Boutique</a> has been shaped by one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held island addresses, where riverfront outlooks and walkable access to Surfers Paradise converge.

For Draycon Building Managing Director Howard Dabit, the appeal of the site was immediate.

“I knew it was a good site as soon as I saw it,” Dabit said.

“The position and location on the north end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>, the way the river swirls around the site basically from the north to the east, it feels like the site is surrounded by the water. The height that we’ve got and the aspect looking north is beautiful. Eighty per cent of the apartments are looking north so they get that drenching sunlight coming in.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360922]

That northern orientation places the development within a stretch of Chevron Island defined by open river aspects and skyline views, while remaining embedded in the suburb’s established village setting.

Chevron Island has increasingly drawn owner-occupiers seeking centrality without the intensity of high-rise beachfront living. Positioned at the geographical centre of the Gold Coast, the island offers direct access to both the beach and key cultural infrastructure while retaining a neighbourhood-scale character.

Connected by bridge to Surfers Paradise, Chevron Island offers walkable access to beaches, riverfront parklands and a revitalised foreshore boulevard animated by walkers and cyclists throughout the day. The Pacific Ocean is only minutes away, reinforcing the suburb’s dual river-and-surf identity.

At the same time, Thomas Drive forms the spine of the island’s village life, delivering cafés, wine bars, casual dining and everyday services within easy reach. Independent grocers, wellness operators and neighbourhood retailers contribute to a community atmosphere that remains distinct from the vertical scale of the beachfront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360915]

In the opposite direction, the Green Bridge links directly to HOTA – Home of the Arts – placing galleries, performance venues and parklands within walking distance. Weekly markets and major exhibitions draw visitors from across the region, while residents return to a quieter residential pocket at day’s end.

Public transport, including nearby bus routes and the G:link light rail corridor along the coastal spine, strengthens connectivity north and south. Griffith University, the Gold Coast University Hospital precinct and established private schools such as The Southport School are all within a short drive.

Ongoing investment across Surfers Paradise, HOTA and the broader Southport corridor has elevated amenity while preserving Chevron Island’s comparatively low-rise residential character. It is this balance, walkable village atmosphere paired with metropolitan-scale infrastructure, that continues to differentiate the suburb from higher-density beachfront precincts.

Boutique comprises just 42 residences, designed to maximise river and skyline outlooks within this tightly held island setting.

Boutique Chevron Island is slated for completion in April 2026, with prices starting from $1,220,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=89709]

Joel Robinson

Draycon Building’s Boutique Chevron Island places 42 residences at the heart of the Gold Coast

Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/deicorp">Deicorp</a> has secured planning approval for a $300 million residential development in Lindfield, marking the company’s second project on Sydney’s North Shore and its first on the Upper North Shore.

Located on Beaconsfield Parade and designed by DKO Architecture, the state significant development comprises three buildings of up to 10 storeys and will include 399 residences, including 59 affordable homes and 40 adaptable homes.

Residences will range in size from one, two and three bedrooms, with two-bedroom apartments accounting for over 60 per cent of the product make-up. Residents will have access to a broad suite of amenities, including a wellness area, indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, a pool, a gym, a community room and a golf simulator.

In line with Deicorp’s long-standing focus on creating transit-oriented communities, the project is located just 260 metres from the Lindfield Train Station, reinforcing its role in delivering well-connected housing close to established infrastructure, retail and local services.

The inclusion of affordable and adaptable housing supports greater diversity within the local market, while the mix of apartment types responds to demand from downsizers, young professionals and families seeking access to the Upper North Shore.

Deicorp Founder Fouad Deiri OAM said the approval represents an important milestone for both the company and the suburb

“This approval allows us to deliver well-designed homes in a location that is already supported by strong transport and community infrastructure," Deiri said.

"Our focus is on creating places that integrate into their surroundings and provide long-term value for residents, and the broader Lindfield community. Being within walking distance of the station ensures this project supports sustainable growth in the right locations."

Across its portfolio, Deicorp currently has 4,703 apartments under construction, playing a leading role in shaping connected, liveable communities across Sydney.

Its expanding portfolio of Metro-linked developments includes Tallawong Village, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> in Five Dock, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hyde-metropolitan-sydney-133-141-liverpool-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Hyde Metropolitan</a> in Sydney CBD, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/falcon-alexander-crows-nest-8-alexander-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Falcon &amp; Alexander</a> in Crows Nest and Showground Village, Castle Hill.

Deicorp purchased the Beaconsfield Paradise site last year. Construction is scheduled to commence in Q2 of 2026 and will be completed in 2029.

