It’s been 15 long years since the former Balmain Leagues Club was open to the public. The large 7,330 sqm Victoria Road site had grown progressively more derelict since the doors to the former club shut back in 2010.

Earlier this year, the vertically integrated developer PERIFA, part of the Versatile Group of companies, stepped in and acquired the site, quickly getting to work on construction through its building business Versatile Construction.

PERIFA teamed up with financier Mitsubishi Estate Asia to create <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/rozelle-village-rozelle-152-victoria-road-rozelle-nsw-2039">Rozelle Village</a>, a new community heart of the charming inner west suburb. The mixed-use precinct will not only be home to around 150 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, but also feature a fully activated ground plane with extensive hospitality venues and retail spaces.

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A new club will replace the old Balmain Leagues Club. The public plaza will include a range of new food and hospitality venues, a community art studio, and a retail precinct anchored by a full-line supermarket, a first for the peninsula.

The apartments will be spread across three interconnected buildings designed by Studio SC, with interiors by SJB.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8142 project_image_fid=335]

Buyers weren’t prepared to wait any longer to purchase. When it was time to start selling the development, PERIFA and SRM Residential had buyers queuing out of the display suite door. They secured over 40 sales on launch, including several high-end three-bedroom apartments with sales reaching up to $6.9 million.

Demand has been driven largely by local owner-occupiers who have had <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/rozelle-nsw-2039">Rozelle</a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/rozelle-village-rozelle-152-victoria-road-rozelle-nsw-2039"> Village</a> on their radar for some time, many of them already living in apartments and looking to upgrade without giving up lifestyle, walkability, or views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8142 project_image_fid=325]

Perilli, Co-Founder and Managing Director of PERIFA and Versatile Group, said the community has had to put up with a derelict site on their doorstep for too long.

“The Balmain Leagues Club in Rozelle, which closed in 2010 to make way for the NSW Government Metro Transport Project, was once a hub for local families to come together and enjoy entertainment and hospitality. We’re delighted to embark on a new era for the site, together with our partners Mitsubishi Estate Asia,"&nbsp;Perilli said.

"Our shared vision for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/rozelle-village-rozelle-152-victoria-road-rozelle-nsw-2039">Rozelle Village</a> is to create a mixed-use precinct that is thoughtfully designed and caters to new residents and the community alike. It will be a major meeting place for the community that embraces the unique character of the Balmain/Rozelle peninsula, while helping to shape its next chapter.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8142 project_image_fid=326]

The residential offering will cater to downsizers, families, and local owner-occupiers, with an emphasis on larger floorplans, high-quality finishes, and expansive views across Iron Cove, Sydney Harbour, and the Parramatta River.

Residents will have private access to a rooftop pool, taking in the views, a rooftop yoga lawn, and podium level gardens.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=8142]

Joel Robinson

From leagues club to lifestyle precint: Inside Rozelle Village 

Roberts Co has entered a new phase of growth following its acquisition by Arada, one of the world’s fastest-growing property developers in Australia.

The acquisition is supported by a $50 million capital injection into Roberts Co’s Australian balance sheet, consisting of the previously announced $25 million recapitalisation and an additional $25 million in new funding from Arada.

This investment strengthens Roberts Co’s financial position, stabilises operations, and provides the foundation for strategic expansion beyond its New South Wales base, with a focus on new opportunities in Queensland, including the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions.

With Arada’s international resources and financial backing, Roberts Co will broaden its portfolio across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors, reinforcing its strong market position in New South Wales and setting itself to capture growth in one of Australia’s most dynamic construction markets.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said Roberts Co has a proud Australian heritage, an outstanding delivery record, and a strong reputation for collaboration with clients and partners.

"By combining this expertise with Arada’s global scale and financial capacity, we are creating a platform for sustained growth in the Australian market,"&nbsp;Alkhoshaibi said.

“Our $50 million capital injection, including new funds from Arada, underlines our commitment to both stabilise and expand Roberts Co’s operations, particularly into the fast-growing Queensland market. We see significant potential in South-East Queensland’s pipeline and are confident Roberts Co is well placed to deliver lasting value for clients and communities.”

George Kostas, CEO of Roberts Co, said Queensland, and particularly South-East Queensland, is one of the most active and opportunity-rich regions in Australia right now.

