Mark and Roy Makari are expanding their presence in Sydney’s South West with a second major proposal for Leppington, this time envisioning a 900-dwelling mixed-use development just 850 metres from their previously lodged tower trio on Fifth Avenue.

The latest application seeks approval for a multi-building project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/230-rickard-road-leppington-nsw-2179">230 Rickard Road, Leppington</a>. The proposal seeks to establish a new focal point for the precinct through a high-density, transit-oriented development supported by diverse land uses.

According to the Scoping Report prepared for the Department of Planning, the scheme includes around 900 apartments across multiple towers, including 135 dwellings designated for affordable housing. A mix of market and subsidised apartments will be supported by ground-level activation through retail and office space, a childcare centre, and a hotel, forming a comprehensive urban precinct.

<img alt="Mixed Use Development 230 Rickard Rd Leppington" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34797362-f3dc-4d84-8235-2657fc5f3bde" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Plan.png?VersionId=Uzckrz9tUpDQl5lX1_WMhjnv16bsr8wG" />

The Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/studiosc-0">Studio SC</a> notes that the project “intends to deliver a high-quality, high-density built form that supports the vision for the Leppington Town Centre, integrating mixed-use outcomes and public domain upgrades.” The development is expected to be delivered in stages, although a precise timeline is yet to be confirmed.

The project will be assessed through a future State Significant Development Application, with the Scoping Report indicating the team will seek design excellence via a competitive process or through an expert design review panel. Early massing diagrams suggest a series of mid- to high-rise buildings framing a central landscaped spine, with emphasis on pedestrian permeability and public space.

The planning documentation flags a strong sustainability agenda, stating that the development will “respond to the urban heat island effect, incorporate water sensitive urban design, and prioritise active transport”.

<img alt="Mixed Use Development 230 Rickard Rd Leppington" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="369d7b54-1279-4cde-88ec-dcb215594414" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Podium_1.png?VersionId=QArL7B2kkLt63vl5xvL0FNV_ardAlez4" />

The proposal follows in the footsteps of the Makaris’ nearby Fifth Avenue site, where they’ve submitted plans for three towers comprising nearly 500 apartments, with 10 per cent dedicated to affordable housing. That project features commercial podiums, a childcare centre, and a new public park that would occupy more than a third of the site.

Both developments are situated within walking distance of Leppington Train Station and fall under strategic precinct plans promoting higher density housing. The town centre is undergoing substantial transformation, driven by state government planning reforms aimed at fast-tracking housing delivery.

Together, the two projects represent a combined ambition of nearly 1,400 new homes across just under two kilometres of central Leppington.

Staff Writer

First look: 900-home mixed-use precinct planned for Leppington

Leading Australian integrated property development group, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a>, has released the signature penthouses crowning its landmark AURA by Aqualand precinct at 168 Walker Street in North Sydney, unveiling Il Magnate and La Divina as the largest and most luxurious penthouses in the suburb.

With prices anticipated to commence from $15 million, and each accompanied by a new Porsche Carrera 911 valued at over $500K, the residences mark the culmination of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">AURA by Aqualand</a>’s decade-long journey and the beginning of its final sales chapter. 
&nbsp; 
Their release follows more than $850 million in record-breaking residential sales and the building’s completion and occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=358868]

The Richards Stanisich-designed 284 sqm Il Magnate and 224 sqm La Divina penthouses, collectively known as The Icons of AURA, are conceived as grand luxury homes rather than apartments, with expansive proportions, elevated materiality and curated identities that reflect their status as one-off residences.&nbsp;

Il Magnate features a grande master suite, complete with substantial walk-in dressing area and ensuite, three other bedrooms, second ensuite and another bathroom, powder room, open plan kitchen, scullery, substantial dining area and generous living room divided by a feature fireplace, and a multifunction wintergarden, which is ideal for a study and adjoining office breakout space. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, the La Divina residence offers the same amenities, sans the powder room, on a slightly smaller alternate floor plan configuration.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=358863]

Each occupies half of AURA by Aqualand’s topmost 28th level, comes with four secure car spaces and pairs sweeping Sydney Harbour panoramas with large-scale living spaces, refined detailing and a level of craftsmanship and amenity rarely offered in the North Shore market.&nbsp;