Deicorp expands portfolio to nearly 5,000 apartments with Lindfield project

In a joint venture with The Trump Organization, Australia developer Altus Property Group has announced plans to bring a Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower to the Gold Coast, marking the first Trump-branded project in Australia.

&nbsp;

"Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast is our first official project in Australia and reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences in iconic locations around the world," Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, said.

"This development exemplifies the Trump brand’s dedication to quality, sophistication, and unmatched service, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to the vibrant Gold Coast community."

The 91-storey building, which will become the tallest in Australia at 335 metres, will feature a&nbsp;285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo. It will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3,400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalizing the central Surfers Paradise precinct.

“Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand,"&nbsp;Altus founder and chief executive David Young said.

"Altus Property Group is proud of its track record in delivering landmark developments across Australia, and our expertise ensures this project will be an outstanding success."

Trump Hotel heads for the Gold Coast to become Australia's tallest building

More than a century after the Corrimal Coke Works first opened in 1912, the industrial landmark that helped shape the suburb is being reinterpreted as a walkable residential neighbourhood, with Stage One of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-works-stage-one-27-railway-street-corrimal-nsw-2518">The Works</a> now underway at 27 Railway Street.

For 102 years, the site was central to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/corrimal-nsw-2518">Corrimal</a>’s economic and social identity before operations ceased in 2014. Rather than erasing that legacy, developer Legacy Property has embedded it into the masterplan, retaining and reinterpreting elements such as the iconic 1912 brick chimney and sections of the original C1 Coke Oven Battery, alongside the adaptive reuse of the former powerhouse building.

Stage One will introduce 181 apartments across low-rise buildings, offering predominantly two and three-bedroom residences with completion targeted for mid-2027. The scale and configuration reflect a deliberate focus on owner-occupiers, targeting those seeking a lower-maintenance home in a prime location within the northern suburbs of Wollongong.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359833]

Apartments have been designed to maximise natural light and cross-ventilation, with floor-to-ceiling glazing extending living areas onto generous balconies. Engineered timber flooring, induction cooktops and 900mm ovens in larger residences support everyday functionality, while two interior palettes allow buyers to tailor finishes to their preferences. The material selection draws on a restrained coastal language, intended to connect homes to their surroundings rather than compete with them.

The Works forms part of a broader 18-hectare masterplan that will ultimately deliver around 550 dwellings, new parks, and a heritage precinct celebrating the site’s past. More than seven hectares are dedicated to open space, including Southern Park and a Village Green with community gardens and recreation areas. The creek corridor is being rehabilitated with 150,000 native plantings, restoring biodiversity to the site and softening landscape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359841]

Positioned adjacent to Corrimal Station and within walking distance of Corrimal Town Centre, the precinct places daily essentials, rail connections and local retail within easy reach. Wollongong CBD, including the hospital, university and entertainment venues, sits approximately 6.5 kilometres to the south.

For buyers more familiar with North Wollongong, Corrimal offers a different proposition: a well-established coastal suburb framed by beaches to the east and the escarpment to the west, with a strong sense of local identity shaped in part by the former Coke Works. The Works seeks to reinforce that identity by creating a connected, walkable neighbourhood between coast and escarpment, rather than a standalone apartment complex.

Sustainability underpins the development approach. The Works is targeting Wollongong’s first 5-Star Green Star-rated community, with water-sensitive urban design, recycled materials and energy-efficient buildings integrated across the masterplan. For residents, these measures provide not only environmental benefits but also reduced operational costs and future resilience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143415 project_image_fid=359842]

With construction commenced and display materials available to view, prospective buyers can now engage more directly with the project’s vision, reviewing floorplans, material selections and the broader masterplan in detail. For many local homeowners weighing a move, the opportunity to experience how heritage, landscape and contemporary design intersect may help bridge the gap between familiarity and the next chapter.

As Stage One progresses toward its mid-2027 completion, The Works represents a significant chapter in Corrimal’s evolution, transforming a site that once powered local industry into a walkable residential precinct designed for its next generation of residents.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143415]

Legacy Property’s The Works reimagines Corrimal’s century-old Coke Works

When it comes to developing in Melb​ourne's Bayside region, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> knows exactly what buyers want.

With a longstanding presence in the area and a string of sell-out projects, Lowe Living consistently delivers developments that are as sought-after as their predecessors.

Their latest instalment is in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-vic-3188">Hampton</a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-east-vic-3188">&nbsp;East,</a> the same postcode where they have previously delivered Hampton Hill and Oceano. The developer-builder recently commenced construction on its newest project,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marella-hampton-31-35-alicia-street-hampton-east-vic-3188">Marella</a>, a collection of 32 apartments just five minutes from the beach.

