Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

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Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

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Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

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The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Property Development

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As Property Bloom nears it's one hundredth development project, it occurred to me that we, as project managers and our clients as investors/developers, have been contributing to the diversity of main stream housing supply.
What I mean by this is that we build small dwellings - two or three bedroom villas that once subdivided end up on small, manageable lots. The majority of new housing stock is still four or five bedroom family homes.  
I read a document released by the NSW Government Planning and Environment  department about the importance of housing diversity. It mentions the changes occurring in the housing market which are driven by demographics, affordability and lifestyle trends. 
Families are having less children and some choosing not to have any at all, couples are working longer hours leaving less time for property and yard maintenance, there are more single person households than ever before,  first home buyers are looking for more affordable homes and we are living independently  longer and so older people are looking for low maintenance properties.  
Whilst the mainstream consumer is still after the large four to five bedroom homes, there is a definite need for smaller dwellings. In one of the locations we are developing in, there is strong demand by older buyers who want to down size but live close to their kids who have built their four bedroom dream home in this premium estate. There are so few smaller dwelling available that when one does become available there are several buyers vying for it.
So this is what we do, find these areas and meet the demand. There is a need to diversify the types of housing available in new release areas to ensure housing is affordable and meets the needs of all community members.
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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jochivers-wq5Bp59R5a

The importance of housing diversity: Jo Chivers

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Property developing can throw many different challenges at you and one thing I have learnt after managing over one hundred developments is that there is always a solution to a problem.
The trick is to understand what possible issues could arise and preparing yourself for them. 
You see, the development process is not an exact science because every development site is different.  So the construction costs will rarely if ever, be the same from project to project, even if you are using the same plans.
Depending on the fall of the site, some will need more retaining than others, some may need more concrete due to the length of the site and driveways and then there are the sites where you find unexpected items lurking below the surface. We once uncovered an old asbestos shed that had been buried many years ago. This did not come up on our geo technical report and had to be removed as contaminated rather than normal waste. 
If you develop in the same area, you can work out fairly quickly, after a few developments, what is likely to happen. With experience, you will be able to look at a site and determine how much retaining may be required. You can also base your construction estimates on the soil type as an example. If developing within the same land estate, it’s likely to contain similar soil types. The engineer uses the soil and site classifications for the slab design. Once the site preparations and slabs are laid, most of the unknown or little surprises are behind you.
But before construction commences, there is a process to follow. 
When pricing a development and running feasibilities, it is important to understand that your building estimate is an organic creature. By this I mean the building estimate you start with will nearly always be different to the one you end with.  It will evolve throughout the process as you obtain more and more details.  Once you have all the fine details, the building estimate can be finalised to the fixed price builder’s tender. 
When designing our villa plans, we follow this process:
1  Concept Planning – this show the number and size of villas we can get on the land. There is not too much detail on the plans at this stage.
We run the numbers to see if the project is viable.
1  Development Application (DA) plans – these are started after we’ve secured the land and the plans give enough information to satisfy council’s requirements.
2  Construction Certificate (CC) plans – more detail is added to the plans including the engineer’s drainage and slab design.
The starting point for our build estimate will be based on similar projects that we have recently completed and an allowance for the different development site.
This progresses to an estimate based on the Concept Plan.  Still a very ‘loose’ estimate as there is usually not enough detail on the Concept Plan for the builder to have all information needed.  The build estimate we have at this stage will tell us whether we are tracking within budget.  If not, we can make the necessary changes required, perhaps reducing the size of the villas working with both our builder and architect to design the right dwellings for our project to be successful.
Once the Concept Plan is approved and the site secured the architect will proceed to full DA plans.  It is here that much more detail is added and we will have our builder price the DA plans.  Again, this does not give us a final build cost but we will be getting closer to the expected outcome.  Once approved by our client, the DA plans are finalised and the DA is prepared.
During the DA process, council may request some changes to the plans, so it is important to understand we are still ‘evolving’ at this stage. We also need to review the Conditions of the DA Consent before we have more detail to finalise the build costs.
Once council have approved the DA, we will start to prepare the CC plans.  Engineers will be briefed and a drainage and engineered slab design or footings for the foundations will be produced. More detail is added to the CC plans, finalising levels and double checking schedules. 
Before we lodge the CC plans with our private certifier we will have our builder issue a third costing. It is this costing that will give us the final build costs...well almost.  We still need to have the CC approved and ensure there are no further revisions to the plans required.  
After we have the CC stamped plans, our builder will issue their final tender and building contract. This will be a fixed price contract; however, there may still be a few items that will be ‘provisional’. They are usually some site works, removal of fill and retaining walls.  The builder may mark these items as provisional as they won’t know until works proceed exactly what the cost is. For instance, if rock is hit during the site cut, this will increase the site costs. If the site cut differs slightly to the plans, this may impact on the height of retaining walls.  So these ‘provisional’ items will be charged at actual cost whether it is lower or higher. We do often enjoy credits on these items when the allowance is not required.   
So you can see how the build estimate must evolve through the development process and until your development is completed, you really won’t know the exact cost.  It’s important you allow a contingency amount for variations that may crop up along the way. 
As a developer, you will embark on a challenging journey from start to finish and the path you choose can be simplified with the help of a project manager to guide you along the way.  Always take the time to have full builder’s estimates done at each stage to avoid any nasty surprises. 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a><a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/">.</a>
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Determining construction costs from the outset of your development: Jo Chivers