Penthouse residents will also receive Etymon’s ‘Black Key’ private concierge and lifestyle management service, an invitation only offering providing the ultimate in bespoke personalisation, including a range of everyday discrete services, from dinner party management, grocery deliveries, pet feeding or plants watered, dinners, snacks and coffee deliveries, event ticket sourcing, right up to organising travel visas and international airfares. Rarely seen in Australian properties, the service provides residents the benefits of living in a world-class luxury hotel-style home, akin to The Ritz, or the Waldorf Astoria.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=358862]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/richards-stanisich">Richards Stanisich</a>’s Director, Kirsten Stanisich, said the studio set out to craft residences that feel profoundly considered, contemporary and deeply connected to their setting.

“From the outset, we approached these penthouses with the sensibility of a grand Parisian residence - generous in scale, elegant in proportion and designed to feel more like a handcrafted home than an apartment," Stanisich said.

“Their elevated position and sweeping harbour outlook informed every decision, creating a rare connection between urban sophistication and natural calm. We shaped each space with expressive materiality, sculptural forms and bespoke detailing that invite touch and interaction.&nbsp;

“The result is a pair of residences defined by volume, light and an inherent softness - refined, flexible and deeply personal. These penthouses are unlike anything else in North Sydney, offering a sanctuary of true luxury framed by some of the city’s most remarkable views.”

For Aqualand’s Head of Sales &amp; Marketing, Alex Adams, the collaboration with Porsche underscores the shared ethos behind the residences.

“Aqualand’s collaboration with Porsche underpins both brand’s sharing an obsession with craftsmanship, design excellence, and enduring value," Adams said.

“Our penthouses are created for those who appreciate the finer details and expect the extraordinary at every touchpoint. Including a Porsche simply extends that experience beyond the residence - it’s a continuation of the lifestyle our buyers already live.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292862]

Aqualand’s Managing Director, Jin Lin, said the penthouses represent both the pinnacle of AURA by Aqualand and an important design benchmark for the company’s future pipeline.&nbsp;

“These stunning penthouses reflect the purest expression of Aqualand’s design ambition," Lin said.

“The unparalleled design intent makes them not only the glistening crown of AURA by Aqualand, but the crown of North Sydney itself. They’re essentially a thank you gift to a burgeoning community that deserves this level of quality and architectural consideration.&nbsp;

“We’re leveraging the unrivalled standard set here as the foundation for what comes next, including our upcoming Anderson Street, Chatswood; 15 Blue Street, North Sydney and Central Barangaroo projects. Purchasers of these penthouses will essentially be living inside the blueprint of Aqualand’s future.

“These landmark residences demonstrate how far North Sydney has evolved and the strength of demand for highly curated, bespoke luxury homes. They’re more than penthouses, they’re legacy residences.&nbsp;

“With AURA by Aqualand now a thriving new precinct with residents well and truly settled, and our in-house world-class lifestyle amenity activated, Il Magnate and La Divina represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure an extraordinary piece of North Sydney’s future.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Joel Robinson

Aqualand launches North Sydney penthouses with free Porsche Carrera 911

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/bokarina-qld-4575">Bokarina</a> Beach has quietly evolved into one of the Sunshine Coast’s most complete coastal lifestyle precincts, defined not just by proximity to the ocean, but by how residential living, local retail and everyday amenity are stitched together.&nbsp;

Gardner Vaughan Group’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bask-bokarina-38-bokarina-boulevard-bokarina-qld-4575">Bask Bokarina</a> now represents the final residential chapter in that transformation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333360]

Over recent years, the Bokarina Beach precinct has taken shape as a walkable, community-oriented neighbourhood, anchored by beachfront access, Lake Kawana to the west, and a growing mix of cafés, specialty retail and public open space.&nbsp;

With Zinc Bokarina already delivered next door by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a> (GVG), Bask is the last opportunity to buy a brand new apartment within the precinct, effectively rounding out a fully formed coastal village.

