Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

&nbsp;

Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

First look: ‘Far more than replacing a shopping centre’ as Conquest unveils 736-home Eastlakes redevelopment

Abadeen has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for one of Mosman's largest apartment developments in recent years, seeking approval to transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site on Military Road into a 100-apartment mixed-use development.

The SSDA, lodged with investment partner Phoenix Property Investors, proposes around $230 million worth of new housing on the prominent <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/494-516-military-road-mosman-nsw-2088">494-516 Military Road</a> site.

The proposal comes as Mosman Council continues to progress its recently endorsed Masterplan, which identifies the precinct for increased housing density while maintaining the suburb's established character.

Designed by DKO Architecture, the development would comprise 100 apartments above ground-floor retail, with a rooftop wellness precinct including a gym, sauna, entertaining areas and landscaped communal spaces.

Rather than pushing to the full 12-storey height identified in Council's Masterplan, the proposal ranges between five and nine storeys, stepping down towards Hale Road. A tenth level would accommodate resident amenities rather than additional apartments.

The project has been designed to appeal to a broad range of buyers, from first home buyers and young professionals through to families and local downsizers looking to remain on the Lower North Shore.

<img alt="Mosman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5dada03f-5b4c-43ba-ba62-2868add31440" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-27%20at%209.57.55%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7LBy0B.Jo8_iWAFJsClcV7Q3UnXrv49r" />

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the apartments had been designed as genuine long-term homes rather than investor-focused stock.

"The apartments have been designed as genuine long-term homes, with efficient floorplans that maximise usable living areas, generous storage, natural light and strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces," Brown says."

"We've focused on creating homes for a broad range of buyers, from first home buyers and growing families through to downsizers who want to remain in Mosman."

The rooftop wellness offering forms a key part of the proposal, with residents set to have access to a gym, sauna, outdoor entertaining spaces, communal dining areas, landscaped gardens and a multi-use recreation court overlooking Sydney Harbour.

<img alt="Mosman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d37c2d6b-583a-4a0f-b7a9-9f46b893d2f4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-27%20at%209.58.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=FPoa5FCm2RtzjhAh2w5FTWJbV6GHfY8D" />

DKO drew heavily on the site's natural and cultural history, undertaking a Connecting with Country process with local Aboriginal Elders to inform the architectural and landscape design.

Senior Associate Matthew Ritchard said the design sought to create a building that responded to both the site's landscape and its cultural significance.

"The architectural language of the project is a deep expression of Connecting with Country, where the materiality and colour palette serve as a bridge between the site's geological history and its future as a residential sanctuary."

The proposal also retains the site's established blue gum tree as the centrepiece of the communal landscaped gardens, while introducing activated retail fronting Military Road to strengthen the connection between Mosman and Cremorne villages.

If approved, the project would deliver 100 new homes within walking distance of shops, public transport, schools and local amenities, adding to the limited pipeline of new apartments on the Lower North Shore.

<h2>Project Snapshot</h2>

Project: Honeysuckle Garden Redevelopment

Address: 494-516 Military Road, Mosman

Developer: Abadeen and Phoenix Property Investors

Architect: DKO Architecture

Lead Architect: Matthew Ritchard

Value: $230 million

Residences: 100 apartments

Key features:

<ul>
	<li>
	Ground-floor retail
	</li>
	<li>
	Rooftop wellness precinct
	</li>
	<li>
	Gym and sauna
	</li>
	<li>
	Outdoor entertaining and BBQ areas
	</li>
	<li>
	Landscaped communal gardens
	</li>
	<li>
	Multi-use recreation court
	</li>
	<li>
	Retained mature blue gum tree
	</li>
	<li>
	Connecting with Country design process
	</li>
	<li>
	Harbour, CBD and Balmoral views from upper-level apartments
	</li>
</ul>

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the apartments had been designed as genuine long-term homes rather than investor-focused stock

First look: Abadeen plans 100 apartments on former Honeysuckle Garden site in Mosman

