<p>The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.</p>

<p>Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."</p>

<p>That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.</p>

<p>Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]</p>

<p>Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.</p>

<p>The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]</p>

<p>The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.</p>

<p>Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]</p>

<p>Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.</p>

<p>Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]</p>


Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

<p>National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.</p>

<p>Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]</p>

<p>The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.</p>

<p>Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.</p>

<p>"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.</p>

<p>"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.</p>

<p>"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]</p>

<p>Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.</p>

<p>The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]</p>

<p>Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.</p>

<p>Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]</p>

<p>Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.</p>

<p>Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]</p>


Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

<p>The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.</p>

<p>It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.</p>

<p>Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.</p>

<p>While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]</p>

<p>Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.</p>

<p>The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.</p>

<p>"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.</p>

<p>"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.</p>

<p>"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]</p>

<p>One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.</p>

<p>"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.</p>

<p>While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.</p>

<p>"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.</p>

<p>"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]</p>

<p>There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.</p>

<p>As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.</p>

<p>"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.</p>

<p>A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.</p>

<p>The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]</p>


A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

<p>A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.</p>

<p>It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.</p>

<p>Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.</p>

<p>The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]</p>

<p>"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.</p>

<p>"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.</p>

<p>"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]</p>

<p>The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.</p>

<p>Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]</p>

<p>The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.</p>

<p>The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]</p>

<p>Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.</p>

<p>Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]</p>

<p>While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.</p>

<p>It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.</p>

<p>Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]</p>

<p>That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.</p>

<p>Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]</p>


Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

<p>As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.</p>

<p>At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]</p>

<p>The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.</p>

<p>Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.</p>

<p>In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]</p>

<p>The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.</p>

<p>Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.</p>

<p>This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]</p>

<p>What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.</p>

<p>The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.</p>

<p>Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]</p>


Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Chinese Investment

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<p class="description">Chatswood is the second highest buyer destination of Chinese property investors in Sydney, although Juwai.com’s director Carrie Law says Chinese investors have been turning away from Sydney real estate.</p>
<div class="story-content">
<p>The Golden Week of celebrations, a popular Chinese holiday when China-based buyers have traditionally visited Australia to purchase new housing en masse, proved quieter than normal.</p>
<p>“We still (saw) some transactions, but it’s not the free-for-all of past years,” Ms Law said.</p>
<div class="w650 h365 image media">
<p class="caption">The Sydney CBD has been the most popular area for Chinese buyers.</p>
</div>
<p>Chinese buyers made six per cent fewer inquiries than in the previous quarter and nine per cent fewer inquiries than over the same period last year, according to Juwai data.</p>
<p>The five most popular suburbs for China-based buyers over the past year were the Sydney CBD, Chatswood, Parramatta, Olympic Park and Edmondson Park.</p>
<p>The year before that, north shore suburb Castlecrag was the most popular, followed by the Sydney CBD, Marsden Park, Pyrmont and Ryde.</p>
<p>The Juwai data coincides with a new report that overall Chinese investment into Australia slumped 40 per cent last year, twice the drop worldwide, according the Australian National University, supported by Treasury and with input from the Reserve Bank of Australia.</p>
<p>The report shows Chinese commercial investment peaked in 2016 at $14.9 billion, before falling to $8.9 billion last year.</p>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<p data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-7770372_137="9551" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-7770372_137="4000" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-7770372_137="18556" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-7770372_137="1">"This is an unusual drop in Chinese investment into Australia," the project's leader Peter Drysdale, who heads the Asian Bureau of Economic Research at ANU told The Australian Financial Review.</p>
<p data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-7770372_137="9551" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-7770372_137="4000" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-7770372_137="18556" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-7770372_137="1">He noted the decrease was significantly larger than the 19.3 per cent fall in China's worldwide foreign direct investment.</p>
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<p>The database shows $40.4 billion of Chinese money made its way into Australia over the past four years, via 262 transactions.</p>
<p>Last year, the mining sector still accounted for the biggest proportion, making up just over half of the total value of transactions. However, its share has fallen since 2014 as other sectors such as health care and financial technology are starting to attract interest from Chinese buyers.</p>
<p data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-7770372_137="11556" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-7770372_137="1900">"There has been a significant diversification of Chinese investment in Australia," said Professor Drysdale.</p>
</div>
</div>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney apartment suburbs rank as most popular Chinese property investor destinations

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<div><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/3_StockBreakouts/ResizedImages/China-Flag-Optim.jpg" alt=""></div>
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