"The lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will bring unprecedented investment across housing, transport, and infrastructure. Roberts Co is eager to play a major role in that transformation and secure a meaningful share of this fast-growing market.”

Arada pours more funds into Roberts Co, flags expansion into South East Queensland construction market

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hurstville-nsw-2220">Hurstville</a> has quietly become one of Sydney’s most resilient property markets. Supported by strong transport links, infrastructure investment and a growing multicultural community, the St George hub continues to outperform much of the metropolitan market for both capital and rental returns.

According to Positus Property Investment, Hurstville now ranks among Sydney’s top performers for yield consistency, underpinned by population growth of nearly five per cent since 2021 and persistently low vacancy rates.&nbsp;

Limited new supply is tightening the market further - new dwelling approvals have fallen from close to 600 to under 200 in FY25, a structural shortfall that’s placing upward pressure on rents and resale values.

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As one of the final residential stages in the Kempt Field precinct anchored by Woolworths, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/the-one-collection">The One Collection</a>'s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/horizon-hurstville-6-jack-brabham-drive-hurstville-nsw-2220">Horizon</a> represents a rare opportunity to buy into a location experiencing both infrastructure-led growth and constrained supply&nbsp;- now made even more compelling with a limited-time five per cent deposit and matching rebate incentive.

Positus notes that the suburb’s combination of “relative affordability, low vacancy, and rising population” is creating a recipe for continued rental growth and capital appreciation. Weekly rents are increasing faster than strata and outgoings, with two-bedroom apartments seeing the deepest tenant demand - supporting healthy yield margins even after costs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149850 project_image_fid=281]

Horizon prices begin from $668,000, with one, two, and three-bedroom apartments offering flexible entry points for investors.&nbsp;

The project’s location, a short walk to Hurstville Station, Westfield, and an upcoming dining laneway, St Clair Lane, underscores its liquidity and day-to-day convenience.&nbsp;

A 19-minute express train connects residents to the Sydney CBD, while arterial upgrades such as the M6 and WestConnex further enhance connectivity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149850 project_image_fid=275]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, Horizon’s soft, organic façade mirrors the parkland of Kempt Field, while interiors prioritise light, durability, and smart functionality.&nbsp;

Each home features Smeg appliances, smart home automation, and generous balconies overlooking the bay and skyline.&nbsp;

Amenities include a gym, sauna, games room, meditation deck, and landscaped courtyards, with wellness and social spaces designed to foster community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149850 project_image_fid=279]

From an investment perspective, Horizon offers what Positus describes as a “value and income sweet spot.” At an average entry price around $745,000 and yields near five per cent, Hurstville units remain roughly $200,000 below comparable inner-west suburbs, allowing investors to capture metro proximity without inner-city risk exposure.

Horizon will deliver 179 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments above St Clair Lane.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/masscon">Masscon</a> is on site moving its way up the building, which is scheduled for completion in late 2026, with move-in expected shortly after.

One Collection is currently offering a five per cent deposit incentive for a limited time.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149850]

Staff Writer

The One Collection opens new investment window at Horizon Hurstville with limited-time incentives

The Gold Coast has cemented its position as one of Australia's hottest construction markets, with crane numbers reaching a record 67 in Q3 2025, the highest count since tracking began.

The latest Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Crane Index shows the region at 447 points, also a record, with activity surging 110 per cent over the past three years as population growth and investor confidence drive unprecedented development activity.

Residential construction dominates the skyline almost entirely, accounting for 95.5 per cent of all cranes across the Gold Coast. Of the 67 cranes currently operating, 64 are dedicated to residential and mixed-use apartment projects. 21 new cranes were added in Q3 2025 alone, with major developments spanning Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach and Southport reflecting sustained confidence across the coastal corridor.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108747 project_image_fid=318625]

The construction boom aligns with exceptional apartment market performance. Gold Coast unit prices reached $950,000 in September 2025 according to the latest Ray White Now Monthly, delivering robust 8.6 per cent annual growth and 0.6 per cent monthly appreciation.

This significantly outperforms the national apartment market average of 6.9 per cent and positions the Gold Coast as Australia's most expensive apartment market, trending ahead of Sydney. This highlights the premium investors and owner-occupiers place on the region's lifestyle amenity.