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Australian property group TOGA and partner Danias Group, have had their Marrickville development application for Wicks Place approved.

It will be the first residential project in the transformation of the Victoria Road Precinct. 
Wicks Place will deliver 272 apartments across five buildings with boutique retail, commercial spaces, and direct access to the adjacent Wicks Park.

The development will feature a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments with extra-large terraces, green spaces and a private communal outdoor area on level one.

Wicks Place is anchored by a 2,500 sqm public precinct on the ground floor which will include a mix of retail and commercial spaces, 
CEO of Danias Holdings, Angelo Angelopoulos said, “the site provides seamless connectivity with a variety of transport options, including close proximity to the new metropolitan train line, Sydenham Station and the Victoria Road bus corridor. " 
Construction will commence in August 2020, and Wicks Place is set to be complete by late 2022. 
The Wicks Place display suite will open on 14 March 2020

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 See More: New apartments in inner-city Sydney

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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

New Wicks Place development approved for Marrickville 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Good planning needs integrity, and public participation should play a role in that.
But a row over a high-rise development proposed for suburban Brisbane shows what happens when the public feels left out of the planning process.
This highlights the problem with what is termed <a href="https://yoursay.brisbane.qld.gov.au/plan-your-brisbane/faqs#question27643" target="_blank">performance-based planning</a>, which allows some controversial applications to be approved with little or no input from the community.
A plan submitted
Aged-care provider TriCare first lodged its application to develop a new facility in June 2017.
The site it chose was zoned for community facilities and the application was treated under Brisbane City Council’s performance-based planning rules as “<a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-and-building/applying-and-post-approval/application-types/code-assessable-development-applications" target="_blank">code assessable development</a>”.
Even though the developer was not required to give notice of the proposal to the local community, people soon got wind of it. They <a href="https://www.change.org/p/brisbane-city-council-oppose-tricare-s-over-development-at-taringa" target="_blank">mobilised</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ProtectTaringa/" target="_blank">strong</a> <a href="http://protecttaringa.com/" target="_blank">opposition</a> to the planned development.
The developer was proposing three buildings of eight, 12 and 16 storeys in a locality characterised by dwellings that are mostly one to three storeys high.
In November 2017, the council rejected the application. The developer appealed.
TriCare then modified the proposal to the council’s satisfaction and the Queensland Planning and Environment Court <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://apps.courts.qld.gov.au/esearching/FileDetails.aspx?Location=BRISB&amp;Court=DISTR&amp;Filenumber=4646/17" target="_blank">approved the negotiated deal</a> last month.
The approved design is for three buildings ranging from seven to eight storeys, a very significant scaling down of the original proposal.
Still no public consultation
But once again the local community was not involved in any of the negotiations or the court proceedings. This is because no community appeals are allowed on code assessable development.
Would the developer have got what it originally wanted if the community had not shown its opposition? And why didn’t the court even consider the community’s point of view?
The answer to these questions lies partly in the legal framework for <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-and-building/applying-and-post-approval/application-types/code-assessable-development-applications" target="_blank">code assessable development</a>.
In Queensland, code assessable development is considered a bounded form of assessment, which means it should be considered primarily against a planning scheme’s codes. The original aim was to speed up approvals for development applications broadly consistent with a council’s planning scheme.
These codes are written in a performance-based way. This means developers that only meet the overall outcomes of a code can still get their proposals across the line no matter what the code’s finer details state.
Overall outcomes are very often just that – broad statements of intent open to many different interpretations.
For example, in the TriCare case the applicable overall outcomes required development to be “generally consistent with the character of the area” and to “complement the prevailing, scale, height and bulk of expected development in the locality”.
The council – and the community – believed the initial application did not comply with these terms. The <a href="http://apps.courts.qld.gov.au/esearching/eDoc.aspx?Location=BRISB&amp;Court=DISTR&amp;Filenumber=4646%2f17&amp;edocsno=80715" target="_blank">developer’s appeal</a> argued its proposal was “generally consistent” with the character of the area as there were at least some medium-to-high-rise buildings in the area, including one nine-storey residential building on adjacent land.
Contrary to the council’s view, the developer argued: "The proposed development is of a scale, bulk and height that provides a high level of amenity and transitions sensitively to surrounding uses."
Evidently, code assessment is not quite the bounded and uncontroversial form of decision-making the legislators intended.
Planning with the community
In planning, good decision-making needs integrity. It needs to provide decisions the community knows to expect including, where appropriate, conditions that protect and respond to the needs of the community.
In Queensland, the parameters of performance-based planning have swung too far in favour of flexibility. We need to improve the drafting of performance-based codes.
Requirements to be “generally consistent with the character of the area” serve no useful purpose if the character of an area is hybrid, or has different meanings for the short- and long-term residents of that area.
There is also a huge distinction between code assessable development – where community members have no right of appeal - and impact assessable development – where public notification and third party appeal rights apply.
Yet whether applications are classed as impact or code assessable is a matter left to the discretion of individual councils with very little input from the community.
Further guidance needs to be given to better match assessment categories with community concerns.
Flexibility and discretion have a role to play in good planning. But if integrity, honesty and public trust are also goals then transparency and public accountability should be increased.
The value of public participation – both in its contribution to better design and for keeping the system accountable and honest – needs to be genuinely recognised and valued.
Not all development applications may warrant public appeal rights but a place at the table for the community somewhere along the line is surely warranted.
The Taringa development was initially assessed under legislation that has been superseded. But, as <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-queensland-planning-law-puts-transparency-and-accountability-at-risk-93121" target="_blank">I warned last year</a>, Queensland’s new Planning Act has done little to nothing to resolve the fundamental concerns this case raises.
The divisive story of the aged-care development in Taringa serves as a timely warning to other states looking to shift to a performance-based planning model.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/124175/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Philippa England, Senior Lecturer, Griffith Law School, Griffith University.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-your-backyard-why-people-need-a-say-on-planning-that-affects-their-local-community-124175" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why people need a say on planning that affects their local community: Philippa England

