The Victorian Government has secured the passage of the Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026, introducing a suite of reforms aimed at improving consumer protection and confidence in the apartment market.

Resilience Insurance, Australia’s leading Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) provider, has welcomed the move.

The LDI elements of the Bill passed with bipartisan support and now moves to the Legislative Council where debate and passage are expected later this month. It represents a significant milestone in the national shift toward stronger, longer-term protection for apartment buyers.&nbsp;

The reform would deliver practical benefits across the housing system. Apartment owners will have stronger protection if major defects emerge, developers and builders will have a clearer quality framework to work within, and the State will reduce the risk of serious building failures becoming a long-term financial and social burden for households, communities and government.&nbsp;

LDI helps support apartment delivery while providing stronger protection for buyers and encouraging better construction outcomes.&nbsp;

Resilience LDI provides apartment owners with 10 years of insurance-backed cover for major structural defects from completion, with direct claim access to the insurer. This means owners are not required to first pursue developers or builders through costly legal action before accessing protection.&nbsp;

Resilience Insurance has been operating in Australia since 2022 and has already insured hundreds of development projects covering many thousands of apartments across Australia.&nbsp;

At approximately 1.8 per cent of build cost, it is a cost-competitive alternative to the traditional two per cent Strata Bond, bond while delivering significantly broader and longer protection.&nbsp;

“The Victorian Lower House vote shows that reforms like this succeed when they are practical, evidence-based and supported by industry," says Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

"Victoria is moving quickly on a reform that will make a real difference for apartment buyers, while supporting better building outcomes and greater confidence in apartment delivery.

“This is step one. We look forward to the Bill completing its passage through the Legislative Council and to working with government and industry to implement the framework effectively.”&nbsp;

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI): Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Consumer-first: Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Cost advantage: At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Market leader: Resilience Insurance is the first approved LDI provider in NSW.</li>
</ul>

The Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026 has passed the Victorian Lower House, putting Victoria on track to become the first state to legislate an industry workable LDI framework as a formal alternative to the Strata Building bond. 

Joel Robinson

10-year Latent Defects Insurance for new apartment buyers set to land in Victoria

Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
&nbsp;

Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368853]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available.