GVG has positioned Bask to strengthen that lifestyle framework. Nine ground-floor retail spaces are planned beneath the residences, extending Bokarina Boulevard’s existing activity and reinforcing the area’s everyday convenience, from casual dining and coffee to local services, within a short walk of the beach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333359]

The residential component comprises 135 apartments across two buildings, Mydas and Caretta, with a clear shift toward larger three- and four-bedroom layouts and penthouses. That mix reflects a maturing buyer profile in Bokarina, where demand is increasingly led by owner-occupiers and active downsizers seeking space, permanence, and connection to place rather than short-term coastal accommodation.

Design and amenity have followed the same logic. Residents will have access to a heated plunge pool, gym, private dining room with a full kitchen, landscaped communal gardens with barbecues and a firepit, and a shared herb and vegetable garden, facilities intended to support daily use rather than resort-style turnover. Pet-friendly features, including a dog wash bay, acknowledge both buyer expectations and the area’s dog-friendly beach, located around 250 metres from the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333366]

“Bokarina has become one of the Sunshine Coast’s most desirable beachside communities, and Bask represents the very last chance to buy new in this location,” GVG Director Sam Gardner said.&nbsp;

“Our focus has been to create spacious, functional apartments that meet the needs of locals who want to downsize without compromise, as well as those seeking a full-time coastal retreat.”

Positioned between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Kawana, Bask apartments have been oriented to capture outlooks toward the water or the Glass House Mountains, reinforcing the project’s connection to its natural surroundings. With parks, beachfront paths, hospitals, retail and public transport already in place, Bask arrives at a point where the broader precinct is no longer emerging, but established.

Construction is expected to complete in Q3 this year, with apartments ready to move into this Spring.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141609]

Bask to complete Bokarina’s Sunshine Coast lifestyle precinct as final apartments are released

Property development giant <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/avid-property-group">AVID Property Group</a> is approaching completion, and sell-out, of its Surry Hills apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rathbone-23-47-flinders-street-surry-hills-nsw-2010">The Rathbone</a>.

The Flinders St project has sold well over half of its 32 apartments, which will sit above two retail spaces.

Now hitting the market are the final 14 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, which start from $1.15 million. AVID is targeting a mid-2026 completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5947 project_image_fid=51208]

AVID General Manager New South Wales Danny Boubli said as more apartments are introduced to increase housing options in inner-city areas, homebuyers are searching for a &nbsp;sense of belonging in addition to location, convenience and value.&nbsp;

“There are very few opportunities for new developments in Surry Hills, and since acquiring the site, we’ve even seen one early purchaser merge two apartments plans together, reflecting the demand for a spacious, premium offering in a prime location,” Boubli said.&nbsp;

“Demand has been strong since we launched to market – we don’t see these final apartments staying on the market for long.”&nbsp;

Architectural firm Studio SC has designed the building which pays homage to the former 1900s Rathbone Terraces that once sat on the 990 sqm island site.

Boubil said the team has made every effort to create "truly liveable apartments", through&nbsp;functional floor plans, security, storage, and the inclusion of quality fittings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5947 project_image_fid=51207]

&nbsp;

Sustainable design has also been implemented throughout the development, with natural light flooding each apartment, ventilation throughout, extensive landscaping and where possible, materials with a high level of recycled content and low volatile organic compound paints have been used. &nbsp;

Apartments range in size from 57 sqm for the one-bedrooms to the large-scale 165 sqm three-beds which are priced at $2,575,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5947]

AVID launches final apartments at The Rathbone, Surry Hills

A wave of investment, renewal and precinct growth continues to shape the northern edge of Macquarie Park, where daily life is supported by a rare combination of university activity, corporate employment, major retail, and expansive green corridors. It’s this convergence of amenity and connectivity underpins the setting for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a>, which has now topped out and is tracking toward completion in mid-2026.