免费电子书：软着陆还是崩盘？接下来的房价会是多少？

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<p>EXPERT OBSERVER</p>
<p>Australia is closing in on the United States to become the primary destination for Chinese offshore capital as domestic regulation forces Chinese investors diversify their strategies.</p>
<p>Australia is the second largest recipient of Chinese overseas capital after the United States, with US$99 billion since 2008, just lower than the US$138 billion that reached the U.S.</p>
<p>But a change of pace in overall capital allocation in the two markets could see Australia nudge in on its rival.</p>
<p>In line with a slowdown in Chinese outbound investment overall, last year, Chinese investment in Australia declined by 11 percent, while in the U.S. it was 35 percent according to the report Demystifying Chinese Investment in Australia, produced by KPMG and The University of Sydney, in collaboration with JLL.</p>
<p>Overall Chinese investment volumes will continue to fall, but Australia’s position remains strong as it continues to be globally competitive in areas that China wants to grow, including real estate, health and wellbeing, technology and mining resources.</p>
<p>And despite capital controls in their own country, Chinese investors remain bullish, as the sheer size of their economy and GDP, forces them to diversify.</p>
<p>“They are investing with a long-term focus – and this is positive for Australia,” says Ferguson.</p>
<p>Australian real estate continues to hold Chinese interest as volumes remain strong globally, with A$4.4 billion invested in the Australian market last year, equating to 11.5 percent of the country’s total real estate allocation.</p>
<p>In fact, despite the drop in overall outbound investment, the volume of real estate snapped up by Chinese investors globally has held strong. JLL’s 2017 China 12 report shows that its total real estate investment, including land sales, totaled US$32 billion – about 20 percent of total investment – which is close to the US$33 billion invested the previous year.</p>
<p>There has, however, been a noticeable shift away from the trophy assets Chinese investors have been known for, and more towards high quality investments regardless of deal size.</p>
<p>The investor profile has changed, too, with private Chinese companies filling the gap left by state owned enterprises, the number of which dropped for the first time since 2014.</p>
<p>The fundamentals of Australian real estate will ensure it continues to hold its own in the race for Chinese capital, says Michael Zhang, Head of JLL’s China desk in Australia.</p>
<p>“The macroeconomic framework is supportive, while the market is attractive from a global perspective,” Zhang says.</p>
<p>“Economic fundamentals are robust, population growth is solid, market transparency is high, and returns are broadly higher relative to comparable markets globally.”'</p>
<p><em>Doug Ferguson is the Head of Asia and international markets at KPMG Australia</em></p>
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Australia competing for Chinese offshore capital

