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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lowe Living continues Bayside legacy as Marella rises in Hampton

Housing Developments

<html><body>
Sydney-based land developer, Clearstate, having completed their first major capital raising.
They are now set to deliver 1,700 new homes to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Clearstate kicked off in 2011 and was placed third in the Australian Financial Review’s 2017 Fast Starters list.
Kandis Investments Ltd, an affiliate entity of US-based global investment firm, Avenue Capital Group, has agreed to finance Clearstate with a facility of up to A$50 million.
Clearstate Managing Director, Dean Willemsen (pictured above), said the facility will help Clearstate embark on a new era of expansion.
Currently Clearstate's development pipeline is approaching 600 lots.
The capital raising was facilitated by EY Australia, who secured the partnership with Avenue Capital Group, based in New York.
Clearstate has developed land projects in Sydney’s North West and South West growth corridors, as well as Melbourne.
The company’s latest project, Rouse Hill, is located on Tallawong Rd, Rouse Hill, NSW with house and land packages starting from $777,000.
Clearstate has completely sold 8 other developments ranging in size from 9-59 lots.
They currently have one other one other development with lot's still available for purchase, Candlebark at Box Hill.
Home and land packages at Candlebark start from $688,000.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Clearstate set to deliver 1,700 new homes into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane markets

<html><body>
JGL Properties has sold 95% of its new $40 million development the Grange Residences.
The two-bedroom and three-bedroom townhomes range in price from $625,000 to $1.6 million. 
Set in Brisbane's inner north, The Grange Residences have a low site coverage across the 1.15-hectare infill site.
North-east-facing over Kedron Brook, the project comprises 39 townhouses and two houses designed by architect Arkhefield.
It is under construction by Hutchinson Builders. 
The project is fully funded by Suncorp and Thakral Capital Australia.
</body></html>

JGL's Brisbane townhouse project Grange Residences selling well

<html><body>
Wallan offers the cheapest newly released residential land at a median of $248 per square metre, the latest Domain Group data shows.
Craigieburn had the most number of land sales over the December quarter.
Doreen in Melbourne's north-east recorded the strongest annual growth for land prices at 18.5 per cent.
The median price for land in Pakenham also jumped 17.3 per cent over the year.
Some western suburbs had weaker values and growth because there was more land, Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson noted.
 
<div class="moveable_w" data-element-id="table_52173693" data-object-id="6195c47d-1d30-44a7-96be-c9788ba8702d" data-object-type="chart">
<div id="table_52173693" class="moveable chart ig-theme-group-chart">
<div id="igc-subtable-52173693" class="igc-chart inner">
<div class="igc-table-container">
<table id="Chart_52173693" class="igc-table __dynamic __visible">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<thead><tr>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort " data-column="0">Suburb</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igc-table-dynamic-column igicon-sort" data-column="1">Median</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igc-table-dynamic-column igicon-sort" data-column="2">1-year growth</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igc-table-dynamic-column igicon-sort" data-column="3">Median price per m2</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody class="igc-table-body">
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Wallan</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$165,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">15.8%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$248</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Bacchus Marsh</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$189,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">18.4%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$284</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Sunbury</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$235,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">7.8%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$319</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Brookfield</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$154,990</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.3%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$326</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Melton South</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$147,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.4%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$335</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Melton West</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$157,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">7.1%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$354</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Wyndham Vale</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$180,950</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-0.8%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$423</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Pakenham</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$230,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">17.3%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$434</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Mickleham</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$217,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">6.9%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$480</td>
</tr>
<tr class="igc-table-row">
<td class="igc-table-cell">Doreen</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$237,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">18.5%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$521</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="moveable_w" data-element-id="particle_26a606cf-90d8-4463-bcab-701415e238eb" data-object-id="26a606cf-90d8-4463-bcab-701415e238eb" data-object-type="particle">
<div id="particle_26a606cf-90d8-4463-bcab-701415e238eb" class="moveable particle body-text ig-theme-group-text">
<div class="bodytext">
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">Source: Domain Group</div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""> </div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">A large 11,350 sqm of land at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-vic-doreen-201725862" target="_blank">79D Cookes Road</a>, Doreen (above) has been recently listed for sale.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Similarly a commercial land at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-vic-wallan-201711450" target="_blank">19 High Street</a>, Wallan (below) has been listed for sale.
<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/2017/02/20/19%20High%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A residential block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-residential+land-vic-wallan-200516515" target="_blank">22 Moondara Terrace</a>, Wallan (below) was recently sold for $151,000.
<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/2017/02/20/22%20Moondara%20Terrace.jpg" alt="">
Similarly a residential land at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-residential+land-vic-doreen-201628138" target="_blank">59 Woorawa Drive</a>, Doreen (below) was recently sold for $246,000.
<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/2017/02/20/59%20Woorawa%20Drive.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Wallan ranks as Melbourne's cheapest land release suburb

