Lendlease’s Barangaroo South precinct is officially complete, marking the culmination of a 15-year urban regeneration project that has revitalised Sydney’s harbourfront.&nbsp;

In 2009, the NSW Government’s Barangaroo Delivery Authority appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lendlease-development">Lendlease</a> as developer to transform what was once an inaccessible container port on the western edge &nbsp;of Sydney’s CBD into one of the city’s most thriving mixed-use destinations. Today, Barangaroo South is home to more than 1,800 residents, 23,000 workers, 95 retailers and welcomes 33,000 visitors each day. The precinct stands as an international benchmark for large-scale urban regeneration.&nbsp;

International Towers Sydney, the three flagship commercial buildings at the centre of &nbsp;Barangaroo South, together with engineered timber buildings Daramu House and &nbsp;International House, attracted major corporate tenants from the outset, including Westpac, &nbsp;PwC and KPMG, who are still there today. These workplaces remain some of the most &nbsp;sought after in Sydney’s CBD with over 95 per cent occupancy– a testament to the appeal of world-class, modern infrastructure alongside the precinct’s dining and entertainment that &nbsp;are a drawcard for businesses.&nbsp;

One Sydney Harbour, the three luxury residential towers designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, has achieved more than $4 billion in sales since its launch in 2019, while setting new Australia property price records. This includes the three-level penthouse that crowns Residences One which sold for more than $141 million in 2019 – the most expensive individual residential property ever sold in Australia. &nbsp;

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Barangaroo South is also Australia’s first mixed-use carbon-neutral development, an accolade achieved through energy-efficient and innovative infrastructure, including a district cooling plant with a harbour water heat rejection system, a recycled water &nbsp;treatment plant, onsite solar and an embedded electricity network.

The precinct has maintained its Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification since 2019, affirming its &nbsp;reputation as the gold standard in large scale, sustainable urban renewal. Additionally, its &nbsp;world leadership status has been validated by the Green Building Council of Australia’s &nbsp;6 Star Green Star Communities recertification (Pilot v.2).

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First Nations cultural values were embedded throughout the planning and delivery of the project. The precinct honours Barangaroo, a prominent First Nations woman, through its &nbsp;name. Public art, street names, and design elements across the precinct reflect and &nbsp;celebrate First Nations cultures and connections to Country.&nbsp;

The project's completion positions Barangaroo South as a legacy urban transformation delivered through long-term partnerships and world-leading urban regeneration and placemaking capabilities. &nbsp;

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Tony Lombardo, Group CEO Lendlease, said&nbsp;Barangaroo South represents one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in Australia.

"[It] demonstrates what can be achieved through an ambitious vision, innovative placemaking, long-term commitment and strong partnerships. The precinct has changed the face of Sydney's waterfront, established new benchmarks &nbsp;for sustainable development, and provided a model for urban regeneration that continues &nbsp;to inform our approach to creating places that deliver long-lasting value.”&nbsp;

Tom Mackellar, CEO Development Lendlease, said&nbsp;Barangaroo South has reconnected the city to its harbour in a way that seemed unimaginable 15 years ago and turned it into a thriving precinct where people can live, work and gather on the harbour’s edge.&nbsp;

“This precinct is the result of countless contributions, led by the NSW Government who set the ambition, supported by investment partners who believed in Lendlease’s vision, imagined by architects and designers, shaped by consultants and artists, and brought to &nbsp;life by our dedicated construction teams. &nbsp;

“What we’ve created here is more than buildings – it’s the best of placemaking, sustainability, arts and culture and quality design. Barangaroo South has become an integral part of Sydney that will serve our city and economy for generations.”

Staff Writer

Barangaroo South’s 15-year transformation of  Sydney’s waterfront officially complete

CBE Asia Pacific has lodged plans for a prominent corner site in Fitzroy North, with a proposal that integrates state-significant affordable housing alongside heritage adaptation and new retail.

The application covers a consolidated 2,024 sqm parcel at 201–215 Queens Parade and 6–12 Dummett Crescent. The site includes the heritage-listed Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, fronting Queens Parade, and vacant land to the rear abutting Dummett Crescent.

According to planning documents prepared by proUrban, the proposal seeks approval for a 12-storey residential building comprising 98 apartments, including a component of affordable housing, over a ground floor retail podium integrated within the heritage structure. Approximately 780 sqm of retail space will occupy the ground floor, while residents will have access to over 850 sqm of communal amenity.