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The former La Strada premises in Potts Point have been listed for sale by Giovanna Toppi, the restaurant family matriarch.

The listing comes as her neighbours pursue an <a href="/news/100-million-plus-macleay-street-potts-point-shop-top-residential-site-consolidation-put-to-market">apartment project for the Macleay St strip</a>.

The adjoining offering is four buildings combined to seek $100 million-plus for the 2170sqm holding.

Toppi’s <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/potts-point/2185560/" target="_blank">piggybacking 322sqm corner-site offering</a> last sold in 1979 for $348,000, with the elegant restaurant opening soon after with her late husband Walter.

La Strada took its name from the Fellini film released around the time Toppi arrived from Naples.

She came by herself with little money and no English, starting as a dishwasher but working her way up to head chef at Buona Sera, owned by Ettore Prossimo.

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She went on to own and run O Sole Mio, Giovannas, La Strada and then, of course, from 1988, Machiavelli with daughters Paola and Caterina. Until it closed in 1996 the restaurant, with its distinctive black and white marble flooring designed by Frank Grill, was the place to eat for any visiting star. Her black-vested waiters, the legendary Ricky Spinelli and Franco Perez, served countless steak dianes and crepe suzettes.

All the celebrity diner photos, including Elton John, Sylvester Stallone, Sammy Davis, Rod and Rachel Stewart and Shir­ley Bassey, were hung in the discreet entrance. Now operating as Spitroast, Ray White Randwick agent Sam Capra has the listing in conjunction with R&amp;W agent Jason Boon.