The scale of residential development reflects both build-to-sell apartment projects targeting owner-occupiers and investors, alongside emerging build-to-rent developments as institutional capital increasingly targets the Gold Coast. Population growth continues driving demand, with the region attracting interstate migrants seeking lifestyle amenity and professionals relocating from southern capitals to embrace coastal living while maintaining career opportunities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112941 project_image_fid=216014]

Project activity spans multiple price points and buyer demographics. Premium waterfront developments in Main Beach and Broadbeach command the highest values and attract downsizers alongside investors, while projects in Varsity Lakes and growth suburbs target first home buyers seeking more affordable entry points into the Gold Coast market. The concentration of cranes along established precincts with beach access reflects where buyer demand remains strongest.

Notably absent from the Gold Coast's construction pipeline is commercial office development, with zero commercial cranes currently operating. The only non-residential activity comprises aged care and education. This underscores the Gold Coast's evolution as a residential growth market rather than a CBD destination, with the regional economy built around tourism, construction, lifestyle services and residential property rather than traditional office demand.

The sustained construction pipeline through Q3 2025 suggests apartment completions will remain elevated through 2026, providing necessary supply for the growing population. With development activity at record levels and strong price growth supporting feasibility, the Gold Coast apartment market continues delivering solid returns for developers and investors navigating Australia's shifting property landscape.

Gold Coast construction hits record high as apartment market delivers strong returns

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a> is has officially launched its next residential project, the $240 million Symphony in South Brisbane. It marks&nbsp;the group’s entry into the Brisbane market as it expands the Flourish brand to deliver design-forward, fairly priced homes in an undersupplied market.&nbsp;

With 25 out of 138 apartments priced under $1 million, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/symphony-south-brisbane-21-23-cordelia-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">Symphony</a> is expected to attract first home buyers, with Sherpa reserving all one-bedroom and two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments under $1 million for owner-occupiers and first-home buyers.&nbsp;

Sherpa CEO Christie Leet, said the project is a strategic move to deliver attainable housing in connected, culturally vibrant neighbourhoods, with locals prioritised.&nbsp;

“Our aim with Flourish has always been to help the community,” said Leet.

“That’s why we have chosen to release Symphony to locals first, reserving a portion of apartments for owner-occupiers and first-home buyers to give them a genuine chance to get their foot in the door.”

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Located at 21-23 Cordelia Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-brisbane-qld-4101">South Brisbane</a>, Symphony will feature a collection of 138 high-quality apartments, offering spacious one, two and three-bedroom layouts, with prices starting from $655,000.

“It’s no secret that affordability remains a huge issue in today’s market, and many people are simply being priced out,” Leet added.

“We at Sherpa see it as our responsibility to bring well-designed, fairly priced homes to market – that’s what we stand for.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7574 project_image_fid=353548]

Residents will have access to a resident rooftop with offers over 1,400 sqm of premium resort-style amenities across two levels. These include a wellness centre with a steam room, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools, a heated pool, as well as pool deck cabanas, private outdoor barbecues, a private dining room, a fully equipped gym, and a yoga room, all with views of the Brisbane skyline and Mt Coot-tha.

Sherpa has also hired a full-time concierge service to assist buyers with the off the plan process, from construction updates, hard hat tours, to showing and helping residents use their appliances once they have moved in.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7574 project_image_fid=5155]

“Every amenity at Flourish has been designed to help foster a sense of community,” said Danial Clarke, Development and Financial Manager of Sherpa Group.&nbsp;

“The rooftop will be a sanctuary from the city, a place where residents can connect, relax, and ultimately flourish.”

Positioned at the junction of South Bank, West End, and Fish Lane, Symphony offers exceptional walkability to QPAC, galleries, riverside parklands, the CBD, major universities, hospitals, and transport hubs.