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<p>GUEST OBSERVATION</p>
<p>Chinese infrastructure investment in Australia has rarely left the headlines lately. It’s reported that telecommunications giant Huawei will likely be banned from building Australia’s 5G network on national security grounds. Hong Kong-based company CK Infrastructure’s bid to buy APA Group’s gas pipeline network is also proving controversial.</p>
<p>Scrutiny of the national security implications of infrastructure has been upgraded. The new Critical Infrastructure Centre is assisting the Foreign Investment Review Board in this. Though not made explicit, the main focus is China.</p>
<p>Greater scrutiny of investment projects is welcome, especially if community and environmental concerns are also considered. However, Australia could benefit from the availability of Chinese infrastructure financing.</p>
<p>Australia’s north has significant infrastructure needs. And in the major Australian cities, public transport systems are inadequate, leading to ever-longer commuting times. China also possesses world-class expertise in high-speed rail, which could be harnessed to better connect cities on the eastern seaboard.</p>
<p>Given the state of relations with China and Australia’s pressing infrastructure needs, the Australian government must develop a clear strategy for Chinese infrastructure investment. Instead of passively scrutinising bids, the government should proactively identify worthwhile projects and engage Chinese counterparts to finance and implement them.</p>
<p><strong>Belt and Road isn’t just a political ploy</strong></p>
<p>A proactive approach could benefit Australia because Chinese infrastructure investment is not as strategically directed as many assume. This is clear if we examine the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – the centrepiece of China’s global infrastructure financing spree.</p>
<p>The Australian government, on security officials’ advice, has not joined the BRI. However, Belt and Road is not a carefully planned “grand strategy”. It is largely driven by the diverse activities of state-owned enterprises competing for projects and financing.</p>
<p>President Xi Jinping has undoubtedly used the BRI to signal China’s rise to “great power” status. But its main drivers are domestic and commercial. At its core, the BRI is an effort to alleviate China’s industrial overcapacity problem in key sectors, such as steel, glass, cement and aluminium.</p>
<p>Overcapacity has worsened since the global financial crisis, as Beijing sought to maintain growth by encouraging an infrastructure construction boom. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) spearheaded this. After profitable domestic opportunities had dried up, international expansion became attractive, to keep SOEs working and to find more productive outlets for China’s huge foreign currency reserves.</p>
<p>The BRI’s implementation has reflected competition, lobbying and compromises among ministries, provinces and SOEs. Its masterplan document – “Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” – is a case in point. It contains 50 “priority areas”. These cover virtually every governmental and non-governmental activity, showing little actual prioritisation.</p>
<p>Early statements suggested a BRI focus on Central and Southeast Asia. But since 2015 the initiative has been formally opened to all countries. This was again due to intense lobbying from provinces, SOEs and some foreign governments. All are keen to get some of the action, suggesting little strategic direction.</p>
<p>The vague and loose Belt and Road plan has enabled considerable scope for interests within the Chinese party-state to use it for their own, economically motivated, agendas, with little consideration for Beijing’s wider diplomatic objectives. This has generated a rather chaotic, “bottom-up” process for selecting and funding projects.</p>
<p>Belt and Road project ideas usually emerge from state-owned enterprises’ in-country subsidiaries. After spotting an opportunity, they try to build support in the recipient government. Occasionally, this includes bribing officials. They also often seek to obtain the local Chinese embassy’s support to improve lobbying back home.</p>
<p>Once agreement with the recipient government is reached, the SOE or the recipient government applies for financing from China’s policy or commercial banks. The banks determine whether to extend credit after assessing repayment capacity. The central government’s involvement is typically limited to the National Development and Reform Commission’s formal approval.</p>
<p><strong>Australia still needs to manage the risks</strong></p>
<p>Chinese infrastructure projects are not risk-free. The potential for misuse of key infrastructure to serve Chinese strategic agendas is clearly the Australian government’s foremost concern. But there are more immediate issues too.</p>
<p>Chinese banks’ lending standards are well below world “best practice”. They give limited consideration to social, environmental and labour protections when awarding financing to projects.</p>
<p>Tough competition between Chinese companies means they have strong incentives to cut corners and promote projects that recipients do not need. The latter can be saddled with unnecessary infrastructure and potentially unsustainable debt. Furthermore, Chinese central agencies’ capacity to regulate SOEs’ offshore activities is weak, so they cannot be relied upon to manage these problems.</p>
<p>Closer scrutiny of investment proposals is, therefore, clearly necessary. So, too, is tight regulation of project implementation. Australian regulators should also ensure Chinese projects adequately resolve social, environmental and labour concerns.</p>
<p>The fragmented nature of Chinese investments provides opportunities, however, for selective engagement that could serve the wider public interest. This should form part of a clear Australian strategy towards China based on a nuanced analysis of both the threats and opportunities of this multifaceted relationship.</p>
<p><em><strong>Shahar Hameiri</strong>, Associate Professor of International Politics, The University of Queensland</em></p>
<p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-driving-chinese-infrastructure-investment-overseas-and-how-can-we-make-the-most-of-it-98697" target="_blank">original article</a>.</em></p>
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What's driving Chinese infrastructure investment overseas and how can we make the most of it?