This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Toppi's La Strada joins the $100 million plus Macleay Street, Potts Point shop top residential site consolidation put to market

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Cadwell Construction &amp; Interiors went into administration in May with $4.2 million-worth of projects still in progress after costs on multiple projects blew out.
It occurred after a major project was put on hold, according to a creditor's report.
Unsecured creditor claims total $11.68 million. 
Jason Tracy and Kathryn Evans were appointed administrators on May 7 pursuant to Section 436A of the Corporations Act 2001.
South Western Sydney Local Health District is one of the company's largest unsecured creditors.
They are owed just over $1.8 million while Kincoppal Rose Bay School is owed almost $800,000.
South East Sydney Local Health District is owed more than $294,000, while Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District have been left with a $63,000 hole.
"The minister needs to explain exactly how it has occurred that taxpayers are owed over $2 million on projects across Sydney and more importantly what steps are being put in place to prevent this happening again," said Opposition health spokesman told Nine Entertainment.
"This is money that should have been used to pay for more nurses, health workers and paramedics.
"That's certainly what the community expects government to do when they pay their taxes."
The company operated as head contractor providing commercial fit-outs and refurbishment services.
The company specialised in the healthcare, education and commercial office industries.
At the time of appointment, the company employed over 20 permanent staff.
The company experienced strong revenue growth from $15 million in FY17 to over $30m in FY18.
At the time of the administrators' appointment, there were 20 projects at various stages of completion.
The company was incorporated in NSW on 2 December 2009, with the registered office shown as 57 St Johns Road, Glebe. There are two directors, Soren Jenson and Hans Thomsen.
There are dozens of unsecured creditors listed as being owed up to almost half a million dollars.
The administrators made it clear that none of these creditors should expect to get any money back.
In March 2019, it became known to Cadwell management that the Browne Street Mental Health Community Centre project, which was previously showing a profitable return, reported a significant loss.
Cadwell had been building the Brown Street Mental Health Community Centre in Campbelltown, when management learnt the project was reporting a loss of more than $500,000, and was three months behind schedule.
It came after the company suffered delays and losses of about $960,000 on the Kincoppal-Rose Bay School year 12 learning hub project, and $700,000 on The Orchard Childcare Centre in Kirrawee in 2018 and 2019.
Around this period a large project for the NSW Department of Education, worth a reported $4.2 million, was also put on ice.
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Caldwell Construction & Interiors collapses leaving creditors in the lurch for millions

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The owners of four adjacent buildings in Potts Point have now joined forces to market a large 2170 sq m residential apartment project site on Macleay Street.
Two apartment buildings at 91-93 Macleay Street (above) and another at 10-12 Hughes Street were originally rushed to market in June.
But now the owners of the two smaller adjacent buildings, also on Macleay Street, have added their holdings to the amalgamated offering.
The buildings are in a mixed-use zone but there is no DA approval.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/9/11/Potts%20Point%20aerial.jpg" alt="">
The initial disjointed offering was when the owners of the 43 apartments in the Nati Stolliar-built Axus and Reigate, on Hughes St, and its seven retail spaces in the two blocks had listed their properties as a combined site spanning 1242 square metres.
The two substantial holdings are at 91-93 Macleay Street and 10-12 Hughes Street. The latest additions to the site are the former Opium Den restaurant and the Blue Parrot backpacker premises.
There was no public initial price guide for the combined block, but JLL cited Double Bay sales of $45 million and $55 million.
Domain now advises it's a $100 million plus offering, as a supporting local agent R&amp;W comes onboard.
The proposal has been driven by the AXUS body corporate who always sought including all four of its neighbouring properties.
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The AXUS building land area is 940 sqm.
Under current planning controls, AXUS has a maximum allowable GFA of 4689 sqm.
An amalgamated site of all five potential properties has a maximum allowable GFA in excess of 9200 sqm, Brent Heatley from the strata manager, SRC has suggested.
Concept plans created by an unknown leading architectural firm comprises 91 apartments (1, 2 &amp; 3br), ground floor commercial/retail areas, plus two level basement parking for 100 vehicles.
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Given the idea was germinated four years ago, Heatley has advised plans were well advanced in the legal process of renewing the AXUS strata plan, to consolidate the building’s 41 residential and commercial lots into a single market-ready entity.
The Macleay and Hughes Street corner holding, the former La Strada Restaurant premises, and now Spitroast, is not part of the offering, but is set to be listed separately shortly. 
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$100 million plus Macleay Street, Potts Point shop top residential site consolidation put to market