Sherpa has already appointed LPS Group to build Symphony. The duo are working together on Sherpa's Palm Beach portfolio.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7574]

Sherpa officially launches Symphony South Brisbane

Hospital

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While the full effect of COVID-19 on the property market will take months to become clear, Herron Todd White's latest report found current evidence is showing that the predicted deterioration has just not occurred within the Newcastle area.
HTW valuer Liz McAllister said local builders are confirming that their work pipelines are remaining strong after a dip at the beginning of the pandemic. This has largely been due to to government support in the form of the HomeBuilder Grant.
"We have seen an increase in the price of vacant land within larger land developments with developers looking to capitalise on the grants," she said.
Despite some of the grants being also available for apartments, HTW is not as positive about the apartment market.
It warns owner occupiers and investors that new properties are very frequently being sold at prices exceeding their resale value.
It suggests there is an oversupply in the rental vacancy situation with overall demand for units deemed "soft."
These investment opportunities are the 41 ongoing or new residential developments on Apartments.com.au. 
In their August report HTW noted that whilst buyer uncertainty has not stopped investors purchasing property, the volume of quality houses on the market has not fully recovered but was on its way up.
"Property prices in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie rose ever so slightly in the last three month period even with the region shedding 24,000 jobs," the HTW valuer's said.
It was highlighted that agents have noted that investors from outside of the region are showing interest in purchasing investments. 
Major investment in infrastructure is under way including the newly revealed concept design for the seven-storey Acute Services Building for John Hunter and John Hunter’s Children’s hospitals.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $780 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct would drive significant economic growth in the Greater Newcastle region.
“John Hunter hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in NSW and this investment will provide enhanced health facilities ensuring the region has a world-class hospital to cater to its growing population,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Construction of the precinct will support more than 3,000 jobs over the life of the project helping stimulate the economy, a key component of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan.”
Early works on the new Acute Services Building are expected to commence in 2021 with main works construction scheduled to commence in 2022.
Observing the Newcastle commercial market, the workplace is described as pivoting as business leaders are seeing a reduction in business costs with staff working from home and for many this arrangement has become permanent.
Herron Todd White noted that companies are utilising less office space and using only meeting rooms and boardrooms, while hot desking and part time office use is becoming the norm.
However it did note this trend had yet to fully take hold in Newcastle.
"We see vacancy rates in some sectors rising in coming years as leases expire," Director Ed Thwaites said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

$780 million John Hunter hospital plans revealed amid continuing Newcastle construction