<html><body>
A residential development site in the Brisbane suburb of Griffin has sold at a rate of $1.18 million per hectare, with a total size of 15.44 hectares over three lots.
The total development site, located between Dohles Rocks Road and Wagner Road, roughly 22 kilometres north of Brisbane CBD, was sold for $18.25 million to Oxmar Properties through Colliers International on behalf of RSL Care Limited.
A development application has already been lodged for a residential community .
Colliers International’s Brendan Hogan said the vacant land price in the suburb of Griffin has significantly increased over the recent period which is consistent with the strong population growth in the area.  
“Being one of the last available greenfield sites in Griffin, it attracted nine offers from a range of public, private and offshore groups," he said.
“The buyer Oxmar is a local based developer who understands this value proposition as they are already active throughout the Moreton Bay region."
</body></html>

mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

North Brisbane development site sells for $18.25 million

<html><body>
Evolve Housing, a not-for-profit community housing provider and a manager of state owned social housing, addressed some key design principles for reform in the submission to the Inquiry into Home Ownership by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics.
These key principles are as follows:
<ul>
<li>The provision of integrated, person-centred supports and incentives</li>
<li>Directing policies and programs to the full housing continuum - including the expansion of affordable housing stock</li>
<li>Increasing the community housing asset base through property transfers</li>
<li>Investing to expand affordable housing</li>
<li>Partnering with developers</li>
<li>Focus at state and local government levels on increasing the supply and sustainability of affordable housing</li>
</ul>
Evolve Housing explained in the submission that the people assisted by community housing providers have many other needs as a result of various forms of disadvantages. Lack of English language skills, lack of training and qualifications, and limitations imposed by disabilities are some of the reasons that increase the obstacle of affordable housing
"We urge the government to adopt two overarching design principles for housing reform. Enshrine the policy principle of offering housing assistance within a “Continuum of Housing” model and progressively update assistance options to facilitate the progress of residents, where applicable and appropriate, from income-linked social housing to Affordable Housing and then through to shared ownership and full home ownership. 
"Place particular emphasis on the policies, programs and funding incentives which act as supports and assistance for people on the pathway to housing independence and the associated social inclusion."
The community housing provider went on to address the suggested design principles for reform.
"The government must place immediate priority on funding and delivery models that will provide additional Affordable Housing stock, consistent with the proposed policy principle of offering housing assistance within a “Continuum of Housing” model and bridging the gap between income-linked social housing and the private rental market. 
"We also support proposals for investigating new sources of development. These include categorising Affordable and Social Housing as infrastructure and providing access to NSW Government Waratah Bonds for developing new supply, and investigating the potential use of Social Benefit Bonds or Housing Supply Bonds, and Social Impact Investment strategies, which have been used successfully elsewhere.  
"The government to ensure fair and responsible use of social housing across all of the states and territories and to assist transitions to affordable housing through the following actions:
"Review existing rent-setting arrangements for social housing to provide a clearer incentive to employment and to ensure that tenants are not materially disadvantaged if they move to Affordable Housing or private rental, or take up a job. 
"Seek an Australian Government review of arrangements that allow social housing tenants receiving benefits to cancel Centrelink rent deductions at any time. 
"Where a tenant’s rent is automatically deducted from their Centrelink benefits or Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the consent of their housing provider be required before the payment is reduced or cancelled (on the basis that such consent cannot be unreasonably withheld). 
"Implement a grace period for applicants on the social housing waiting list (or previous social housing tenants) who accept tenancy of an affordable property, allowing them to return to social housing within that grace period in specified circumstances. 