Site acquisition is paramount to success. Lowe Living rarely brings a building to market that isn’t within walking distance of essential amenities, whether it be the beach, a prominent retail strip, or a train station. Marella is no exception, located at its Alicia Street address, less than a kilometre from the retail heart of Hampton Street and Hampton Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358495]

Equally important to Lowe Living is the architecture.

For Marella, they appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>, who explains that the architectural vision was to create a contemporary reinterpretation of the Californian bungalow, a style that’s iconic to Hampton’s heritage.

"By borrowing, abstracting, and reinterpreting elements of this quintessential style, such as strong datum lines, articulated columns, exposed structures, and roof tiles, our design strikes a balance between modernity and familiarity," says Cera Stribley.

"This approach ensures that the development is not only visually appealing but also contextually sensitive, resonating with Hampton's existing architectural landscape."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358499]

The building features terracotta brick, soft cream masonry, and exposed metal detailing, giving it a tactile presence that is intended to weather gently over time.

Internally, the focus on lasting quality continues, with two and three-bedroom residences anchored by sculptural stone kitchen islands, natural light, and clearly defined transitions between living, dining, and outdoor spaces.

The layouts have been carefully designed. Open-plan zones extend to private balconies, with light-filled interiors and generous kitchen proportions, supported by Miele wall ovens, induction cooktops, and integrated fridge-freezers. These are not small apartments rebranded as luxury; they have been designed at scale, with ample storage, hotel-style entry access, and secure basement parking provided as standard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358492]

At the uppermost level, Marella’s Signature Collection penthouses offer city or bay views, large entertaining terraces (some with outdoor spas), and elevated finishes, including fully wrapped stone kitchen benches and a Liebherr wine fridge.

Flexible room arrangements allow for a fourth bedroom or secondary living space, sought-after by both empty nesters who want the space when family visits and families with older children.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146197 project_image_fid=358498]

A residents’ lounge on the ground floor reinforces the project’s small-community feel. With a fireplace, private dining area, and adjoining terrace, it’s one of several shared spaces that balance amenity with privacy and scale.

Construction has commenced, with completion expected in early 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146197]

Lowe Living continues Bayside legacy as Marella rises in Hampton

Building Construction

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Last year, Perth-based M/Group and its construction arm, M/Construction, delivered its second Quest Apartment project, Quest Perth Ascot and although construction of the 112-room apartment hotel was subjected to lengthy planning approval delay and Covid-19 regulations, it met strict building timeframes due to a new development model and building process that saw one floor completed every two weeks.

The main structure of Quest Perth Ascot officially commenced in January 2020 and the building was fully completed in August of the same year, an eight-month build.

M/Group Managing Director, Mr Lloyd Clark, said the formula used on the project had been perfected in the development of Quest Joondalup several months prior

“The M/Construction team used a building process that combined pre-cast concrete walls and a hollow core flooring structure with the integration of construction methodologies and custom-designed feature."

“The process allowed for up to 100 people on site at once, and the building program was coordinated and synchronised to adhere to new Covid-19 safety regulations."

With concrete floors and toppings poured and cured over the weekend to create self-supporting formwork, the workspace below was obstruction-free for follow-on trades to install framing and services unencumbered. The process effectively shaved some three to four months off the construction timeline

The Quest Perth Ascot project was the result of an $11.5 million development fund managed by M/Group. Its success was preceded by Quest Joondalup which won a finalist nomination in the 2020 World Travel Awards. 
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The main structure of Quest Perth Ascot officially commenced in January 2020 and the building was fully completed in August of the same year, a build time of just eight months

urban.com.au

New apartment building process delivers a floor a fortnight 

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A $320 million commercial project Parramatta, 32 Smith Street, ‘topped out’ by Fender Katsalidis and the GPT Group.
The 25-storey office building, which will see QBE become the anchor tenant, is set to become one of the most sustainable commercial office towers in the Parramatta CBD.
Fender Katsalidis director Mark Curzon said the construction milestone of the 26,500sqm sculptural tower, <a href="/news/32-smith-streets-construction-continues-the-rise-of-parramatta?utm_source=PropertyObserver%20" target="_blank">which commenced last year</a>, was a significant step.
“This is an important gateway building for the emerging city and new civic space, delivering a world-class, cutting-edge, workplace environment, through its urban, sustainability and design philosophy-based solutions," Mr Curzon added.
The tower includes landscaped extern roof terraces, balconies throughout and a publicly accessible urban room.
32 Smith Street is on track for completion in late-2020.
Fender Katsalidis is well known for their design of the Australia 108 tower, which pays homage to the Australian flag with a rotated golden structure protruding from the building.
Other projects designed by the team include Royal Fund’s <a href="/new-apartments/camberwell-house-699-burke-road-camberwell">residential project Bijou </a>in Victoria’s Camberwell and <a href="/buildings/derby-place-369-high-street-kew?utm_source=PropertyObserver" target="_blank">Crema Group’s Derby Place</a> in Kew.
The topping out at 32 Smith Street follows the architects’ recent appointment to design the $2.5 billion Central Place Sydney project.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