The built form presents as two connected volumes: a 12-storey tower addressing Dummett Crescent and a five-storey volume fronting Queens Parade, the latter consistent with a separate Heritage Victoria permit granted in 2023. The tower reaches a maximum height of 38.26 metres, with upper-level setbacks of 14 metres from the western boundary to reduce visual bulk. A 1.5-metre footpath widening is proposed to Dummett Crescent Lane.

Parking is provided across four basement levels, accessed via Dummett Crescent, with a total of 142 car spaces and 143 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cht-architects">CHT Architects</a> is framed by a need to reconcile new density with a sensitive heritage overlay. The Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, identified as a place of State heritage significance, will retain its key façades, with demolition and reconstruction limited to approved elements.

As noted in the Heritage Impact Assessment, the proposal remains consistent with the Heritage Victoria permit, which allows "partial demolition, reconstruction and new works, involving the construction of a five-storey multi-use development and three basement levels".

Affordable housing has been embedded into the proposal under Clause 53.23, with specific apartment allocations aimed at enhancing housing diversity within the Queens Parade Activity Centre.

"The proposal is generally consistent with the relevant policy objectives and the intent of the Yarra Planning Scheme," proUrban states in its planning assessment, citing its alignment with strategic documents including Plan Melbourne and Victoria’s Housing Statement.

CHT Architects' plans emphasise a tiered design that acknowledges the site's varied interfaces—from the elevated Heidelberg Road ramp reserve to the recently built Clifton Views aged care facility to the north-east.

CBE Asia Pacific has not been previously active in this precinct, but the project joins a wave of higher-density residential proposals along the Queens Parade corridor, spurred by Melbourne’s broader push to increase affordable housing in well-connected inner-urban areas.

The site benefits from direct access to the Queens Parade tram corridor and proximity to Clifton Hill Station (approximately 200 metres), as well as green open spaces including Mayors Park and Raines Reserve. Clifton Hill Primary School and the Queens Parade retail village lie within walking distance.

First look: CBE Asia Pacific plans 100-apartment Jenkin House on Queens Parade, Fitzroy North

ALT Pasta, one of Melbourne’s most beloved inner-city pasta bars, has been confirmed as one of the first tenancies for the highly anticipated <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/comme-prahran-182-194-commercial-road-prahran-vic-3181">Comme Prahran</a> development, marking an exciting next chapter for the cult favourite as it prepares to expand into the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/prahran-vic-3181">Prahran</a>.

Fresh off being named National Best Italian Restaurant at the 2025 Restaurant &amp; Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, ALT continues to solidify its reputation as a quietly confident leader in Melbourne’s dining scene. Lauded for its reinterpretation of Italian pasta through a Korean and Japanese lens, the restaurant has grown into a staple since opening three years ago, and its new Prahran outpost will only deepen its local impact.

“From the very beginning, ALT has been about respect - for tradition, for ingredients, and for the process,” shares Mino Han, ALT’s founder, a Korean-Australian chef whose vision is shaped by cultural duality and craftsmanship.&nbsp;

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, just make something beautifully familiar, feel quietly special,” added Han.

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Positioned at the entrance to Comme Prahran and directly opposite the iconic Prahran Market, the new venue will celebrate the interplay between casual comfort and elevated detail. Designed in collaboration with Rooftop Architecture, the same team behind ALT’s flagship city location, the space will mirror the neighbourhood’s laid-back energy while staying true to the brand’s understated refinement.

Diners can expect a frequently changing menu that takes advantage of the market’s daily produce, along with set menu offerings exclusive to this location. A distinctive chef’s table and open kitchen format are also in the works, allowing guests to experience ALT’s signature intimacy and transparency in a new light.

ALT Prahran won’t replace the original venue; rather, it complements it.

“Our city site is like our heritage bottle; it’ll age gracefully. Prahran is where we’ll play, explore new ingredients, and bring something special to the community,” Mino notes.

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For Comme Prahran, a boutique development by Leeka that blends heritage with multi-dimensional wellness, ALT Pasta’s arrival signals a meaningful addition to its vision of cultural connection, food-first living, and local engagement.

“Being part of Comme is more than just opening a second venue. It’s about contributing to a neighbourhood with character, history, and a strong sense of community. That’s something we deeply relate to,” says Mino.