Within this pocket of the precinct, residents move easily between the area’s key anchors. Macquarie Centre, home to more than 360 retailers, fresh food offerings, dining and entertainment, sits at the heart of local convenience and functions as a major transport interchange. The Metro, T1 rail line and extensive bus network place much of Sydney within quick reach, while surrounding arterial links support direct access to neighbouring districts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=5829]

Green space remains a defining feature of the immediate environment. Lane Cove National Park stretches along the northern boundary of the precinct, offering bushland trails, cycling routes and quiet riverfront pockets. Shrimptons Creek and the campus grounds of Macquarie University extend these recreational networks, softening the urban setting and creating a daily connection to nature that informs the project’s architectural response.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> have shaped La Vera around these contrasts. The building’s northern elevation adopts an organic, curvilinear form that mirrors the natural topography of the national park. Three sculpted forms soften the tower’s profile and encourage a stronger transition between indoor living areas, balconies and the broader landscape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=223737]

Cox Director Felipe Miranda says the building’s outlook played a central role in the design process.

“The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park… The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies,” Felipe Miranda of Cox Architecture said.

Toward the city-facing side, the design shifts to a more urban expression. A gridded facade and extensive glazing capture CBD views, creating a dual strategy that blends ecological outlooks with metropolitan orientation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=5827]

La Vera delivers 169 residences across one- to four-bedroom layouts, reflecting the needs of young families, downsizers, first-home buyers and investors seeking long-term certainty within a high-amenity location. From the project, residents can walk to Macquarie University, Macquarie Hospital and nearby corporate offices, reach national park trails within minutes, and enjoy retail and dining without relying on a car.

The project is delivered by Urban Property Group, a 4.5-star iCIRT-rated developer-builder with more than three decades of experience. The company has become a leader in adopting 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), first introduced on its Parq Bexley development and now embedded into its pipeline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=223727]

La Vera is the first development in Macquarie Park approved to offer this 10-year LDI policy, adding another layer of protection for purchasers and reinforcing the transparency of the construction process.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias says this assurance has become increasingly important for buyers navigating the off-the-plan market.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been… Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share,” Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said.

Urban Property Group's in-house construction team is forecasting a mid-2026 completion, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/home789">HOME789</a> appointed as the project marketer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera delivers a nature-connected address within Macquarie Park’s core

Collaroy

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Australia's most awarded choreographer David Atkins has secured $7,265,000 for his luxury Collaroy abode.
Atkins, who was involved in arena entertainment connected to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, had paid $5.05 million for the chic designer residence just off the beach in 2016.
Belle agents Brendan Pomponio and Joshua Perry, who are marketing the nearby home of committed Collaroy basin devotees Matty and Trish Johns, secured the Atkins sale, having listed it in April.
The local hot shoe shuffle within the basin has also seen the recent $7.1 million sale of the home of the Housego family.
The Johns are seeking $5.5 million.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Choreographer David Atkins sells Collaroy home

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League legend Matty Johns and his wife Trish have listed their Collaroy home they purchased 12 years ago.
The couple, have loudly ­expressed their love of living on the northern beaches, since taking the advice of his former teammate Phil Bailey.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/31/collaroy%202%201.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom, three bathroom French Provincial inspired home stems from a renovation and extension in 2013.
It has been listed by Brendan Pomponio from Belle Property.
There have been sales up to $15.5 million in the exclusive Collaroy basin.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/31/collaroy%203%201.jpg" alt="">
The former Test five-eighth once indicated he loved the relaxed lifestyle and the friendly people in the neighbourhood.
“When I was living in Newcastle anyone from the Northern Beaches were silvertails,’’ the Fox Sports presenter once said.
“But Collaroy is a blue-collar area. Every second bloke you run into is a tradesman.
“Coming from an old mining town like Cessnock, it might sound a bit funny but I regard ­myself as a coastal person now.’’
They are seeking $5.5 million.
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Matty Johns and wife Trish list Collaroy home