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<p>A Chinese syndicate has paid $39.4 million for Mornington Village as the yield for shopping centres in Victoria approaches 5%.</p>
<p>The syndicate of Chinese investors purchased it on a 5.26% yield.</p>
<p>According to CBRE agent Mark Wizel, the centre was making $2.071 million per annum.</p>
<p>The centre contains holds several large contracts including Woolworths and Aldi.</p>
<p>The two level, 7963 square metre (GLA), neighborhood centre, is the fifth neighbourhood centre to be sold the past two months through CBRE’s Retail Investments team, making a total of just under $180 million at on average 5.09% yield.</p>
<p>Mornington Village last sold in January 2014 for $25.8 million on a yield of 7.47%.</p>
<p>Wizel said vendors were confident of getting a good price for their asset while purchasers were buoyed by strong population growth to various parts of Victoria,</p>
<p>He noted the retail assets in high demand were those that had underlying land value with development upside.</p>
<p>He said the national average trend for neighbourhood centres remained above 6% in the year to March, according to CBRE’s Australia Retail Q1 2018 report.</p>
<p>"Eighteen months ago yields for this retail asset class were approaching 6 to 6.5% and they have now firmly settled on an average of marginally above 5% and that is a reflection of the peculiar characteristics of the Victorian market,’’ Wizel said.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/6/Screen%20Shot%202018-06-06%20at%2010.36.35%20am.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></em></p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/6/6/Screen%20Shot%202018-06-06%20at%2010.36.35%20am.png" alt=""></p>
<p>Dowers said the residential population growth factor along with tourism had driven a string of retail investment sales on the Mornington Peninsula in recent years attracting a broad range of purchasers including institutions, syndicates and private investors.</p>
<p>A strip of retail properties sold recently for just over $6 million, exceeding its reserve price of $4.9 million, as seven buyers contested the 2229sq m 671-677 Point Nepean Road, McCrae offering.</p>
<p data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-7770372_137="4169" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-7770372_137="4000" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-7770372_137="1">The three leases to retailers Kobi Jacks, Alatonero and Merchant Maker café were recently renewed for five years.</p>
<p>A local investor bought the property across two titles at a yield of 3.6%.</p>
<p>Recent sales include Hastings Central Shopping Centre purchased by Henkell Brothers for $32.1 million.</p>
<p>Bentons Square half-share purchased by Vicinity Centres for $38.25 million.</p>
<p>Bunnings Warehouse Hastings purchased by a local syndicate for $15.16 million</p>
<p>Somerville Mall purchased by a private investor for $42.05 million.</p>
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Chinese syndicate pays $39.4 million for Mornington Village

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<p dir="ltr"><span>The Churches of Christ has offloaded a major corner site in Glen Iris for $9.5 million, demonstrating the ongoing demand for boutique development sites in Melbourne’s east.</span> </p>
<p dir="ltr">A Chinese developer was the buyer of <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/1536-1542-malvern-road-glen-iris-vic-3146-2014139482" target="_blank">1536 Malvern Road</a>, a 1,850 sqm corner site close to Burke Road.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The luxury apartment development site was sold by Savills Australia’s Clinton Baxter, Jesse Radisich, Nick Peden and Benson Zhou.</p>
<p>“The sale price reflects a land rate of $5,135 per sqm, which is a huge result for a site of this nature,” Mr Baxter said.</p>
<p><span><span> <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/2018/3/8/45688_markup%20signboard.jpg" alt=""></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Mr Baxter said 2018 had commenced with “a clear sense of optimism and confidence” throughout the development market.</span> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>“The sale campaign generated widespread interest and a 50/50 split of local and Chinese buyers,” he said.</span></p>
<p>“We received 12 separate bids which ultimately resulted in the sale price of $9.5million – well in excess of the $8 million expectations.”</p>
<p>Baxter said that despite media reports of a withdrawal of Chinese money from Melbourne’s commercial property market, Savills was witnessing the opposite.</p>
<p>“That has not been the case for us at all,” he said.</p>
<p>“We are actually experiencing a surge in Chinese interest in the sub-$20million price range right across the market.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Peden said that with “interest rates effectively on hold for most or all of 2018”, the market was likely to accelerate as the year unfolded and buyer confidence continued to grow.</span></p>
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Chinese buyer swoops on Glen Iris church

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<p>Wandin Valley, the Hunter Valley winery named after a fictional village in the 1980s hit TV series A Country Practice, has been listed for sale.</p>
<p>It last sold for $7 million, less than two years ago when bought by a director of one of China's largest animation studios, Lap Tung Tsoi.</p>
<p>The Lovedale property was originally known as Millstone Vineyard.</p>
<p>The 40-hectare property was renamed Wandin Valley by the creator of A Country Practice, James Davern, and his wife Philippa following their purchase in 1990 for $900,000.</p>
<p>The Davern's redeveloped the property into a winery, building the cricket pavilion-style main residence, manager's cottage, modern cellar, function rooms for weddings, and adding the tourist accommodation.</p>
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<p>It was sold by the couple in 2010 for $4.75 millio to the Mosman couple Katrina and Russell Leslie, who once worked as a Macquarie investment banker.</p>
<p>The estate’s wine history dates back to 1973 when potter-winemaker Peter Dobinson planted a vineyard, calling it Millstone.</p>
<p><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/2018/2/27/wanding%20valley%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>"It is Australian country, blending with Southern European architecture, nestled amongst 35 year old vines and olive groves creates an inspiring setting which ensures customer visitation," Jurds agent Cain Beckett said.</p>
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<p>Tsoi is a director in his family's international animation and toy manufacturing empire Alpha Group which was founded by his billionaire brother, Cai Dongqing, who was a co-producer of China's all-time highest box office grossing movie The Mermaid.</p>
<p>Tsoi owns an $11.7 million mansion in Vaucluse.</p>
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<p><em>This article first appeared in</em><span> The Sunday Telegraph. </span></p>
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Chinese list Wandin Valley vineyard