Sustainability and cultural identity are deeply embedded in the ethos of ALT. From ingredient sourcing to interior design, the new location will reflect both environmental mindfulness and a spirit of inclusion, embodying the values of Melbourne’s diverse, forward-thinking culinary scene.

Comme Prahran is scheduled for completion in late 2027, with ALT Pasta expected to be among the first tenancies to open its doors shortly after.

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National best Italian restaurant ALT Pasta to open at Comme Prahran, bringing refined familiarity to Melbourne’s culinary heart

National BEST Italian restaurant ALT Pasta to open at Comme Prahran

&nbsp;Boutique development and construction firm Ryser has filed plans for its debut apartment building.

Ryser, founded by Jonthan Ryan and Wil Prosser, has sought to develop <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sorelle-4a-fern-place-woollahra-nsw-2025">Sorelle</a>, 28 new apartments at 4a Fern Place, Woollahra.

The&nbsp;750 sqm site on the edge of Bondi Junction falls within the Grafton Precinct Heritage Conservation Area, though it is currently vacant and not identified as a contributory item.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> has been commissioned to design Sorelle, creating an eight and a nine-storey building with six apartments dedicated to affordable housing to support essential workers&nbsp;under the NSW Government’s low and mid-rise housing policy.

The dwelling mix includes 12 one-bedroom units, six one-bedroom affordable units, six two-bedroom units, and four three-bedroom residences.<img alt="4A Fern Place, Woollahra." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86626941-772d-49c5-8d31-a8e42f44cdcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Fern%20bldg%20st.png?VersionId=tWIzXYX9gD60nP1L3..Z0BFbY5mafb36" />

According to the planning documents submitted to the Woollahra Council, the development responds to the complex interface of heritage fabric and urban infrastructure with two mid-rise residential buildings oriented to the north and designed to capitalise on sweeping views over Sydney Harbour and Bellevue Hill.&nbsp;

“The proposal aims to hero some of the brick detailing of Woollahra, celebrating the existing datums of Fern Place, whilst embracing the strong verticals of the Holy Cross Church and Bondi Junction with a nod to the historic iron works and iron rich soils of the area,” Woods Bagot noted in their Design Report.

&nbsp;

Only three car parking spaces are proposed, alongside 33 bicycle bays, in a move that leverages the site's proximity to Bondi Junction train station, just 400 metres away.

Architecturally, the material palette incorporates Corten steel and face brickwork to reference the site’s industrial past and local geological character. Landscaping features include a communal garden bridging the two buildings at ground level, landscaped setbacks to protect visual privacy, and a small corner park intended to soften the public interface.

<img alt="4A Fern Place, Woollahra." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f71766d6-aa14-44df-9bc5-42f91890fd4a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Fern%20bldg%20rear.png?VersionId=uh7u1rJ6NJF5OqyRs9iNJcy6R9ssgaXU" />

Ryser said Sorelle "brings together the best of both worlds, the intimacy of village life with the amenity and luxury of modern design."

The developer said the project marks the first of three developments they will be announcing shortly, a key step in their&nbsp;evolution as a builder-developer delivering meaningful, high quality urban outcomes across Sydney.

The expectation is the Woollahra LGA will become popular for developers with the signal from the NSW Government they will deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw" target="">Sydney</a>’s first new heavy rail station in more than a decade – enabling up to 10,000 new homes by rezoning land around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025" target="">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/edgecliff-nsw-2027" target="">Edgecliff</a>&nbsp;stations.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/next-stop-woollahra-train-station-delivering-up-to-10-000-new-homes-in-the-heart-of-sydney">Next stop Woollahra train station - delivering up to 10,000 new homes in the heart of Sydney&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: Ryser plans two apartment buildings on Woollahra, Bondi Junction border

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cedar-woods" target="">Cedar Woods</a> didn’t miss a beat when the opportunity arose to acquire a prime residential development site in one of Perth’s most popular suburbs. In 2019, the developer secured the former Wembley TAFE site, a 1.4-hectare parcel perfectly positioned on the western edge of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/subiaco-wa-6008" target="">Subiaco</a>’s vibrant centre.

The first stage, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/incontro-subiaco-133-salvado-road-subiaco-wa-6008">Incontro Townhomes</a>, delivered 41 contemporary homes that embrace the suburb’s unique blend of nature and urban energy. Now, Incontro Apartments continues that story, offering a collection of new residences in a market limited with new residential stock. The rarity of a development in such a prime pocket hasn't been lost on buyers, with more than 60 per cent already sold in the early stages of construction.