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Lorn, the 1920's California bungalow at the southern end of Collaroy Beach, has been sold for $10 million.
It was sold by the Hong Kong-based expat Amanda Spiegel.
A consortium of six local residents bought the house at 9-11 Birdwood Avenue at auction with the view to keeping it as a landmark home. There was overseas interest from Singapore and India.
It was offered by Michael King and Noel Nicholson from Ray White Prestige Palm Beach. The five-bedroom property last traded for $605,000 in 1986.
The 1,472 sqm site at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-collaroy-131128938" target="_blank">9-11 Birdwood Avenue, Collaroy i</a>s zoned for low-density residential development.
The north-facing parcel with street frontage of over 36 metres, is directly across from the sand, surf and rockpool.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/11/LORN%201.jpg" alt="">
Originally built as one of the northern beaches earliest holiday homes, Lorn comprises 5 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge room, dining room, sunroom, covered terrace and double garage. 
Its beachfront elevated setting offers beach, ocean and headland views. 
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/6/11/lorn%204.jpg" alt="">
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Lorn, Collaroy holiday home sells for $10 million

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It's hard to keep an off-market trophy home listing a secret for very long on Sydney’s ­insular peninsula.
Word spread quickly last week across the northern beaches that Australia’s most awarded choreographer and producer David Atkins was quietly seeking buyers for his luxury Collaroy abode.
The offering was texted to the burgeoning Belle Property buyers’ mobile phone list.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/16/ATKINS2.jpg" alt="">
Coming with the same facade photo as its 2016 purchase, it was easily identifiable as the Collaroy home that Atkins bought after his move from Manly, where he successfully flipped a $6.4 million home.
Atkins, who was involved in entertainment events connected to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, paid $5.05 million for the Collaroy home, a chic designer residence just off the beach.
It was bought from Sean Nicholls, a marketing veteran, and his interior designer wife Dita, who recently sold their next abode, just a few doors along, for $5.1 million.
Belle Property agents Brendan Pomponio and Joshua Perry, who are handling the home’s marketing, were busy yesterday afternoon taking through the keenest of prospective $7 million-plus buyers.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/16/ATKINS3.jpg" alt="">
Fresh pictures of the further renovated home are set to be published in the Manly Daily later this month.
Atkins, who married his wife Elli at Jonah’s Whale Beach in 2015, is best known for his made-in-Australia musical Hot Shoe Shuffle, an exuberant tribute to tap dancing.
The diminutive dancer has starred in 20 or so major musicals from Cats to A Chorus Line, and has worked with a who’s who of international performers including Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Choreographer David Atkins stepping on from Collaroy home

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Cricket power couple Mitchell and Alyssa Starc continue to expand their impressive property portfolio.
They have spent $1.95 million on a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-collaroy+plateau-129137226" target="_blank">near-new Collaroy Plateau entertainer</a>.
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home sold through Ray White agent Paul Franks.
It was built in 2017 with a gourmet stone kitchen, plus an upstairs and downstairs living area and a home office.
A wraparound timber deck with built-in barbecue leads to the pool.
<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/2018/12/17/Starc2.jpg" alt="">
Their northern beaches spendathon began when they paid $5,235,000 for the luxury <a href="/news/mitchell-starc-buys-at-north-curl-curl-from-jennifer-hawkins">North Curl Curl home of model Jen Hawkins</a> and her builder husband Jake Wall.
Designed by architect Koichi Takada, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home had a resort-style open-plan living space that flowed on to an alfresco dining area with views over the lagoon and ocean to North Head and Manly. A luxurious outdoor ­seating area accompanies the ­infinity pool.
The couple, who <a href="/news/mitchell-starc-gets-an-early-buyer">sold in Mosman</a>, bought a vacant 600sqm <a href="/news/mitchell-starc-and-alyssa-healy-buy-land-parcel">plot of land in Forestville</a> earlier this year with intentions to build a home by Metricon.
Starc and Healy met when they were nine.
The couple wed in 2016.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
 
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Mitchell and Alyssa Starc continue Northern Beaches property purchasing