$320 million Parramatta commercial tower tops out

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The building defects crisis is undermining confidence in the construction industry and causing heartbreak and financial difficulty for owners and residents of affected multi-storey buildings.
A number of apartment buildings in the City of Sydney have recently made the news due to defects that, in some cases, have left them unfit for occupation due to faults that have occurred in the construction process. These include structural cracks, problems with water proofing, inadequate fire safety and soil contamination.
It is utterly irresponsible that successive state governments have allowed this to occur by removing independent certification and professional supervision of construction sites.
In 1997, as Member for Bligh in State Parliament, I was one of only two MPs to oppose changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that handed over authority to private certifiers to approve certain categories of development.
I told the NSW Parliament that self-regulation would not work, and that public interest would be put at risk by time and cost saving pressures put on private building certifiers to keep the person who pays their wages on side.
These warnings were sadly prophetic. Now the NSW Government must act urgently to reinstate independent onsite construction inspectors, and ensure engineers and similar professionals are adequately accredited.
It is essential that certification of all buildings, particularly multi-storey residential buildings, be carried out by a third party independent of the builder. This would ensure proper checks and balances to protect amenity and the environment, and address the conflict of interest that currently exists when private certifiers are being paid by the building contractor.
It is right that the NSW Government has established a Public Accountability Inquiry into the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes.
The City has made a <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/submissions/64615/0143%20City%20of%20Sydney.pdf" target="_blank">submission</a> (see here) to the inquiry and we look forward to seeing its recommendations for independent and professional oversight acted on as a matter of great urgency.
CLOVER MOORE is an Australian politician, She has been the Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney since 2004
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Crisis in building and construction sector: Lord Mayor Clover Moore

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Alfasi Property has appointed Kane Constructions as the builder to undertake the construction of its project in Cremorne, NSW. 
Works commenced in July on the new technology-focused commercial development at 510 Church Street.
On completion in mid-2021, 510 Church Street will deliver an additional 18,559 square metres of A-Grade office space with large and flexible floorplates. 
The building will be a technology-enabled smart building.
Electric vehicle charging stations, fast and reliable WI-FI connectivity, safety and security access controls using smartphones, smart lighting and smart metering are among the features. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/9/4/510%20Church%20St%20construction%203.jpeg" alt="">
A range of cafes, restaurants and shops all within walking distance from the building.
Trains and trams making access easy from any part of Melbourne. 
510 Church Street will deliver 18,559 square metres of office space across nine levels, with a further 1,848 square metre outdoor terrace area, situated on a 3,058 square metre site. 
“Our floors range from 1,758 square metres to 2628 square metres, with outdoor terraces on every second level and four street frontages allowing for an abundance of natural light,” Gill Dvir, Managing Director at Alfasi Property said. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/9/4/510%20Church%20St%20construction.jpg" alt="">
Basement car parking for 147 vehicles, end-of-trip facilities, a rooftop terrace and a smart building app will further enhance the building, which is targeting 5-Star Green Star and 4.5-Star NABERS ratings, Dvir said. 
Alfasi Property has appointed Colliers International’s Rob Joyes and Travis Myerscough and Cushman and Wakefield’s Ben McKendry and Ben Ward on the leasing campaign.  
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Alfasi Property appoints Kane to Cremorne commercial building construction 

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Building and construction expert David Chandler OAM has been appointed as the new NSW Building Commissioner.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the appointment of Mr Chandler was part of the NSW Government’s commitment to implementing the biggest overhaul to building laws in the State’s history.
“David has more than 40 years’ industry experience, which will be invaluable as we move to restore confidence in the building and construction industry,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We know there are national challenges affecting the industry, but this new appointment will play a key role in protecting NSW homeowners and driving critical reforms.”
The Building Commissioner will be responsible for the investigation and disciplinary action for misconduct in the building industry while overseeing the end to end licensing and auditing across the building industry.
The Commissioner will also drive legislative reforms of the building industry, including consultation with industry.
This will include legislation to be introduced later this year requiring building practitioners to be registered, a new duty of care to make it easier for home owners to seek compensation against negligent building practitioners, and ensuring all buildings are designed and constructed to plans that comply with the Building Code of Australia.
Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the Building Commissioner’s priority will be to continue the extensive work that has already been started by the NSW Government to reform the building and construction industry.
“David will lead the implementation of this reform and will advise the Government on additional reforms that may be needed to ensure better protections for homeowners and purchasers, and lift building standards across NSW,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Chandler has welcomed the opportunity to work with the Government to strengthen the building and construction industry.
“Recent events have reduced community confidence in how buildings are designed and constructed and how they perform, but I welcome the leadership and commitment being shown by the Government to implement change that will strengthen the construction industry foundations in NSW,” Mr Chandler said.
Mr Chandler will start in the position on 14 August 2019.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