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Set on the tree-lined Bishop Street, in a quiet pocket within Western Subiaco, Incontro Apartments offers convenient access to several lush parks and recreation spots.&nbsp;

Within the estate is Incontro’s Little Green, a linear park that connects the Incontro townhome precinct with the future apartment building. This peaceful stretch of landscaped parkland features shaded seating and communal spaces for residents to relax and interact close to home.&nbsp;

Less than 400 metres away is find Henderson Park, a perfect spot for morning walks, weekend picnics or casual exercise. Neighbouring Henderson Park is Mabel Talbot Park, home to Jolimont Lake and a playground, while just a little further lies Pat Goodridge Park, offering a large sports field and another playground.&nbsp;

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For something closer to home, Subiaco Common provides a peaceful green retreat right on your doorstep - ideal for reading under the trees, walking the dog or relaxing with friends.

Beyond the parks and open spaces, Incontro residents are just moments from everything that makes Subiaco such an enviable place to live.&nbsp;

Down the road is Bishop Street Café, a local favourite for a morning caffeine fix. Subiaco’s Rokeby Road and Hay Street are lined with retailers, cafés, vibrant bars and some of Perth’s most loved dining spots, from long lunches at Refuge Small Bar or Juanita’s, to weekend brunch at Community Coffee Co. or Boucla Café. Add to that a strong sense of local community, regular markets, and the energy of Subiaco Square, and it’s easy to see why Subiaco continues to be one of Perth’s most liveable and in-demand suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=325605]

Construction of Incontro Apartments is now underway by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/emco-building">EMCO Building</a>. With completion expected in mid-2027, buyers have the chance to join a thriving Subiaco community in the not-too-distant future. &nbsp;

One-bedroom apartments are now sold out, with only a selection of two-bedroom apartments and just three three-bedroom residences remaining. Each features generous layouts, stylish finishes and private balconies to enjoy the leafy outlook that makes this Subiaco address so special. Prices start from $925,000*.

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Over 60 per cent sold as Incontro Apartments captures Subiaco’s leafy appeal