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The everfesent House Rules presenter Johanna Griggs and her builder husband Todd Huggins have quietly sold their modernised Collaroy home.
They found a $3.6 million buyer, a family from Frenchs Forest. It was too good of an offer to refuse, Griggs told me.
Griggs kept tight lipped on the sale until its recent settlement, posting to Instagram her farewell the house.
"Said goodbye to our beautiful home today," she posted alongside a video of the empty home.
"It's been the most wonderful place to live in for the past five years. We hope the new owners are as happy as we were in it."
She advised the couple were already onto their next project. It's in Collaroy again, the fourth house they've owned within a one kilometre radius in the northern beaches suburb.
<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/2018/6/5/griggs2.jpg" alt="">
Their stunning sold home was unrecognisable since Huggins undertook the rebuild through his construction company Collaroy Constructions.
The custom-built contemporary five bedroom entertainer stands on the 750 sqm parcel with district and ocean views.
It was a windfall result by the DIY couple who'd paid $1.15 million in 2011, shortly after Griggs, a former Commonwealth Games swimmer, accepted the Gold Logie for Better Homes and Gardens.
Back then the Collaroy property was a solid three bedroom brick home which hadn't been traded in over 35 years (below).
<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/2018/6/5/griggs4.jpg" alt="">
Griggs, who has been presenting House Rules since 2013, would have seen plenty of economic design tips over the years.
Sunday's House Rules episode saw Channel Seven win the ratings war, with over 880,000 viewers tuning in to the show, the highest this season. It topped the ratings for Ten's Masterchef and Nine's The Voice.
She's been the popular host of Better Homes and Gardens since 2005, having previously hosted Australia's longest-running sports program, Seven's Sportsworld with Matthew White on Sunday mornings.
An earlier TV appearance, like many on the northern beaches, was on Home &amp; Away when she played a Swedish tourist in one episode in 1992. 
The couple's innovative home was built with no expense spared with the finest inclusions, extending to state of the art lighting and bespoke cabinetry.
Designed with a focus on indoor and outdoor living, the home features an open plan living and dining area with gas fireplace and a top floor lounge.
There's a ground level alfresco entertaining area, and a top floor terrace in the master suite, which also includes a walk in wardrobe and ensuite.
A home office and sound proof home theatre make up the home.
A 15 metre swimming pool and a freestanding studio sits in the professionally landscaped gardens, plenty of space for their dogs, Snowy and TJ, to roam.
The couple got married in a private ceremony in their former Collaroy Plateau home in 2006.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
   
   
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House Rules presenter Joh Griggs sells at Collaroy 