David Chandler appointed NSW building commissioner

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The NSW Government has taken the next step in reforming the building and construction industry by providing the first in-depth look at proposed legislation as part of the Building Stronger Foundations discussion paper.  
The community and industry now has an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed reforms to deliver greater transparency, accountability and quality of work in the building and construction sector. 
The legislation will implement many of the recommendations from the Lambert and Shergold-Weir reports into the building industry, and now we want to hear from industry and the wider community to help finalise the legislation
The NSW Government is implementing four key reforms to deliver a more robust regulatory framework for the construction of buildings, including:
- A requirement for buildings to be designed and constructed to plans that fully comply with the Building Code of Australia,
- A requirement that all building practitioners, including building designers, architects and engineers, be registered to ensure they have the appropriate skills and insurance, and can be held accountable for their actions,
- Introduction of a new industry-wide principle of duty of care, enabling home owners to seek compensation if a building practitioner has been negligent, and
- Appointment of a Building Commissioner, who will regulate all aspects of the NSW building industry, and have the power to investigate and take disciplinary action for improper conduct.  
 We are committed to getting these important reforms right and ensuring they are developed in close consultation with the industry and community.
The consultation period is open until 23 July 2019 which will then allow for legislation to be drafted and introduced into the NSW Parliament.
The appointment of the Building Commissioner is expected to be finalised in coming weeks. 
Kevin Anderson is the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation.
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Next step in building reforms from the NSW Government

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Residents who aren't able to get back in to their unsafe apartments in Mascot Towers have been given access to temporary residential accommodation assistance by the NSW Government.
The government will supply emergency financial support to the Mascot Towers Owners Corporation.
Residents of a one bedroom unit will be able to access funding for accommodation of up to $220 per night. Two bedroom apartment residents will be able to get $300 per night and there is up to $400 per night for a three-bedroom unit, all paid subject to actual costs incurred. 
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said residents of the 132 units would temporarily be able to access financial support for incurred accommodation expenses whilst engineers determine the root cause of the issues. 
“The residents of the Mascot Towers are facing exceptional circumstances with a long wait to understand what has caused this problem," Anderson said.
"That’s why the Government is providing residents and owners some certainty by helping them meet the cost of emergency accommodation until liability can be determined and these costs recovered. 
“Whilst residents wait for advice from specialist engineers on the root cause of the problem, we are taking decisive action to ensure all residents of the complex, both home owners and tenants, are not left out in the cold. 
“I hope that this package will also help ease some of the stress that has no doubt been felt by the Strata Manager and volunteer Strata Committee, who have worked tirelessly to support residents in these exceptional circumstances.” 
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Mascot Towers residents given temporary accommodation assistance by NSW Government