Power Station

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The heritage-listed former East Perth Power Station is set to be transformed into “an iconic mixed-use waterfront precinct,” following the WA government’s announcement of the preferred proponents to develop the site. 
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Australian Capital Equity, the private investment arm of broadcaster Kerry Stokes and Minderoo Group, backed by mining magnate Andrew Forrest, were chosen from a shortlist of five proponents from a competitive process.
Located on the Swan River, the 8.5-hectare site will be transformed into a new residential, commercial, recreational and tourism precinct in the first stage of development over the next four years. Kerry Hill Architects has prepared concept designs for the proposed $218 million development.
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<source data-srcset="https://media5.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/e4/ed/e4edfed15f44908574579ec5481ba66a.webp" type="image/webp" srcset="https://media5.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/e4/ed/e4edfed15f44908574579ec5481ba66a.webp"></source><img class="['full'] full lazyloaded" src="https://media2.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/23/88/238841d37b6e88af7e3c37a8f19df502.jpg" alt="Concept design for the transformation of the former East Perth Power Station by Kerry Hill Architects." width="728" height="485" data-src="https://media2.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/23/88/238841d37b6e88af7e3c37a8f19df502.jpg">
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<div class="image has-slide" data-imgid="131528" data-sr="files/image_upload_2018-2019/epps_191216_03-interior.jpg">Concept design for the transformation of the former East Perth Power Station by Kerry Hill Architects. </div>
The project will also include a variety of public spaces and a “living gallery” experience to showcase Aboriginal art as well as the state’s mining and resources industry.
The former East Perth Power Station occupies land that is significant to the local Whadjuk Noongar people. The state government says the traditional owners will be engaged with through Development WA’s Kaart Koort Waarnginy (Head Heart Talking) Framework. The development will also be named “Koomba Kalark,” which translates to “the place of the big fire.”
The development will also complement the nearby <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/optus-stadium/" target="_blank">Optus Stadium</a> designed by Hassell, Cox and HKS and <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/first-walk-completed-across-perths-matagarup-bridge/" target="_blank">Matagarup Bridge</a> by Denton Corker Marshall. 
WA premier Mark McGowan said, “This announcement marks a significant milestone in the revitalization of one of our iconic landmarks, the old East Perth Power Station. This kind of project has been talked about for years, and now it’s finally coming to fruition.”
The government has chipped in $50 million to prepare the site for development.
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<source data-srcset="https://media5.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/e6/25/e625d2c8028f2ad9722a1b4ef34b0e52.webp" type="image/webp" srcset="https://media5.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/e6/25/e625d2c8028f2ad9722a1b4ef34b0e52.webp"></source><img class="['full'] full lazyloaded" src="https://media3.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/56/23/5623b969cf59f90b8a00f7ef8d94a3da.jpg" alt="Concept design for the transformation of the former East Perth Power Station by Kerry Hill Architects." width="728" height="437" data-src="https://media3.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/56/23/5623b969cf59f90b8a00f7ef8d94a3da.jpg">
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<div class="image has-slide" data-imgid="131527" data-sr="files/image_upload_2018-2019/epps_191216_04-exterior.jpg"> </div>
<div class="image has-slide" data-imgid="131527" data-sr="files/image_upload_2018-2019/epps_191216_04-exterior.jpg">Concept design for the transformation of the former East Perth Power Station by Kerry Hill Architects.</div>
The East Perth Power Station has had a more than 100-year history and is one of the WA’s most significant industrial sites. It was constructed in 1916 and remained in continuous operation until 1968. 
According the state heritage register, “the place is rare as a large-scale thermal power station retaining its plant and equipment, constructed prior to the end of World War One, being one of only two such places in Australia.” 
It is also “a good example of a complex of utilitarian industrial structures, featuring distinctive interior spatial quality in the station turbine rooms with some Art Deco detailing.” 
In February 2008, the then Labor state government announced plans to transform the site into a $500 million museum, similar to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney and Tate Modern in London. Later that year following the state election the new government led by Liberal premier Colin Barnett abandoned the plan and instead chose to build a <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/hassell-and-oma-blend-old-and-new-in-new-wa-museum/" target="_blank">new museum</a> at the site of the existing WA Museum in Northbridge.
In 2015, the state government sought expressions of interest to develop the site into “an iconic, mixed-use waterfront destination.”
A number of proposals emerged, including proposals to turn the former power station into a farmers market, a World Trade Centre as well as Hassell-designed concept to create an art gallery and performance hall. That design, inspired by the jagged cliffs of the WA coastline, sought to create a building of rotating and shifting plank. Hassell received an award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/australian-projects-win-at-2016-international-architecture-awards/" target="_blank">in 2016</a> for the unbuilt project.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Concept designs unveiled for East Perth Power Station transformation