"Allow housing providers to require tenants and potential tenants to disclose personal financial information, such as taxation records, bank balances and visa information, where a housing provider reasonably believes it is necessary to ascertain the eligibility of the tenant for a housing benefit. In the event that tenants exceed eligible income thresholds or refuse to disclose the relevant information, a housing provider should be entitled to evict. 
"The imbalances between social housing and Affordable Housing include much greater security of tenure in social housing, incompatible arrangements for setting rent charges, and a lack of flexibility in Affordable Housing to assist tenants whose incomes rise or fall significantly. 
"The turnover of social housing is lower than it could be because some clients, who could afford to move out of social housing, do not do so.
"These challenges mean that people who need social housing miss out because accommodation is being tenanted by persons who do not in fact meet eligibility criteria. 
"Evolve Housing estimates that the above changes would have immediate impact and, based on our anecdotal experience, could lead to more than 10 per cent of existing social housing residents moving into other forms of housing."
Encouraging state governments to transfer larger scale existing public housing stock from the government and public sector to Community Housing Providers (CHP), is also suggested by Evolve Housing.
"Invest in expanding the portfolio of available Affordable Housing stock, including through innovative investment models and strong partnerships 
"Community Housing Providers to partner with developers to incorporate social and affordable housing into new mixed tenure developments. 
"Government to mandate livable housing design principles, from Living Housing Australia (LHA), in all new homes built by 2018. 
"We urge the government to work with state government to identify the areas where local government is able to strengthen the supply and sustainability of housing.
"Priority to be given to inclusion of affordable housing strategies in planning instruments, the potential for inclusionary zoning, use of developer contributions to fund affordable housing, and incentives to subsidise the yield gap between affordable and private market. 
Evolve housing has almost 4,300 social and affordable properties owned or under management, the experience from managing those led it to believe that the solution to easing the crisis to long-term sustainable housing is reform at individual, organizational and governmental levels.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Design principles key in community housing reform

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
GUEST OBSERVER
The Winter 2015 National Outlook has been released today by the Housing Industry Association. The report is the most comprehensive quarterly review of Australia’s residential building industry, and includes forecasts for new home building and renovations activity.
During 2014/15, we estimate that a total of 214,450 new dwelling commencements occurred across Australia. This is easily the highest yearly total on record. 
HIA's recent National Outlook identifies the role of the low interest rate environment in supporting higher levels of new home building, as well as strong, migration-driven population growth over the past decade.
However, other elements are serving to frustrate the delivery of new housing supply. We are faced with an excessive taxation burden on new housing, land release which is simply too slow and a raft of planning restrictions. All of these make it difficult for our industry to meet the housing needs of Australians.
The effect of these supply bottlenecks will become apparent over the next 12 months, with the volume of new home building projected to decline by 7% during 2015/16. 
During the upturn, multi-units accounted for an increasing proportion of new home building. Consequently, the multi-unit segment will see larger rates of decline over the coming years compared with the detached house segment. 
HIA projects that new home building will bottom out at around 175,000 per year towards the end of the decade. Critically, this falls short of Australia’s long term requirements and emphasises the importance of reform around taxation and housing supply policy. 
Shane Garrett is senior economist for HIA and can be contacted <a href="https://hia.com.au/en/BusinessInfo/economicInfo/EcoGroup.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Housing Developments

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Housing Developments

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News