Capital Cities

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Increases in housing stock in Sydney and Perth have failed to match population growth in these capitals, according to research from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC).
The report, titled Housing Supply Responsiveness in Australia: Distribution, Drivers and Institutional Settings, takes a look at how well supply is keeping up with demand across Australia’s regions and capital cities. 
Lead researcher and deputy director of BCEC, Professor Rachel Ong, said while national growth in Australia’s housing stock has kept pace with population growth over the last ten years, the picture is very different for some of our major capitals. 
“Increases in Perth and Sydney’s housing stock over the past ten years have been insufficient to match the increase in their growing populations, with supply-side barriers more acute in Sydney than Perth,” Professor Ong said. 
The issue of housing affordability is more nuanced than previously thought, with most new housing concentrated in mid-to-high price market segments, it says.
“We’d normally expect to see a trickle-down effect, where building higher-value homes leads to the opening up of lower-value homes for those on lower incomes. Our research indicates this isn’t the case, meaning an increase in housing supply is not leading to better housing affordability,” Professor Ong said. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/18/Link.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/18/Link.png" alt="">
 
In its executive summary, the research said that a one percent increase in the level of real housing prices is estimated to produce a 4.7 percent (3.9 percent) increase in new house (unit) supply. These house price gains translate into a very small increase in the housing stock which will do little to keep up with demand pressures.  
 
“This indicates that a broader policy response is needed to address the structural impediments that weaken the 'trickle down' impact on new housing supply. There is a real need for targeted government intervention, including measures that improve financial incentives for developers to build at the lower end of the housing market.” 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/18/BuildingApprovals.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/18/BuildingApprovals.png" alt="">
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/18/Units.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/18/Units.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/18/All.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/18/All.png" alt="">
 
A positive finding from the report is that the supply of units is more likely to be concentrated in job-rich areas, with more than 50 percent of new units built in the highest job density areas in Australia. 
 
“A likely result of that will be shorter commuting time to work, which offers an important boost to productivity,” Professor Ong said.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Housing supply not keeping up with population growth in some capital cities, says study