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Too often it takes a crisis to trigger changes in legislation and behaviour, when forward thinking, cooperation and future planning could have negated the risk in the first place. Australia’s building and construction industry is under the microscope and changes in the law are in the wind, due to situations that could have been avoided. These include the evacuation of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/22/sydney-opal-tower-report-finds-multiple-design-and-construction-faults" target="_blank">Sydney’s Opal building</a> and the fires in Melbourne’s <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-28/lacrosse-apartment-owners-win-5.7-million-cladding-fire-damages/10857060" target="_blank">Lacrosse tower</a> in 2014 and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/04/apartment-fire-in-melbournes-spencer-street-prompts-new-fears-over-cladding" target="_blank">Neo200</a> apartment building in February, both of which were <a href="https://theconversation.com/cladding-fire-risks-have-been-known-for-years-lives-depend-on-acting-now-with-no-more-delays-111186" target="_blank">fuelled by combustable cladding</a>, as was the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/04/expert-lists-litany-of-serious-safety-breaches-at-grenfell-tower" target="_blank">2017 fire in London’s Grenfell Tower</a> that killed 72 people.
The <a href="https://aibs.com.au/Public/News/2018/ShergoldWeir.aspx" target="_blank">Shergold Weir report</a> made 24 recommendations to improve the National Construction Code to ensure compliance, integrity and more. Commissioned by federal and state building ministers, the report was made public at the Australian Building Ministers Forum in April 2018. But implementation has been too slow to prevent the problems in the Opal and Neo200 apartment buildings. And it included no changes to climate-proof buildings.
A new National Construction Code comes into effect on May 1. Recent events have, however, exposed inadequate construction standards and increased public pressure for further change. This presents an opportunity to future-proof our cities as well as restore public confidence in our construction industry.
Construction codes were created to eliminate “worse practice”, but we are now in a position to make them “best practice”. Importantly, we must prepare for climate change. Australia is increasingly <a href="https://theconversation.com/state-of-the-climate-2018-bureau-of-meteorology-and-csiro-109001" target="_blank">experiencing more extreme weather patterns</a>, but are we ready?
The legislative overhaul must also include building sustainability and higher performance requirements. A low-to-zero-carbon future must be part of the picture.
Construction code changes are needed urgently, not just for increased safety, but to ensure future urban developments:
<ul>
<li>are ready for higher energy demands to cool and heat buildings</li>
<li>are designed to maximise sun and shade at the appropriate times to cool and warm both building and street</li>
<li>use materials that reflect heat for hot climates and absorb it for cooler ones</li>
<li>maximise insulation to reduce energy use</li>
<li>provide enough green space to give shade, produce oxygen and sustain a healthy environment</li>
<li>use water features to cool common and public areas</li>
<li>install smart technology to monitor and manage buildings and precincts.</li>
</ul>
Many leading developers are taking the initiative to ensure projects include high-performance, zero-carbon, highly energy-efficient buildings, with top star ratings, but action needs to be across the board. This can only be done via tough legislation and enforced compliance.
The <a href="https://www.estate.unsw.edu.au/tyree-energy-technologies-building-sustainable-energy-research" target="_blank">University of NSW’s Tyree Building</a> is an excellent example of a high-performance building, as is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/nov/11/sydneys-one-central-park-wins-international-best-tall-building-award" target="_blank">One Central Park, Sydney</a>, which features hanging gardens and an internal water recycling plant. But its most striking feature is its “heliostat”, a large array of mirrors that reflect sunlight to areas that would otherwise be in shadow.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2jN8-rMbQDM?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" width="440" height="260"></iframe>
Around the world, high-performance buildings are on the increase, such as <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/singapore_takes_the_lead_in_green_building_in_asia" target="_blank">313@Somerset</a> in the heart of Singapore, and the <a href="http://nirman.com/blog/2016/08/31/cii-sohrabji-godrej-green-business-center-hyderabad-a-guiding-light/" target="_blank">Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre</a> in Hyderabad – India’s first <a href="http://leed.usgbc.org/leed" target="_blank">Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)</a> platinum-rated building. There are many more.
Changing the law
New building standards and compliance are required to ensure high-performance buildings are the norm, not the exception. The construction industry should fulfil a “cradle to cradle” objective for materials. This means accounting for:
<ul>
<li>where materials come from</li>
<li>how materials are made</li>
<li>safety levels</li>
<li>carbon component</li>
<li>recyclability at demolition.</li>
</ul>
Laws covering low-carbon building design are imperative, setting standards for geography, maximising natural light, air flow, insulation and smart technology. Technology can monitor and run a building’s utilities to ensure it’s not only energy-efficient but also delivers a health standard that’s adaptable to the future pressures of climate change.
Sustainable buildings are achievable now
Current know-how makes all this achievable. Over the past seven years the <a href="http://www.lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/" target="_blank">Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living</a> and its industry partners have funded research into most low-to-zero-carbon aspects of the built environment. This has led to many recommendations in reports like <a href="https://www.asbec.asn.au/research-items/built-perform/" target="_blank">Built to Perform</a>, produced by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council.
The many research projects include:
<ul>
<li>17 living laboratories providing cutting-edge data</li>
<li>creating low-carbon communities</li>
<li>developing tools to measure carbon outputs, from materials to services</li>
<li>studying the effects of heatwaves in Western Sydney and ways to cool cities</li>
<li>research into low-carbon concrete made of fly ash.</li>
</ul>
This plethora of data reveals that sustainable cities and precincts are achievable, while providing for a growing communities. <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-blockchain-can-democratize-green-power-87861" target="_blank">Blockchain and solar technology</a>, for example, is now proven for managing a precinct’s energy needs and can help turn energy users into providers.
Although we are more global than ever, online and social media have in turn made us locally focused. We can know what’s going on in our street at a click and this technology is applicable to the operation of our future, sustainable cities.
We have the data, expertise, tools and knowledge to make safe, low-to-zero-carbon cities part of our future. But there’s much work to do. We still need to implement this knowledge, use the tools, change behaviour and instil 100% trust in the design and construction process. There’s no time to waste.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113365/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;">
Deo Prasad, Scientia Professor and CEO, Co-operative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living, UNSW
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-forget-our-future-climate-when-tightening-up-building-codes-113365" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Photo: John Gollings (Aerial images of One Central Park)
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Don’t forget our future climate when tightening up building codes