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<div class="column">Changing local market and regulatory conditions resulted in a dramatic slowdown in outbound Chinese investment in Australian commercial property during 2017, falling further from its 2015 peak.</div>
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<div class="column">But despite these weaker investment levels, Australia remains a firm favourite among Mainland Chinese investors, ranking second for the third consecutive year behind the United States, the Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s annual investor intentions research noted.</div>
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<div class="column">Australia ranked as the 7th most popular global destination for Chinese CRE investment in 2017</div>
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<div class="column">The investment challenges are driven by supply constraints and regulatory changes.</div>
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<div class="column">The report noted sentiment among Chinese investors towards Australian CRE ranks 2nd globally, although its has decreased from 2016.</div>
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<div class="column">Inbound investment from Hong Kong rises by $200m year-on-year to $1.1Bn with NSW offices accounting for almost 50% of Chinese CRE investment into Australia (excluding development sites).</div>
<div class="column">It reported 73% of deals transacted by Chinese investors during 2017 were in the sub-$50m category.</div>
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<div class="column">Total Chinese outbound investment into Australian commercial property has fallen from $6.97bn in 2016 to $2.83bn in 2017, a 60% decline overall, and ranking as the 7th most popular destination for China investment worldwide. Total 2017 investment comprised $1.97bn invested into standing assets and $853m in developments sites, a decline of 60% and 72% respectively.</div>
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<br>While mainland Chinese investment has decreased, investment from Hong Kong Kong has increased by 20% last year, rising from $918m to $1.1Bn in 2017. This is expected to increase further during 2018 as Mainland Chinese investors seek to reallocate capital via Hong Kong.</div>
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<p><span>A recent survey of top Mainland Chinese Real Estate Investors Overseas (‘MCREIO’) conducted by the Cushman &amp; Wakefield Research team also shows that MCREIO’s sentiment towards Australian commercial property had dropped from 22% in 2016 to 17% in 2017. This was in line with the decrease in overall investment, however it still placed Australia in second position overall - behind the 31% of investors that intend to invest in the United States (also down from 44% in 2016). </span></p>
<p><span>From the survey, the most significant declines in sentiment were experienced in Canada, Singapore and Japan where allocations fell to 1% or less of the available MCREIO global real estate capital as investors backed away from expensive markets and stabilised assets. </span></p>
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<p><span>While there is expected to be greater scrutiny of offshore investment by the Chinese Government, Cushman &amp; Wakefield Research also shows that only 50% of mainland investors have been significantly impacted by the latest guidelines. The remaining half felt limited or no impact. </span></p>
<p><span>Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Head of Capital Markets Australia and New Zealand, James Quigley, said while there had been a significant drop in China outbound investment into Australian real estate over the past year, Australia remains as one of the top global destinations of choice for Chinese investors. </span></p>
<p><span>“Top Chinese investors are telling us that they still greatly favour the Australian market, but with regulatory changes and fierce competition for top assets, deal activity is expected to weaker. That said, we are seeing rising investment volumes from Hong Kong with further growth expected as Mainland Chinese investors look at alternative avenues to invest. </span></p>
<p><span>“Nonetheless, some investors are likely to be less impacted by recent policy changes, and so are expected to remain active purchasers. As investors change strategies and potentially lower volumes, this also presents near term opportunity for local capital partnering,” Mr Quigley said. </span></p>
<p><span>While Chinese investment into larger Australian assets with sale prices of $200m+ have transacted, they have only accounted for just 4% of deals by number since 2013 (and 37% of dollar value). Conversely, 73% of deals by number have been completed in the sub-$50m range, accounting for 25% of total deal value. </span></p>
<p><span>Outside the development site market, Chinese investors have a sharp focus on the Australian office market, and New South Wales offices in particular, which have averaged 48% and 45% of total investment by value respectively since 2011, and 40% during 2017. </span></p>
<p><span>With many of Sydney’s largest transactions in 2017 undertaken by domestic entities, this is in part contributing to the decline in investment, but also driving greater diversification into other sectors such as retail and mixed use and geographically into metropolitan Sydney and Victoria. </span></p>
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<p>Since 2015, there have been three major policy developments that have impacted Chinese investment into the Australian real estate sector. The China Australia Free Trade Agreement (CHAFTA, the Belt and Road Initiative, and most recently, the updated guidance on foreign investment (Circular 74). While the CHAFTA is designed to make trade more efficient, the Belt and Road and Circular 74 are expected to have broader reaching implications for commercial real estate.</p>
<p><span>According to Cushman &amp; Wakefield research, the expected impact of these policy frameworks will include lower investment volumes and fewer Chinese investors in the market, also driving opportunities for capital </span>partnering and local asset management services.</p>
<p>Realignment of real estate strategies to Belt and Road criteria is likely to benefit the development and industrial sector, especially logistics, production space and R&amp;D sites. Over the longer term, there is an anticipated uplift in demand for space as Chinese occupiers continue to expand into international markets. </p>
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Chinese investment into Australian commercial property falls further from its 2015 peak