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The saga of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-15/opal-tower-needs-significant-rectifiaction-work-report-finds/10713054" target="_blank">Opal Tower</a>, the 36-storey Sydney apartment building evacuated on Christmas Eve after frightening cracking, has helped to expose the deep cracks in Australia’s approach to building apartments.
An <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Files/DPE/Reports/Opal-Tower-Investigation-Draft-Interim-Report-2019-01-15.pdf" target="_blank">interim engineering assessment</a> <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-15/opal-tower-needs-significant-rectifiaction-work-report-finds/10713054" target="_blank">released yesterday</a> indicates concrete panels cracked due to their manufacture and assembly deviating from the original design. Though the building is structurally sound and in no danger of collapse, repairing the faults will be costly, slow and disruptive to residents.
The tower’s size, age (it is less than six months old) and the timing of its cracks might have made it particularly newsworthy, but badly built apartment blocks are far from unusual. Right now across Australia’s cities many buildings have significant leaks, cracks and fire safety failings.
So we can’t just address faults in individual developments. We need to identify the systemic flaws in how “compact city” policies have been planned and implemented.
Cracks in the compact city
The consequences of these flaws increasingly affect us all.
As the population of Australia’s capital cities grows, <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7EApartment%20Living%7E20" target="_blank">more of us are living in apartments</a>. Governments have been promoting greater housing density as an alternative to sprawl <a href="https://theconversation.com/density-sprawl-growth-how-australian-cities-have-changed-in-the-last-30-years-65870" target="_blank">for decades</a>. But they haven’t always ensured this density has been done well, including in terms of building quality.
In the aftermath of the Opal Tower saga, experts have pointed to <a href="https://theconversation.com/there-are-lessons-to-be-drawn-from-the-cracks-that-appeared-in-sydneys-opal-tower-but-they-extend-beyond-building-certification-109428" target="_blank">many reasons</a> why building defects can occur.
These include the fact that developers owe buyers few legal obligations once the apartments are sold, which limits their risk if they get things wrong. There are also significant market pressures, particularly in boom times, to build quickly and cheaply. And there are gaps in how the construction process is overseen, meaning errors go unnoticed.
These are not new observations, but getting regulations in place to address them has proven challenging. A case in point is NSW’s new defects bond, requiring developers to put aside 2% of the building value to fix defects down the track. The bond’s introduction was <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/nsw-government-delays-introduction-of-defect-bond-system-to-rectify-building-faults-20170611-gwo6hb/" target="_blank">delayed for years</a>, and it will be a few more years yet before we know if it works.
Scoping the problem
So just how severe is the situation? Right now, we don’t know for sure.
In 2012 a City Futures Research Centre <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/governing-the-compact-city-the-role-and-effectiveness-of-strata-management-in-higher-density-residential-developments/" target="_blank">project</a> surveyed apartment owners in NSW. Out of more than 1,000 respondents, 72% knew of defects in their strata-title complex. Among those whose apartments had been built since 2000, the percentage was 85%.
That project only looked at building defects as one of a number of issues facing apartment owners, however, so it didn’t document the issue in detail.
Our new <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/defects-strata" target="_blank">research project</a> will examine just how prevalent building defects are, the reasons they occur, and how strata-titled housing can be improved.
While the research will focus on Sydney, we hope it is a step towards changing planning and development policies to ensure better quality apartment buildings nation-wide.
Increasing inequality
A system allowing defective apartment buildings not only creates huge financial and emotional stress for residents but much wider economic and social risks.
Poor building practices undermine confidence in the <a href="https://cdn.aigroup.com.au/Economic_Indicators/Construction_Survey/2018/construction_outlook_Nov2018.pdf" target="_blank">multibillion-dollar construction industry</a>, the <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/national-strata-data-analysis/" target="_blank">strata management industry</a> and in the planning system.
They also contribute to <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-why-apartment-living-is-different-for-the-poor-82069" target="_blank">inequality</a>. This is because apartment residents are <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/national-strata-data-analysis/" target="_blank">more likely</a> to be younger, renting, on lower incomes, and from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Amid growing concerns about the widening gap between housing “haves” and “have nots”, there is <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-promises-a-6-6-billion-housing-boom-to-bring-down-rents-20181215-p50mi9" target="_blank">renewed political interest</a> in housing policy. Certainly this is a crucial issue for governments to tackle, but it goes beyond a focus on housing supply and prices. Addressing quality must also be a priority.
At the same time, we also need to step back and reconsider how we do compact-city planning <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/planning-in-a-market-economy/" target="_blank">more broadly</a> - including the roles governments and the private market play. With <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/Media%20Release10" target="_blank">two-thirds</a> of us now calling our biggest cities home, we need to have a serious public conversation about what we want our cities to be and how we can best achieve those goals.
We can’t afford to ignore the growing evidence that our cities are cracking under the strain. Because like the Opal Tower owners, we’re all going to bear the cost when things go wrong, and we’ll all have to live amid the wreckage.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/109722/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Authors: <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-crommelin-15376">Laura Crommelin</a>, Research Lecturer, City Futures Research Centre, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>; Bill Randolph, Director, City Futures Research Centre, Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW; Hazel Easthope, Associate Professor, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW, and Martin Loosemore, Professor, Construction Management Program, Built Environment, UNSW
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-big-lesson-from-opal-tower-is-that-badly-built-apartments-arent-only-an-issue-for-residents-109722" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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The big lesson from Opal Tower is that badly built apartments aren’t only an issue for residents