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The reasons for the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/fears-of-50-per-cent-loss-in-value-as-opal-tower-owners-consider-legal-options-20190103-p50pgg" target="_blank">cracked concrete</a> that triggered the evacuation – twice – of residents from Sydney’s Opal Tower over Christmas and the New Year are unknown and will take time to properly establish. Many commentators are jumping to the conclusion (yes that includes you, <a href="https://www.afr.com/real-estate/labors-kim-carr-promises-building-industry-reform-says-nsw-indolent-over-opal-20190102-h19mgk" target="_blank">Senator Carr</a>) that the problem is the result of the privatisation of building certification. Instead of being done by government or council inspectors, certification is now done by private contractors engaged by the developer.
It might well be a contributing factor, but what went wrong at Opal Tower is is much more complex than that. Making certification a government responsibility again won’t solve it.
Opal is unusual. Very few residential buildings in Australia have ever been evacuated due to construction defects, and fewer still because of structural cracking. The vast majority of construction defects in multi-unit residential buildings are waterproofing failures. Rather than creating short-term alarm, they create long-term misery. Because misery does not generate headlines, the problem of quality in multi-unit housing continues to be ignored by governments.
Most strata buildings are defective
Strata title allows each resident to own the space in which they live as well as a share of the common property including pipes and walls. It’s the way apartments are usually sold after they are developed.
We don’t have definitive, current data on the extent of defects in strata title buildings. Researchers from UNSW’s City Futures Research Centre have begun collecting the information for Sydney. But there are clear indications that defects are significant and widespread.
A 2012 study by City Futures surveyed 1,020 strata owners across NSW, and found 72% of all respondents (85% in buildings built since 2000) knew of <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/governing-the-compact-city-the-role-and-effectiveness-of-strata-management-in-higher-density-residential-developments/" target="_blank">at least one significant defect</a> in their complex.
In 2017 a City of Sydney survey identified defects and maintenance as the <a href="https://www.flat-chat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CoS-Short-Term-Letting-Survey-report-2017.pdf" target="_blank">top concern of owner occupiers of apartments</a>, along with short-term letting through organisations such as Airbnb.
Unfortunately for those keen to leap to conclusions about certification, studies showed the same thing back in the early 1990s when certification was largely in the hands of local governments. In fact, studies have found the same thing ever since speculative housing became common in Australia, from the end of World War One.
In fact, ever since speculative housing development and investment has become common (after World War I in Australia), residential construction defects have been a concern both here and overseas.
The market for residential buildings is extremely competitive, and controlling the cost of construction is one of the key factors in making a profit. Sometimes, the urge to maximise profit dominates to the extent that both short and long-term construction failures are inevitable.
It’s the consequence of cost control
There are, of course, reputable developers and builders, but reputation usually finishes last, undercut by less-reputable players who produce buildings that are slightly cheaper.
Defects in single-storey speculative houses with pitched roofs are probably just as common as defects in multi-unit dwellings with flat roofs, but they are much easier to fix because the houses are close to the ground and no strata committee is involved.
They are also much easier to find; a competent building inspection initiated by a purchaser is normally enough to protect the buyer. On the other hand, a building inspection of a single unit in a multi-unit development is highly unlikely to find defects which are located elsewhere in the common property of a building.
There are 653 apartments in the Meriton-developed Regis Towers, for example, which was the subject of a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/towers-of-trouble-20181228-p50ol6" target="_blank">long-running legal action for defects</a>.
Intervening at certification is too late
The only practical way to make multi-unit dwellings a good investment for the residents and a decent place to live is for government to take a pro-active role in driving quality throughout the design and construction process, not just at the end when the building is certified for occupation, or at the beginning when it gets a development approval.
It is a simple reality that no other actor in the construction process has the capacity to take this role. It is also simpler and cheaper to build in quality than to rectify defects.
Often, a $1 detail realised for fifty cents will cause endless grief and cost thousands of dollars to fix.
Reducing the amount of rectification required will improve sustainability outcomes by containing the amount of embodied carbon incorporated in the building.
If the building performs well, it will have a longer life and that will reduce the need to eventually replace it with a new building; again saving materials and improving the outcome for embodied carbon. It is worth remembering that 20 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste are produced in Australia each year.
Governments have been reluctant to intervene early
Governments have as good as ignored the problem of defects in multi-unit residential construction even though they have been aware of it for years.
This is particularly concerning because the state governments in NSW and Victoria have been busy spruiking this type of accommodation as the solution to the pressures of rising populations in Sydney and Melbourne. Given this, the protections for apartment owners under existing legislation are ludicrously slight.
Unfortunately, compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) in its current form is no guarantee. There are so many ambiguities and grey areas in the NCC and in the way that it is applied that it is a guarantee of almost nothing, particularly when it comes to waterproofing.
A simple example is the construction of balconies with flat slabs, which is perfectly acceptable under the NCC. The floor slab is constructed as a single plane from the interior to the exterior of the building with the waterproof barrier at the balcony being provided by a masonry wall or a concrete ridge on top of the slab.
This design almost always leaks within a few years. The reliable solution is to cast the slab with a step, but this is more expensive and as a consequence is rare. Cut-price membranes under tiled terraces are also common, causing leaks, mould and misery, despite arguably complying with the provisions of the NCC.
Fortunately, there is plenty that government could do to improve quality of multi-unit construction without affecting prices much.
Five stars. Information could drive standards
One clear way forward is to make the construction quality of a building more transparent to buyers.
This could be achieved by introducing a similar sort of quality assurance scheme to the one government runs to improve safety in cars; a five-star rating.
People are free to buy a two-star car, but for obvious reasons, not many do, even if they are cheap. Similarly, it is unlikely that many people would buy a two-star unit.
It would be perfectly possible to star rate multi-unit housing for construction quality using an independent assessment body against a transparent set of criteria.
It’s been tried before
Such a quality assurance scheme was introduced by the now defunct Building and Construction Council (BACC) in NSW during the 1990s, but unfortunately foundered due to a lack of funding and will from Bob Carr’s government. This was a pity, as the scheme was designed to drive quality through the whole of the building process, from design to completion.
It still provides a perfectly valid model for a policy that would actually do something to improve multi-unit construction quality at a cost which is minimal in relation to the value of the benefits produced. If a building is built correctly in the first place, then owners will not need to rely on shonky fly-by-night builders and developers for rectification works nor need to claim against complex insurance policies.
If the NSW and Victorian governments are serious about having a greater proportion of people live in multi-unit developments, they have a responsibility to do something about their quality before we are left with a overhang of misery, leaks and failures. Just ask the residents and owners of Opal Tower.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/109428/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Geoff Hanmer is the Adjunct Lecturer in Architecture, University of NSW, UNSW
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/there-are-lessons-to-be-drawn-from-the-cracks-that-appeared-in-sydneys-opal-tower-but-they-extend-beyond-building-certification-109428" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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There are lessons to be drawn from the cracks that appeared in Sydney’s Opal Tower, but they extend beyond building certification: Geoff Hanmer