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The average median rent across the country remained marginally stable at $404 for Q3 with only a 0.3 percent increase from Quarter 2 (Q2), according to Rent.com.au.
Only one of the top Australian capitals saw an increase in median rent; Adelaide recorded a 3 percent increase in its median rent from $330 in Q2 to $340 in Q3.
Conversely, Sydney recorded a decrease; the New South Wales capital saw rents drop 1.9 percent from Q2 to Q3, with median rents now sitting at $520.
Sydney still is the most expensive Australian city with affordability per room sitting at $248/pw whilst Perth is the most affordable capital city for renters at a median of $130/pw
By looking at dwelling type, Sydney continued to be skewed towards apartments comprising 58.6 percent, while Perth’s property makeup was 73.8 percent houses.
Looking at Rent.com.au’s Q3 search data, which is indicative of suburb desirability, Melbourne CBD was the highest searched suburb, followed by Adelaide, Perth and Sydney CBD. This indicates Australia’s inner CBD areas are hot across all major capitals.
<a href="/images/2016/10/20/Median%20rent.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/20/Median%20rent.jpg" alt="">
On a regional level, both Queensland and Western Australia saw an increase in their median rent across the quarter to $340 and $350, accordingly. Median rents remained healthy across the rest of the country, with no change in prices for NSW ($350), SA ($250) and Victoria ($270).
Renters could find the cheapest rentals in SA’s regional areas in Q3, with a median rent of $250 per week.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Median rent:
o Sydney, which was the most expensive city for renters in September 2016 with a median weekly rent of $542, also recorded a decrease in the median rent, quarter to quarter.
o Sydney is still the most expensive city for renters, with asking median rents at $520 in Q3, despite the $10 decrease quarter-to-quarter.
o Properties in New South Wales (NSW) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $350 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Sydney in Q3 was $248.
o The top 5 most affordable suburbs were: Carramar ($300), Appin ($315), Blackett ($320), Emerton ($320) and Cabramatta ($330), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in NSW in Q3 were: Seaforth ($1,200), South Coogee ($1,200), Castlecrag ($1,195), Barangaroo ($1,025) and Caringbah South ($1,025).
QUEENSLAND
Median rent:
o Queensland’s regional areas saw the second highest increase in median rents, a $10 increase from $330 in Q2 to $340 in Q3.
o QLD’s capital, Brisbane, recorded an average median rent of $400 in Q3, consistent with the median rent in Q2. o Brisbane metro’s median rent was just $6.25 less than the national average.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Brisbane in Q3 was $150.
o The top 5 most affordable suburbs were: Russell Island ($245), Macleay Island ($285), Woodridge ($290), Logan Central ($300) and Caboolture South ($300), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in QLD in Q3 were: Newport ($650), Chapel Hill ($650), Reedy Creek ($590), Burleigh Waters ($585) and Brisbane CBD ($580).
VICTORIA
Median rent:
o Properties in Victoria (VIC) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $270 per week.
o Melbourne metro rentals saw no change in median rent from Q3 to Q2, sitting at $380.
o Melbourne’s property market makeup in Q3 was 43.4 per cent apartments and 56.5 per cent houses.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Melbourne in Q3 was $163.
o The top five most affordable suburbs were: Corio ($235), Norlane ($245), Ballan ($265), St Leonards ($270) and Frankston North ($280), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in VIC in Q3 were: Albert Park ($700), Black Rock ($650), Clifton Hill ($630), Brighton East ($608) and North Melbourne ($590).
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Median rent:
o Western Australia’s (WA) regional areas saw a small increase of 1.45 per cent between the quarters, increasing from $345 to $350.
o Perth’s property market makeup in Q3 was 73.8 per cent houses, the highest number across the country. o Perth metro rentals saw no change in median rent from Q3 to Q2, sitting at $380.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Perth in Q3 was $130.
o The top five cheapest suburbs were: Safety Bay ($280), Wembley ($280), Girrawheen ($283), Armadale ($288) and Osborne Park ($290), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in WA in Q3 were: Mount Claremont ($880), City Beach ($875), Gwelup ($650), North Fremantle ($645) and Stirling ($638).
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Median rent:
o Adelaide median rents rose 3.03 per cent from $330 in Q2 to $340 in Q3. Apartments and houses were the cheapest to rent in SA for the Q3 period. The median rent for apartments was $190 per week, while houses would set a renter back $255 per week.
o Properties in South Australia (SA) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $250 per week.
o Adelaide showed it had the lowest percentage makeup of apartments in Q3 – only 25 per cent, with the remaining 75 per cent houses. Adelaide also recorded the highest percentage of house listings across the country.
o Renters could find the cheapest regional rentals in SA during Q3, with a median rent of $250 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Sydney in Q3 was $125.
o The top five most affordable suburbs were: Elizabeth Vale ($206), Elizabeth Grove ($225), Elizabeth South ($240), Devon Park ($243) and Elizabeth North ($255), while the top 5 most expensive suburbs in SA in Q3 were: Burnside ($583), West Lakes ($463), Eastwood ($450), Adelaide CBD ($450) and Kent Town ($450).
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Median rent:
o Darwin apartments and houses experienced an overall 6.8 per cent rise in median rent to $470 in Q3 from $440 in Q2 o The Northern Territory (NT) saw the largest increase in rent overall in regional areas, rising 7.1 per cent in Q3 to $450 per week, from $420 (Q2).
o The most expensive apartments in regional Australia could be found in the NT for $440 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Darwin in Q3 was $175.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Median rent:
o Median rents in Canberra dropped 4.4 per cent from $450 in Q2 to $430 in Q3.
o Properties in Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) regional areas showed the median rent remained consistent between Q2 and Q3 at $450.
o The ACT was in line with the NT as the two most expensive states to find rentals in Q3 at a median rent of $450 per week.
Affordability:
o The median price per room in Canberra in Q3 was $183.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Average median rent remains at $404 a week: Rent.com.au