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

Larry Kestelman

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GUEST OBSERVER
Larry Kestelman (above) is an extreme embodiment of the Aussie success story: a Rich Lister who has made it in both property and business and has $750 million in personal assets — none of it inherited. 
Although he has made a fortune co-founding telecom provider Dodo, rebuilt the National Basketball League, and has no fewer than 18 companies in his portfolio at the moment, real estate is where Kestelman feels most comfortable. 
Developing Your Own Property
Kestelman was not born to wealth. A Ukrainian immigrant who came to Australia at age 12, he got onto the path of riches with his first property investment in his 20s.
Aspiring investors, listen up. Kestelman‘s first wasn’t an off-the-plan apartment but a patch of land where he developed a pair of townhouses while working full time as an accountant. He sold one and lived in the other.
“If a person sees their future as getting into property, developing a couple of townhouses is a great way to do it,” he told me. “I made a lot of mistakes in my first one, but at least it was small.”
“You have mitigated your risk because you yourself can move into one. Plus, from a tax point of view, if you manage to make a profit, you won’t have to pay capital gains tax.” That’s because personal homes are exempt.
More than 20 years later, Kestelman hasn’t changed, although his budget has. 
Today, he is once again building his own future home. This time, it is an apartment in the $700 million, six-star, luxury residential and mixed use project in South Yarra called Capitol Grand (below).
I have examined this project closely. I personally believe Capitol Grand will be the most beautiful building in Melbourne. It also will be the tallest outside of the CBD. What’s more, the apartments are designed to provide a great lifestyle. Kestelman himself plans to live in one.
Kestelman now lives in a 600 square meter Docklands penthouse, but he is looking forward to moving to his new building as soon as he completes construction. He tells me that 80% of the buyers so far are owner occupiers.
<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/2018/6/13/capitol.jpg" alt="">
Build for occupiers or investors? 
Which raises an interesting point. Most developers today build for investors. That keeps the size and the quality of the units they construct relatively low. Kestelman thinks more buildings should target owner occupiers.
He said, “I want to live in South Yarra. The lifestyle I want is being able to go downstairs and choose from a plethora or restaurants and stores and cafes.”
“Melbourne is ranked as the most livable city in the world, but until the Capitol Grand there were few apartment buildings that offered you a residence as appealing as the city itself. This will be the standard.”
How to choose an investment property 
I’m a property investor, too, so I was curious whether Kestelman thought his Capitol Grand was a good project for investors to buy into — even if they don’t intend to occupy the apartment. 
“Well, I’m sure you would expect me to say that about my own building,” he laughed in reply, “but I really believe it is.”
Kestelman holds that the greatest capital appreciation comes from high-quality developments. That’s why he chose for Capitol Grand the architect who also designed another landmark Melbourne apartment tower, The Melburnian. Data from Core Logic shows The Melburnian has been among the city's best-performing buildings for capital growth.
Kestelman’s advice is this: “Invest in iconic buildings that will stand the test of time, can’t be replicated easily, and that stand out as places people want to be. If you can’t tell a reasonable difference between your building and the one next door, it’s probably not going to fare well,” he said.
Whatever you invest in, he wants you to understand the financial basics behind your asset. Since he started out in accounting, perhaps that is no surprise. 
“The numbers don’t lie. If they don’t add up, it’s not the thing to be doing. If you don’t understand numbers, that’s a problem. You need someone next to you to give you advice.“
Advice for first-time buyers
Kestelman practices what he preaches when he says it is high time Australians embrace vertical living — not just down-sizers but young buyers, too.
“I encourage the new generation to look at apartment living to be closer to work.” He thinks the lifestyle offered by a house on the suburban fringes is less desirable than an apartment close to downtown. 
“Sure, you can still get an affordable house in Melbourne,” he said, “but you will probably need to spend 45 minutes or an hour traveling into your job."
Reform negative gearing?
Some analysts blame negative gearing for making housing too expensive for young buyers. Kestelman feels that a shortage of rental property will be a bigger problem than affordability in Melbourne’s near future. And negative gearing, he says, is vital to keep a constant supply of rental housing under construction. 
“People buying for investment end up renting their property out, and lack of supply could really hurt the rental market.” 
Melbourne’s population will skyrocket past five million by 2021, according to demographers, and past eight million by 2050. A lot of people will need accommodation.
Interestingly, Kestelman is open to negative gearing reforms, as long as the policy’s role in making rentals available is not lost. “Maybe it’s just for new developments,” he said.
On another hot topic, Kestelman believes foreign buyers have been good for Melbourne. Because I am chairman of Juwai.com, that’s an opinion I was happy to hear. While overseas buyers have pushed up prices in some premium neighborhoods, he believes they have also provided a huge amount of desperately needed affordable rentals. 
“Half of the towers that are built are built on the back on investors from overseas,” he said to me. “Ultimately, they can’t take the towers home with them, so they have to stay here, allowing people to live in them.”
Charlize Theron’s dress
Kestelman obtained a gobsmacking amount of global attention for Capitol Grand by arranging for movie star Charlize Theron to serve as Brand Ambassador.
“She’s only ever done two sponsorships, Christian Dior and us.”
He relished telling me about the star’s surprise at the scale of the launch event at Melbourne’s Grand Prix. She was shocked at seeing herself in an 18 meter-tall poster. And that’s not all. 
“We had a 100 or so journalists there. She was completely taken aback — to the point that she even got the name of the development wrong. She called it ‘Capitol Hill.’” Kestelman laughed as he told me this story.
Perhaps the best part for Kestelman was getting Charlize Theron to take off her dress. (No, not THAT way.)
Theron wore a Roberto Cavalli dress and Lanvin necklace in the short film that Kestelman made to promote his building. At a launch event, the dress and jewelry were auctioned to raise money for Theron’s charity, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program.
Georg Chmiel, the chairman of Juwai, a Chinese website for buyers of overseas property, was speaking to Larry Kestelman in what will be a monthly insight into the leading minds of Australian property experts.
He has spoken with LJ Hooker agent Bill Malouf about the ins and out of the Sydney market and REINSW president Leanne Pilkington about women in real estate.
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Georg Chmiel chats with Larry Kestelman about developing your first property

<html><body>
The owner of the National Basketball League and Melbourne property developer, Larry Kestelman, is the second highest debutant to make it on the Financial Review Rich List.

He is ranked 85 on the list behind the highest ranking debutant, Perth businessman Tim Roberts who is the son of Multiplex founder John Roberts who is ranked 62.

Roberts has an estimated $986 million net worth with Kestelman's worth put at $749 million net worth.

Roberts has a diverse number of investments including funds management and he is part of businesses such as AVWest and Warburton Group.

Kestelman owns various sporting groups, however his main wealth comes from property via his LK Property Groups which he is chief executive.

He also owns 75% ownership of Philippine outsourcing and call-centre company, Acquire BPO.

LK is currently building the Capitol Grand project in Melbourne, which will consist of 500 plus apartments over 50 storeys.

Last year Property Observer reported on the commencement of demolition for the Capitol Grand project in <a href="/news/capitol-grand-south-yarra-set-to-commence-demolition-after-120-luxury-apartment-sales">South Yarra</a>.

In 2013 he sold his company Dodo for $230 million.

Property tycoons dominated this year's Financial Review rich list.

<h2>VIC properties selling now:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3494]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24323]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728]
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Larry Kestelman

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