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Two developers have joined forces for a new $40 million Fortitude Valley development.
Pellegrino Group Australia (PGA) and Mosaic Property Group will work together on the commercial and retail building, The Eminence, which was designed by Justin O’Neill of O’Neill Architecture.
The six-level A-grade building  to be built at 89 McLachlan Street will offer 3,500 square metres of commercial space and 305 square metres of retail space. 
Construction is set to commence mid-November 2018 with completion estimated for late 2019.
Pellegrino Group Australia Director Paul Pellegrino says both PGA and Mosaic Property Group are excited by the project.
“The Eminence has been specifically designed to provide optimal work-life balance with inspiration taken from co-working spaces to make it a flexible corporate environment for years to come,” Pellegrino said.
“It’s a boutique building that’s built to give those businesses with a smaller footprint in Brisbane, bigger exposure – something larger corporate buildings generally can’t offer.” 
Both developers will take up office space in the building.
Mosaic Property Group Founder and Managing Director, Brook Monahan said the McLachlan Street site was chosen after an extensive two-year search for a new headquarters for their company.
“We had a very stringent set of criteria for the property that would house our team and meet our requirements well into the future,” Monahan said.
“The Eminence was the first property that met this criteria as an asset that we wanted to hold longer term.
 “While the building is cutting edge in terms of design and technology, it is also surrounded by exceptional amenity being in the heart of the James Street lifestyle precinct.
“At the heart of the inner-north Urban Renewal precinct the area is full of life and energy and has significant room for continued market growth.
“We also felt that the Pellegrino Group was an excellent fit as a JV partner because of their shared values as an organisation.”
Two levels of the office building remain available for lease through agents Gerry Leyden and Michael Skaparis of CBRE and Alex Cameron and Sam Barr of JLL.
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