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The new assistant minister for cities and digital transformation, Angus Taylor, spoke last week of his enthusiasm for a “new vehicle” for creating partnerships between all three levels of government to drive the sustainable growth of our cities.
This “tried and tested” vehicle is based on the UK government’s City Deals model, which has been running in England since 2012.
In a nutshell, this model encourages city councils or groupings of councils to work together more effectively in identifying local economic development opportunities. They then strike a deal with the central government to secure the funding necessary to realise these opportunities.
Part of the UK government’s so-called “localism agenda”, this approach was designed to give more power and freedom to localities so they could do what they thought best to achieve growth in their area.
This approach has been heavily spruiked in Australia by KPMG and by the Property Council of Australia to Taylor and his ministerial predecessor, Jamie Briggs. The Property Council’s Ken Morrison and KPMG’s Paul Low helpfully set out in their joint pamphlet nine reasons why this approach provides a model for Australian urban policy.
How do the City Deals stack up?
So let’s look at each of these reasons. How do they stand up to scrutiny? That includes the scrutiny of the UK National Audit Office (NAO), which in July 2015 published a progress review of the first wave of English City Deals.
<ol>
<li>It’s a contract – the deal is a deal! In Australia the deals will be more complicated if the partners have to come from each of the three levels of government. And, as we know, federal and state governments have been known to tear up deals struck by their predecessors.</li>
<li>The focus is on productivity and growth. The NAO review found that deal partners can struggle to agree on measures of growth and productivity. The Treasury and the Greater Manchester partnership took two years to agree the terms of their “earn back” deal.</li>
<li>They encourage local leadership and good governance. While it is a sensible move for some local councils to come together in combined authorities, some of these now look remarkably similar to the English Metropolitan Country Councils abolished in 1986 by a previous Conservative government. Creating a more efficient profile of local governments in Australia is a challenge many state and territory governments shy away from.</li>
<li>They use smarter tools for making infrastructure investment decisions. There is certainly scope for making infrastructure decisions on the basis of more comprehensive and rigorous criteria. It is somewhat incongruous, though, to prosecute a localism agenda while at the same time insisting on assessment by a central unit located within the Treasury.</li>
<li>They unlock innovative financing. The NAO review found that ministers often quickly published high-level ambitions, sometimes before departmental officials had agreed to specific funding packages. Haven’t we learnt to be cautious of policy rhetoric outstripping careful implementation planning?</li>
<li>They help join up economic, social and sustainability goals. While the goals might be joined up – an excellent ambition – it has proved extremely difficult to set up evaluation frameworks that can demonstrate with any rigour what the long-term impacts are and what would have happened without the deals.</li>
<li>They promote powerful political leadership. Directly elected mayors are already common in some parts of Australia and local councils are typically much smaller than in the UK. Whether a formal partnership of local councils in Australia would find it easy to allow one mayor to be first among equals is a moot point.</li>
<li>They promote financial literacy skills at the local level. City Deals did not provide any extra funding to build local management capacity. Local partners were expected to pool their resources to achieve this. The NAO concluded that this approach was not sustainable in the context of continuing reductions in central funding to local government.</li>
<li>They rely less on inefficient taxes. Without specifying what these inefficient taxes might be, we can safely assume this approach won’t involve any reform of negative gearing or capital gains tax on property holdings.</li>
</ol>
New titles, same old song
City Deals have been sold in the UK as a significantly new approach to urban policy, but they look remarkably similar to measures that have been promoted over the last 40 years.
Every UK urban policy initiative introduced since the mid-1970s has spoken of the importance of partnerships, cross-departmental co-ordination, multi-sectoral intervention and local leadership. While the titles of these initiatives may have changed, the song has remained the same.
And here lies the biggest challenge. We know that:
<ul>
<li>the problems are inter-related and the all levels of government need to work productively together and with other sectors;</li>
<li>departmental silos within government get in the way of strategic planning; and</li>
<li>scarce public resources need to be invested wisely.</li>
</ul>
And we know that to overcome these problems we need a much greater degree of policy stability and long-term, bipartisan commitment. What we do not need is to jump on yet another urban policy bandwagon from overseas – one that is already being tinkered with in its country of origin.
 