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<p>Chinese property investors are choosing Bangkok over Sydney and London, according to UBS.</p>
<p>Chinese buyers of property abroad tend to fade or pick up depending on key factors, UBS head of global real estate Kim Wright said.</p>
<p>“What we have found is that Chinese buying of property abroad tends to be very price and currency-aware,” Wright told The Australian.</p>
<p>“Their focus on specific markets will fade or pick up, depending on their view of currency. Over the last two years we have seen Asian buying of Australian property, specifically Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, that’s been very strong. It looks like that has started to fade over the past six months.</p>
<p>“I think it’s the combination of factors. Prices have been very strong in Australia so there is now a discussion that the cycle has started to peak and there’s the tax changes that have come through along with the tax controls.”</p>
<p>Wright suggested the decline in demand for property in Australia among Chinese buyers was similar to a loss of interest in London property in late 2015 when buyers felt the market had peaked, while tax changes and tighter capital controls further put them off.</p>
<p>Wright told the recent UBS Greater China conference in Shanghai that their research suggested tighter capital controls were just one factor.</p>
<p>Half those said the controls had encouraged them to bring forward purchases while the other half said it would slow their buying.</p>
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<div>The UBS research also found that two thirds of property purchases were cash settled.</div>
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<div>Wright suggested that Chinese property investors were now looking to Bangkok, Thailand, as a new market.</div>
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<p>"I am not sure if that's a function of the One Belt One Road initiative and people are seeing the infrastructure spend and the co-operation, but also the price point is pretty attractive."</p>
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<p>The Shanghai conference addressed efforts by Chinese authorities to reduce private sector debt levels and put the economy on a sounder footing without severely impacting growth, or triggering a financial crisis.</p>
<p>"A Minksy moment will not come in China. The debt problem is not going to result in a sudden collapse," said UBS head of Asian economic research Wang Tao.</p>
<p>Dr Wang said data that showed that China's foreign exchange reserves had actually increased was a "pleasant surprise" particularly in the context of fears last year that sustained outflows would deplete reserves and weigh on the currency</p>
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<p>She is forecasting slower economic growth of 6.4 per cent in 2018 and 6.3 per cent in 2019 compared with the 6.8 per cent achieved in 2017.</p>
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Chinese cooling on Australia property sees cash heading to Thailand: UBS

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<div>The Horsham Gateway shopping centre in Victoria’s Wimmera region has been sold to a Chinese investor for $14.55 million. </div>
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<div>The centre located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-horsham-502568898" target="_blank">120-124 Wilson Street</a>, was sold by a local private developer at Horsham, a regional town halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide.</div>
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<div>The centre is anchored by Target on a new 15 year lease.</div>
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<div>There are six non-discretionary specialty shops, including "a bustling Snap Fitness." </div>
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<div>It was advised has having a fully leased net income of $1,205,000pa.</div>
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<div>The 1.21ha site comprises additional Commercial 2 zoned land that provides scope for future development.</div>
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<div>The $12-million development created more than 250 jobs during its construction phase. Target opened in May 2013.</div>
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<div>The quality of the Target lease covenant remains just as strong as a Woolworths or Coles supermarket, however the rent per square metre is generally substantially less, the CBRE selling agency advised.</div>
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<div>Other recent regional retail transactions include the IGA, Nagambie at $7,800,000 reflecting a 6.11 % yield and Bunnings, Yarrawonga at $11,500,000 reflecting a 4.9% yield.</div>
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