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GUEST OBSERVER
On 11 September 2017, the NSW Court of Appeal entered final orders allowing the appeal of a District Court judgment that had found against a managing agent of a residential property, in favour of its owners and tenant, as to liability to various people injured when the property's balcony collapsed.
The decision confirms that:
<ul>
<li>appointing a managing agent to manage residential rental premises will not necessarily be a defence to a claim for personal injury damages;</li>
<li>an entitlement to a contractual indemnity may be reduced by reason of that party's contributory negligence;</li>
<li>a tenant who is on notice of a risk of harm may be found liable to lawful entrants if there are measures the tenant could have taken to remove the risk; and</li>
<li>section 5B(1) of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) requires accurate identification of the actual risk of harm faced by a plaintiff.</li>
</ul>
Background
Deepak Bhide and Alka Bhide (the owners) owned residential property at Collaroy, NSW (the property). In 2005, they appointed Libra Collaroy Pty Ltd (the agent) to manage that property pursuant to an Exclusive Management Agency Agreement (Residential) (MAA). There was a long history of complaints regarding the state and structural integrity of the balcony from the tenant of the property, Joanne Gillies (the tenant), who also happened to be an architect.
On 15 June 2012, a group of school friends were gathered on the balcony at the property. The balcony collapsed.
Four of the people injured in the collapse commenced proceedings in the District Court of NSW against the owners and the agent. The tenant was the mother of one of the victims. She was not home when the balcony collapsed, but she also sued the owners and the agent for nervous shock.
The agent and owners issued cross claims against each other seeking an indemnity from the other, firstly, as joint tortfeasors pursuant to section 5(1)(c) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 (NSW) and, secondly, pursuant to a contractual indemnity clause in the MAA.
The owners and the agent also issued cross claims on the tenant for her failure to lock access to the balcony in circumstances where she was fully aware of the potential risk of harm, as she had made multiple complaints to the agent that the balcony was not structurally sound.
First Instance decision
On 29 September 2015, a liability trial took place before Judge Curtis of the District Court. On the last day of trial, his Honour delivered an ex tempore judgment, finding that:
<ul>
<li>the agent was 100% liable to the plaintiffs;</li>
<li>the owners discharged their duty of care as owner to the plaintiffs by delegating the management of the property to the agent; and</li>
<li>the tenant did not breach any duty of care she owed to any of the plaintiffs.</li>
</ul>
His Honour found that the cause of the balcony collapse was, in essence, a deterioration of steel bolts caused by weather and poor maintenance. The agent had obtained and passed on various quotes for repairs to the balcony to the owners, who had rejected them. His Honour found that the agent should have gone further than simply passing on the quotes and should have instead specifically recommended that the owners obtain expert advice to assess the structural integrity of the balcony.
His Honour also found that the owners were not liable to the plaintiffs in tort because they had discharged their duty owed to the plaintiffs by appointing a managing agent to manage the property.
His Honour further found that the tenant had discharged her obligations owed to the plaintiffs by complaining to the agent about that the balcony was not structurally sound.
The agent appealed.
Appeal
On appeal, the agent did not challenge the finding that it was liable, but instead challenged the findings that the owners and the tenant were not liable to the plaintiffs.
The agent also challenged the decision on the ground that Judge Curtis had failed to consider and apply section 5B of the Civil Liability Act, in not identifying the precise foreseeable risk of harm, which, in this case, was the risk of injury to people due to the failure to properly investigate and maintain the structural integrity of the balcony.
The Court of Appeal found that:
<ul>
<li>Judge Curtis had erred in failing identify the relevant risk of harm and whether the owners and/or the tenant knew, or ought to have known, of the risk as required by section 5B of the Civil Liability Act. Accurate identification of the risk is necessary to determine what constitutes a reasonable response to the risk;</li>
<li>a reasonable person in the position of the owners should have formed the view that the agent had not properly discharged its duty and that they should have expressly instructed the agent to engage an expert to investigate the structural integrity of the balcony. The owners could not rely on their delegation to the agent in answer to their alleged breach of duty;</li>
<li>the owners succeeded in their claim for a contractual indemnity from the agent, but the entitlement to a contractual indemnity should be reduced by 30% by reason of their contributory negligence pursuant to section 9 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act in failing to expressly instruct the agent to engage a suitable expert to investigate the structural integrity of the balcony;</li>
<li>the tenant was liable to contribute 20% to the agent's liability to the plaintiffs by reason of her failure to lock access to the balcony in circumstances where she knew about potential structural issues; and</li>
<li>apportionment of liability between the agent, owners and tenant should be 50%, 30% and 20%, respectively.</li>
</ul>
Final Orders
On 11 September 2017 the Court of Appeal made orders giving effect to its reasons, which, in addition to setting aside various orders made by Judge Curtis, were essentially:
<ul>
<li>Judgment for the plaintiffs against the owners.</li>
<li>Judgment for the owners against the agent.</li>
<li>Any damages recovered by the owners from the agent to be reduced by 30%.</li>
<li>Judgment for the agent against the tenant.</li>
<li>The tenant is to contribute 20% to the agent's liability to each of the plaintiffs.</li>
<li>The owners and the tenant to pay the agent's appeal costs.</li>
<li>The agent and the owners to each bear their own costs of their cross claims in the District Court.</li>
<li>The tenant to pay the agent's cross claim costs in the District Court.</li>
<li>The agent, owners and tenant are to respectively pay 50%, 30% and 20% of the plaintiffs' costs.</li>
</ul>
Implications
If a party is entitled to be indemnified pursuant to a contractual indemnity clause, the amount of indemnity can be reduced by operation of section 9 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.
In claims against real estate agents and property owners by injured plaintiffs, a tenant may bear some responsibility if they did not act as a reasonable tenant to avoid a risk of injury, if measures were available to them to prevent the risk of harm. Presumably, a tenant will always know about the risk; they will usually be the source of the complaint. Whether they can take steps to prevent the harm occurring will depend on what is required. In this case, the Court found the tenant could have simply locked the door, blocking access to the balcony.
Gilchrist Connell acted for the successful agent.
Paul Kozub is principal at Gilchrist Connell (Sydney) and Catherine Hing senior counsel at Gilchrist Connell (Sydney).
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Shared blame in the collapsed Collaroy balcony court decision: Gilchrist Connell