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GUEST OBSERVER
The ongoing uncertainty over the future of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley has raised the prospect that the ageing generator will be shut down in the near future. 
The power station has a nameplate capacity of 1.6 gigawatts, which represents 22 percent of the coal-fired generation capacity in Victoria, and 6% of the total coal-fired capacity in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales combined (South Australia no longer has an operating coal-fired power station).
Coal-fired power stations provide the bulk of the “baseload” electricity requirements in the National Electricity Market (NEM). Baseload refers to generation that meets the minimum demand, and from an economic point of view this is best delivered by generation that produces constant, reliable output. Brown coal provides the cheapest baseload power – or at least, it does if we’re prepared to ignore factors such as the long-term costs of climate change.
So if Hazelwood departs the market, as one of the cheapest generators in the NEM, it seems logical that electricity prices will increase. The extent of that increase will depend on what takes up the slack. So what can we expect to happen?
<h2>On the decline</h2>
Until 2007, average electricity demand in the NEM had increased every year since the grid was first built. But after that demand started to fall. The reasons are varied, including increasing takeup of rooftop solar panels, improved efficiency of lighting and appliances, and reductions in industrial demand. 
Looking at July (when baseload electricity demand is typically at its highest), the average demand has fallen from 25.4GW in July 2007 to 22.9GW in July 2016, a reduction of 2.5GW. 
But there has also been significant retirement of coal-fired generation capacity in Australia since 2010, driven partly by the retirement of old power plants, and partly by the costs associated with the carbon price, which ran from 2012 to 2014. 
The retirees include Morwell and Anglesea in Victoria (0.2GW), Playford B and Northern in South Australia (0.8GW), and most significantly Redbank, Wallerawang and Munmorah in New South Wales (2.5 GW). This adds up to a total of 3.5GW of coal-fired capacity shut down this decade.
This means that more capacity has been retired than the baseload demand has decreased. So in theory, the retirement of another baseload power station at Hazelwood would result in even more tightening of the balance between supply and demand. 
But if we look at the current average capacity factors of the remaining coal-fired power stations we can see that many of the larger ones, in NSW in particular, are running at very modest capacities. For example, Liddell has been running at 43% of its total capacity for the past 12 months, and Eraring at 59%. Across the NEM the average is 65%. 
Now, of course some of this generation is used when the demand increases during particularly hot or cold weather, but most of this “peaking” demand is supplied by hydro and gas. So while baseload is not the only way to meet demand in the energy system, there nevertheless seems to be plenty of baseload available.
Why are coal-fired stations running at such low levels? One reason is that while demand has been falling, there has also been an extra 4GW of wind power capacity added to the grid. Meanwhile, several new plants were commissioned in the years leading up to the peak in demand, with the expectation that demand would continue to rise. These plants include Callide C, Millmerran and Kogan Creek, which add up to 2.7GW.
If Hazelwood shuts down, it would be reasonable to expect that the remaining coal-fired generators in the grid will take up the slack. The generators in Victoria are running at relatively high capacity factors, so we might expect that NSW generators will increase their output. The interconnector between Victoria and NSW currently sends Victorian electricity into NSW, but it can reverse that flow if required.
One reason why Victorian power stations are running at higher capacities is because they are cheaper to run. ACIL Tasman figures from 2010 show short-run marginal cost (the cost to run a power station in addition to fixed costs) in Victoria is around A$2-5 per megawatt hour, compared with A$12-17 per MWh in NSW.
Predicting what will happen to electricity prices in the future is harder than picking the winner of the Melbourne Cup, so making an exact price forecast is tricky. But if the hole left by Hazelwood’s retirement is filled by the excess capacity in NSW, then all things being equal the impacts on the overall costs of running the system would be modest.
Still, the NEM is very complex. Generators (especially in Victoria) are privately owned and will adjust their market strategies to take advantage of the tightening of supply. Meanwhile, the growing market share of renewables, the potential for electricity demand to begin rising once again, and the possibility of further coal closures, all mean that the full impact of the retreat of coal-fired power is yet to be seen.
Roger Dargaville is deputy director, Melbourne Energy Institute, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/roger-dargaville-1832" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Hazelwood’s closure won’t affect power prices as much as you might think

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The Urban Taskforce believes rejected private sector proposals to redevelop Sydney's White Bay Power Station reduces confidence in the private and public partnership process.
Urban Taskforce chief executive officer Chris Johnson said after 13 teams have spent millions of dollars in good faith the whole process has been cancelled.
“It would appear that the brief was just too restrictive with the requirement to only house technology companies while restoring a decaying heritage building and to somehow fund this from very limited new development," he said.
“The large development companies in NSW have previously had two rounds of proposals for the central area of Barangaroo cancelled and with the termination of the White Bay proposal process, tens of millions of dollars have been wasted.
“There is also much confusion around the White Bay site about the impact of WestConnex and future public transport options. This lack of clarity increases the risk to the private sector in preparing proposals but it is very unfair to use this as an excuse in rejecting all proposals.
“It now appears that UrbanGrowth NSW were premature in calling for private sector proposals and too restrictive with their brief.” 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

 White Bay Power Station brief 'too restrictive': Urban Taskforce

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The NSW government's White Bay Power Station redevelopment in Sydney's inner-west has attracted 13 proposals.
The size of the offering, and decision to offer it substantially in one line, meant few bidders have any real prospect of securing the site.
Lendlease, who have teamed with Google, head the list after the first round of the sale closed last week.
Mirvac, which last year won the $1 billion Australian Technology Park development against stiff competition, also submitted a proposal.
And the Australian Financial Review noted a university consortium, headed by UTS and the UNSW, has maintained its interest.
The chief executive of UrbanGrowth NSW, David Pitchford, even dismissed the suggestion that a deal had been already struck with Lendlease and Google.
"We have 13 proposals from all over the world and the standard is very high," he said, although not bidding included Stockland, Brookfield and Grocon and international heavyweights like the China-based Aqualand, Dalian Wanda and Greenland.
UrbanGrowth is managing the process with sales assistance from Knight Frank.
The site has potential for mixed-use development, but involves serious expenses in remediation, transport infrastructure and restoration.
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