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Aqualand has been shortlisted for the next phase of the NSW State Government’s Waterloo Metro Quarter Development.
They are now in the request for tender stage.
Aqualand’s team includes CPB Contractors and community housing partner, City West Housing.
John Carfi, Chief Executive Officer of Aqualand said, “The Waterloo Metro Development Quarter will be a key catalyst for change and will set the highest possible standard for successful urban renewal”.
The Waterloo Metro Quarter will be integrated with the new Waterloo Station and will deliver new homes, shops, community services and a new public plaza.
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Located 700m from Redfern Station and 880m to Green Square Station The proposed development will comprise approximately 700 new homes above and adjacent to the new Waterloo Station.
The Waterloo Metro Quarter will deliver up to 10% affordable housing and 70 social housing dwellings as part of the new community.
Waterloo Metro Quarter will feature approximately 4000 sqm of locally focused retail and approximately 9000 sqm of commercial space, shared offices and health services.
It is due to open to the public in 2024.
The design team for the project includes Architects Tzannes, Turner, Silvester Fuller, GHD and Oculus.
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Aqualand shortlisted for Waterloo metro quarter development

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The Melbourne property investment and development company, Up Property, has unveiled plans to transform Moorabbin’s 60-year-old Philip Morris manufacturing site into a business park.
Designed to bring inner city urban culture to the Bayside pocket, the landmark location has been named Morris Moor – in a nod to the site’s location, rich history and significance in the local community.
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It will be a multi-use community precinct worth in excess of $100 million upon completion.
“Our vision is for Morris Moor to become an iconic destination for Melbourne and the local residential and business community to work, play, eat and drink,” Up Property managing director Adam Davidson said.
“Upon taking ownerships of the site in May last year, we received overwhelming interest from businesses looking for opportunities beyond that of a typical office precinct – from gymnasiums and coffee roasters to indoor golf simulators and cinemas.”
Upgrading an area predominantly known for being an industrial precinct, Up Property will be working alongside property development and advisory agency, Connect Plus Property Solutions.
The plans to repurpose the original site features over 50,000 square metres of leasable space across an existing eight buildings.
Director of Connect Plus, Simmy Abraham said that rather than demolishing the original buildings and disregarding the site’s history, Up Property has recognised the iconic location and have taken the more challenging path of transforming the original buildings into the contemporary, industrially inspired, Morris Moor.
A permit has already been received for the 6.27-hectare site, which upon completion and full capacity, will yield in excess of 1,600 new jobs for the Moorabbin community, doubling the amount that were employed at the site in its previous life as a manufacturing mecca.
Architects, Genton Architecture, undertook the masterplan.
Morris Moor features approximately 2,879 square metres of hospitality space, designed in consultation with award winning architecture and interior design firm Techne. 
Construction began this month on Morris Moor’s prominent office building, which frames the site at its well-known corner on Chesterville and Cochranes Road.
Boasting 5,257 square metres of office space across two levels, the building has the potential to house up to six tenants ranging from approximately 250 square metres to the whole building.
The building is set to become the best offering of office accommodation in the local area, receiving a full refurbishment, including a new facelift to its facade and a reimagined CBD style lobby which will be ready for tenant occupation in the first quarter of 2019.
<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/2018/5/2/BUILDING01%20-%20LOBBY.jpg" alt="">
Three tenants have already been secured for the site including:
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Little Learning School: a 140-place childcare centre set to transform and breathe life into one of the site’s oldest warehouses fronting Chesterville Road
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Clik Collective: a co-warehousing facility in excess of 6,000 square metres from the operators of the well-known Kensington Collective
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Schotts Home Emporium: Melbourne’s much-loved furniture retailer who has already commenced the fit-out of their impressive new 4,140 square metre showroom facility within one of Morris Moor’s far east buildings.
</li>
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