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A house on Sydney's northern beaches that narrowly escaped the wrath of a monster storm in Sydney's Collaroy on June 6 2016 is back on the market.
The Pittwater Road property, <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/1112-pittwater-road-collaroy-nsw-2097-2013799481" target="_blank">1112 Pittwater Road Collaroy</a> was first listed with a $3.6 million guide last year. It was bought it in 2006 for $2 million and has been listed with a $4.2 million price guide.
The four-bedroom home, with separate living areas and a level rear lawn with direct beach access, is now set to go to auction on September 23 through McGrath's David Rothschild.
The campaign to sell builder Patrick Finlay’s two-storey house was interrupted on June 6 last year when huge waves and an eight metre king tide struck, leaving 10 houses at risk of falling into the sea.
<div class="x_in-content-ad">Three of the 10 beachfront homes that bore the brunt of the destruction remain unoccupied 14 months later. </div>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Beachfront Collaroy home returns to market

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A popular youth hostel in Sydney’s Collaroy and a neighbouring block of units has sold to developers for $14.75 million.
It was listed with price expectations of more than $10 million.
The YHA hostel at 4 Collaroy Street and 1 Alexander Street properties were offered as a consolidated 2,570 sqm development site on behalf of a local private investor. 
The Sydney Beachouse YHA won the best budget accommodation in NSW award in 2000. The hostel has 65 rooms, a pool and is close to Collaroy Beach.
The 1 Alexander Street property is a three-level apartment block comprising five residential units, a storage unit and three retail stores including a café and physiotherapy. 
According to Domain reports, CBRE had marketed the property at $10 million plus, and received 15 offers after 31 contract requests.
Toby Silk, CBRE selling agent, said property developer HCAP purchased the site.
Steve Howell, CEO, HCAP told Domain the block was bought as a “buy, hold and develop in the future kind of purchase”.
“Any development would be in line with that village kind of atmosphere, supported by the council,” he said.
"The purchase was part of an emotional attachment to the area.
“My family lives in Collaroy and the site is as good as you get for large scale, luxury redevelopment along Sydney’s northern beaches.
“It’s a beautiful part of the world.”
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Site with youth hostel in Sydney’s Collaroy sold

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West Tigers coach Ivan Cleary can have a smile on his face away from the field as he sold his former Collaroy home in just 15 days.
There's not been much to smile about on the field for Cleary, who has won only two of his first six games in charge of the Tigers, including a 36-0 drubbing by the Broncos recently.
Star players Mitchell Moses, Aaron Woods and James Tedesco have signed elsewhere and the club sit second bottom of the latter and four points off eight placed Canberra.
The former Sea Eagle will be pleased however with the quick sale of his first property purchase, although he's not heading in to Tigers heartland.
Cleary has said he will be staying by the beaches after selling the home with a price guide of $2.2 million through Paul Franks at Ray White Mona Vale.
Cleary paid $332,500 for the home in 1995 during the season he spent as a fullback at the North Sydney Bears.
It was the same year he married wife Rebecca, the sister of former Bears forward forward Josh Stuart.
The couple lived in the home when Cleary left the Bears to play for the Roosters for the next three seasons.
The Hay Street home on nearly 700 square metres has three bedrooms, a timber kitchen and a backyard with detached studio and undercover entertaining deck.
They rented out the home while they were in New Zealand during Cleary's stint with the Warriors and moved to a larger home when they came back.
Cleary spent two separate stint with the Warriors. He spent two years as a player from 2000 and then five years as the head coach from 
He led the team to finals footy in four of his six seasons in charge.
It was tougher task when he took over the out of form Penrith Panthers in 2012.
The Panthers only made the finals once in his three years in charge before he was sacked in October 2015.
In April, Cleary took over from Jason Taylor at the helm of the West Tigers.
Ivan and Rebecca have four children including NRL rookie Nathan who plays for the Panthers.
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