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Lendlease has been awarded the building contract for the new acute services building at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
The building is scheduled to open in 2022.
It is part of the NSW Government’s $720 million Randwick campus redevelopment.
The announcement follows more than 18 months of successful collaboration between Lendlease, NSW government and other key stakeholders.
Lendlease will be required to facilitate a ‘skills legacy pilot program’, in partnership with TAFE NSW, as part of the agreement.
It requires them to provide education, employment and training for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the long term unemployed, and apprentices.
Lendlease will have 600 construction workers on the site at the peak period.
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wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Lendlease secures Prince of Wales Randwick redevelopment contract win 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The federal government has just promised to increase spending on public hospitals from A$21.7 billion in 2018 to A$26.2 billion by 2023. Expect more hospital promises in coming weeks. There is a long history of parties at both state and federal level pledging new hospitals during election campaigns.
Building new hospitals may at first seem sensible, especially as the population grows. But it will not cure the health system’s most pressing ailment. Instead, <a href="https://bcec.edu.au/assets/2018/12/BCEC-To-Health-and-Happiness-Report.pdf" target="_blank">our research</a> shows it’s more effective to focus health policy on people and prevention.
A problem of demand
It is true that hospitals in Australia aren’t keeping up with demand. Though supply of beds has increased, the population is growing while also ageing. This is increasing demand for all health-care services, including hospital beds.
The following graph shows the change in the number of beds per 1,000 people in all states and territories since 2006. Only in the Australian Capital Territory has the ratio improved.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264557/original/file-20190319-28496-ii13jb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264557/original/file-20190319-28496-ii13jb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Available hospital beds per 1000 population, by region, public hospitals (including psychiatric). <a class="source" href="https://bcec.edu.au/assets/2018/12/BCEC-To-Health-and-Happiness-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre | AIHA (various years), Australian hospital statistics, Health Services Series; AIHW (various years), hospital resources' Australian hospital statistics, Health services series.</a>
State and federal governments thus feel a lot of pressure to spend more on hospitals. In 2016-2017 it was <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2016-17/contents/summary" target="_blank">$69 billion</a> Australia-wide – $2 billion more than the previous year. The following graph shows expenditure on public hospitals by state over the past two decades.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264579/original/file-20190319-60956-6i0qhw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264579/original/file-20190319-60956-6i0qhw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Public hospital spending in each state since 1996. <a class="source" href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2016-17/contents/data-visualisation" target="_blank">Australian Institute of Health and Welfare</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
Queensland shows the greatest growth over the past two decades. In Western Australia, where we did our research, the proportion of government health budgets spent on public hospitals rose from 26% to 31%.
Preventive measures
We looked at why the hospital care is growing faster than the overall health sector, and what can be done about this.
Our conclusion: there needs to be more focus on the “unsexy” parts of the health-care system that treat people before they get sick enough to need a hospital. Prevention is cheaper and more effective than cure.
For example, it is estimated that A$9 million invested in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18719075" target="_blank">anti-smoking campaigns</a> between 1997 and 2007 saved A$740 million on smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer.
Yet our breakdown of health spending in Western Australia shows just 1.7% is spent on preventive measures – called “public health spending”. Australia-wide the average percentage is even less, according to <a href="http://fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Preventive-health-How-much-does-Australia-spend-and-is-it-enough_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">research</a> from La Trobe University and the Australian Preventative Partnership Centre.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264563/original/file-20190319-28468-c37pcs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264563/original/file-20190319-28468-c37pcs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Breakdown of health care spending in WA. <a class="source" href="https://bcec.edu.au/assets/2018/12/BCEC-To-Health-and-Happiness-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre | Authors’ calculations from AIHW health expenditure database.</a>
Early medical attention is another way to reduce the need for hospitals. In analysing data from around Western Australia between 2009 and 2016, we generally found that increasing visits to general practitioners reduced the incidence of avoidable deaths (deaths that could have been avoided with better treatment or prevention).
People-centred approach
Limited prevention and early detection comes back to the way we fund health care. Australia’s health system is funded using a “<a href="https://beta.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australias-health-landscape-infographic" target="_blank">hospital-centred</a>” rather than “people-centred” approach.
This means hospitals are funded by the number of patients cared for and the type of procedures done. Hospital and GPs are funded separately. There is no incentive to cooperate and keep people out of hospitals.
A people-centred approach, on the other hand, would give funds based on patients’ health outcomes, rather than their particular treatments. GPs would be paid to manage patients, with the goal of keeping them out of hospital.
This system would particularly help people living in remote and rural regions, including Indigenous Australians, who are disadvantaged by the relative lack of resources being spent on local and preventive health.
The Canterbury model
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/268298/original/file-20190409-2905-15ie8ak.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
The Canterbury region in New Zealand. <a class="source" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Position_of_Canterbury_Region.png" target="_blank">English Wiki</a>
The best example of such a people-centred system is New Zealand’s <a href="https://www.cdhb.health.nz/about-us/key-projects-and-initiatives/international-report-encourages-health-systems-to-learn-from-canterbury-dhb/" target="_blank">Canterbury model</a> – named after the Canterbury region on New Zealand’s South Island (which includes Christchurch).
Instead of separate budgets for GPs and hospitals, Canterbury created a “one system, one budget” approach. This led to new programs that weren’t possible under the old system. An example is <a href="https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/quest-integrated-health-and-social-care" target="_blank">Healthpathways</a>, which brought together GPs and specialists to decide on treatement programs for individual patients.
In working to make hospitals the last resort, more time and resources have gone to GPs. There are now more 24-hour clinics, for example, making it easier to get treated by a local doctor when needed.
A <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/5/e010709" target="_blank">study of the Canterbury system</a> showed that between 2007 and 2014 the number of people being hospitalised declined from 6.59 to 5.83 per 1,000. While an 11% decline may not seem huge, it represents a significant financial saving, given the high cost of hospitalisation.
Canterbury shows what can be achieved by rethinking how health care funding works. Australia has the opportunity to reimagine its health care system in a similar way.
New hospitals get a lot of attention. Politicians can point to them as concrete evidence they’re doing something to help. But emphasising hospitals as the most important part of the health system comes at a cost, and will only get more so as the population ages.
It’s time to discuss alternatives. Putting more resources into prevention and people is the right medicine for our future health needs.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/111084/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Steven Bond-Smith, Research Fellow, Bankwest-Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University
Alan Duncan, Director, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and Bankwest Research Chair in Economic Policy, Curtin University
Astghik Mavisakalyan, Associate professor, Curtin University
Yashar Tarverdi, Research fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-hospitals-will-not-cure-australias-ailing-health-care-system-theres-a-more-efficient-way-111084">original article</a>.
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More hospitals will not cure Australia’s ailing health-care system. There’s a more efficient way