Paul Burton is professor of Urban Management and Planning &amp; Director, Urban Research Program, Griffith University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-burton-5155" target="_blank">here</a>.
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City Deals: nine reasons this imported model of urban development demands due diligence

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This week there were 2,103 capital city auctions held and the preliminary clearance rate was 76.3 per cent across 1,704 results.
This week’s clearance rate represents a small fall from last week (76.9 per cent) and auction volumes are lower (2,512). Last year, the final auction clearance rate was 70.8 per cent, indicating that conditions across the auction market still remain stronger than at the same time last year; however the gap between the clearance rate is no longer as large as we saw earlier in the year. At the same time last year, 1,569 auctions were held, significantly lower than the number held this week.
<a href="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Combined-capitals.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Combined-capitals.jpg" alt="" width="779" height="588">
Across Melbourne, 902 auctions were held this week, with a preliminary clearance rate of 76.5 per cent. This week’s clearance rate for Melbourne is lower than last (78.5 per cent), but higher than one year ago (73.3 per cent). Similarly, the number of auctions is lower than last week (1,085) and higher than a year ago (727). This week, there was only one Melbourne sub-region where the clearance rate was above 80 per cent. Outer East Melbourne saw 86.4 per cent of the 59 reported results sell. Following on from this, the second highest clearance rate for the week was across South East Melbourne at 78.5 per cent.
<a href="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Melbourne.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Melbourne.jpg" alt="" width="748" height="506">
 
There were 907 Sydney auctions held this week and across the 702 reported results, 80.3 per cent were successful, pushing the cities clearance rate back above the 80 per cent mark for the first time in 5 weeks, so it will be interesting to see if the final results remain this high. Over the previous week, Sydney’s clearance rate was 78.3 per cent and 76.2 per cent last year. This week’s preliminary clearance rate for the city is 4.1 percentage points higher than one year ago, a much less significant difference than earlier this year when the gap between this year and last year’s clearance rate was consistently around the 10-15 per cent mark. So far, all of the 13 results reported to CoreLogic RP Data for the Outer South West region were sold; however there are still 9 results yet to be captured. The Inner West (86.6 per cent), City and Inner South (85.9 per cent) and North Sydney and Hornsby regions (85.1 per cent) were all strong contributors to Sydney’s strong preliminary result this week.
<a href="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Sydney.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Sydney.jpg" alt="" width="746" height="512">
 
This week, Brisbane’s preliminary clearance rate was 60.2 per cent across 93 reported results. There were 130 homes taken to auction across the city this week, compared to 147 last week and 98 at the same time last year. Last week, Brisbane’s clearance rate was 61.1 per cent, while one year ago exactly half of all the reported auctions were sold. So far this week, 23 Gold Coast auction results have been reported, with 15 sales, representing a success rate of 65.2 per cent.
<a href="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Brisbane.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Brisbane.jpg" alt="" width="760" height="513">
 
Adelaide’s preliminary clearance rate is 71.2 per cent this week, falling from 77.4 per cent last week (the strongest result for the city since early April) and higher than one year ago, when 65.6 per cent of auctions recorded a sale.
<a href="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Adelaide.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/17/20150817-Adelaide.jpg" alt="" width="747" height="510">
 
The clearance rate for Perth was just 23.1 per cent this week based on preliminary results. Last week 50.0 per cent of Perth auctions were successful, while one year ago the cities clearance rate was 40 per cent.
There were 50 Canberra homes taken to auction this week, with 77.4 per cent selling. Over the previous week, a 74.1 per cent clearance rate was recorded and one year ago 51.2 per cent of reported results were successful.
Across Tasmania 5 auction results have been reported this week, with 3 sales.
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Combined capital city clearance rate remains steady: CoreLogic RP Data's Shana Miller

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More than 2,000 auctions will be held nationwide this week with 1,954 across capital cities, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
1,000 auctions will be held across New South Wales and 883 in Victoria. 291 auctions are slated for Queensland.
<a href="/images/2015/08/11/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-11%20at%208.49.55%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/08/11/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-11%20at%208.49.55%20AM.png" alt="">
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