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The NSW Liberals &amp; Nationals Government said they are investing $750 million for the redevelopment of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
It is the largest investment in the hopsital's 137-year history.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said, "this $750 million commitment for the Stage 1 redevelopment of RPA is a game changer for medical staff and patients."
The Stage 1 redevelopment will include expansion of the Emergency and Imaging departments, reconfiguration and expansion of operating theatres and integration of ambulatory care services.
Mr Hazzard said the Liberals &amp; Nationals Government is investing more than $8 billion in health infrastructure over the next four years, and has invested nearly $10 billion since 2011.
“The NSW Liberals &amp; Nationals Government has already built or upgraded more than 100 hospitals and other health facilities across the State and now RPA is getting its turn"
Redevelopment commenced with the transformation of the Professor Marie Bashir Centre opened in 2014, and the $34.6 million staff car park opened in 2018, in addition to its ongoing support of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital set for $750 Million redevelopment

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GUEST OBSERVER
When even teachers and police workers need to travel to the city fringes to find an affordable home that strikes us as a sign of a deeply dysfunctional housing system. Our research shows key workers are being squeezed out of Sydney by a housing market which has left them behind. Yet Sydney stands out among global cities, like New York, London and San Francisco, for having neglected the housing needs of its essential workforce.
In our study, we identify five strategies to tackle the problem. These could make a real difference for key workers and other moderate income earners.
Forced out to the fringes
Unaffordable housing is creating a growing spatial mismatch between where teachers, police, health and emergency workers live and work. Although their jobs are spread throughout the metropolitan region, a majority of Sydney’s 156,000 teachers, nurses, police, firefighters, ambulance and emergency workers now live in outer ring areas.
Our study shows key workers are more concentrated on the metropolitan fringe compared to the labour force generally. And this trend is intensifying.
Over the decade 2006-2016, we found that inner areas of Sydney as well as middle ring areas, including Ryde and Parramatta, lost up to 21.4% of their key worker populations. The largest influxes of key workers were in far-flung Illawarra (a net gain of 10.5%), Hunter Valley (13.6%) and Southern Highlands (17%).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/205868/original/file-20180212-31377-178trgy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Some areas of Sydney have lost many of their key workers. Key Worker Housing Affordability in Sydney, Author provided
Barriers to buying a home
Professionally qualified and often with a university degree, key workers typically earn moderate, rather than high incomes.
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Key workers are on moderate salaries. Key Worker Housing Affordability in Sydney, Author provided
They’re not getting rich while teaching our children or caring for our sick, but the stability of their service-oriented professions usually meant home ownership was a realistic expectation. However, over the past decade, younger key workers have faced new barriers to home ownership.
One of these is the deposit gap. This refers to the number of years it takes to save a deposit on a median-priced home. Most lenders now require a 20% deposit.
Single key workers now need nearly nine years to save a deposit for a dwelling in Sydney’s outer suburbs. Couples on two incomes need to save for more than five years.
Where can key workers afford to live?
To examine where key workers can afford to buy a house we used affordable price thresholds, based on bank lending criteria and assuming a 20% deposit. Again, this analysis showed key workers have very limited choices. Even a senior constable earning around A$98,000 a year is limited to outer Sydney, with the closest options being Penrith and Campbelltown.
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Key workers simply can’t afford to live close to the inner city. Key Worker Housing Affordability in Sydney, Author provided
Their limited housing choices are forcing many key worker households into long car-based commutes.
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Key workers face longer-than-average commutes. Key Worker Housing Affordability in Sydney, Author provided
These long commutes take a toll on their families and finances. Sydney high school teacher Kim Timmins explained in a recent opinion piece:
"We made the difficult decision last year to leave our network of family and friends and make the move to the uppermost parts of the Central Coast, the closest place we could afford to buy a home big enough for our growing family. … Our commute is a mix of car and train throughout the week … a complete drain before the day at school and hospital begin, and an economic disadvantage in terms of car travel costs."
What should be done
Several local councils are pursuing important initiatives to provide more affordable rental housing. In our study, we also propose five ideas to help key workers get into home ownership in Sydney.
In particular, the stable employment conditions and moderate incomes of key workers open new possibilities for improving their affordable housing options, without needing additional government subsidy or significant policy change.
Reduce the deposit gap
Key workers have traditionally aspired to, and achieved, home ownership. But those not already on the property ladder face a median house price of around A$900,000 in Sydney. An affordable price for most key workers would be around A$650,000.
To bring home ownership into reach, a shared equity model would allow key workers to buy up to 75% of the home’s value. This would reduce deposit requirements to between 5% and 10% and also make loan repayments more manageable.
Shared equity schemes are offered in South Australia under the government’s HomeStart finance organisation. This has helped many low and moderate income earners into their first home.
Collaborative development models
“Collaborative” development and financing models provide an alternative to conventional multi-unit housing developments. Under these models, individuals are supported in collectively developing a residential project.
The group members collaborate to acquire a site, appoint an architect and manage professionals through planning and construction. Groups are able to save on developer premiums. They can also customise their building and apartments in ways that save on both capital and recurrent costs.
The Nightingale projects in Victoria are an example of this approach. Participants in these schemes can save around 10-12% on prices for comparable apartments.
Alternative tenure arrangements
Alternative tenure arrangements, such as community land trusts, can separate the cost of a dwelling from the cost of land (retained by government or the trust). Under this model, homes are purchased with a conventional mortgage and/or the land component is rented at a marginal rate. Community land trusts are well established in the UK and US, but yet to attract serious policy support in Australia.
Save on construction
Savings in housing design and construction could help increase the supply of affordable homes, provided these savings are passed on to eligible buyers. Innovations in design and construction, as well as reduced requirements for facilities such as car parking (in accessible locations) could reduce costs by up to 25-35%. That equates to savings of A$75,000 to A$100,000 for two-to-three-bedroom units or townhouses.
Increase inclusionary planning targets
Inclusionary planning requires that a proportion of new housing development be affordable for moderate or low income groups. This approach can support various combinations of affordable housing, to be made available as permanent rental housing or sold on the market. Mandating that 20% of dwellings in all major new housing developments are affordable for moderate income earners, including key workers, could deliver 6,000 to 7,000 affordable “start-up” homes per year in Sydney.
Housing slowdown won’t solve key worker exodus
Governments seem to be hoping that slowdowns in Sydney and Melbourne prices, combined with first home buyer stamp duty concessions, have fixed the housing affordability problem. It’s true that regulatory intervention to restrict interest-only loans to 30% of new residential mortgage loans has cooled some investor demand.
However, the housing boom added 70% to Sydney prices from the trough to the peak. This disrupted the home-ownership trajectory of key workers, and in turn added to pressure on the operation of our essential services.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91476/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Key workers who don’t own homes may increasingly opt to leave Sydney’s unaffordable housing market. Ultimately, they may seek work in regional New South Wales or elsewhere in Australia. Sydney can ill afford to lose them.
Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Sydney
Catherine Gilbert, Research Assistant and PhD Candidate, Urban Housing Lab, University of Sydney
Peter Phibbs, Director, Henry Halloran Trust, University of Sydney
Yuting Zhang, Research Associate, Urban Housing Lab, University of Sydney
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/key-workers-like-nurses-and-teachers-are-being-squeezed-out-of-sydney-this-is-what-we-can-do-about-it-91476" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Key workers like nurses and teachers are being squeezed out of Sydney: Academics

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Real estate firm Laing+Simmons Parramatta has raised some $3000 for medical research in the first month of its campaign as part of its 21st birthday celebrations. 
From every property sold from July to the end of the year, $300 will be donated to the Westmead Medical Research Foundation.
Ray Fayad, group principal said with five months to go he expects this amount will increase dramatically as sales are boosted by the recent interest rate cut combined with the seasonal spring increase in property market activity.
“Buyer demand for western Sydney property remains strong and our vendors are taking their properties to market with confidence, while also helping us to do our bit for an important cause,” he said.
“They make a real difference to people in need of care and their families, and we’re delighted to be able to support their work as our way of acknowledging our 21 year association with the area.”
The money raised will go towards critical care and research. 
 
For more information, click <a href="https://www.wmrf.org.au%20" target="_blank">here</a>.
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