<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Real Estate Agents

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One Melbourne real estate agent is taking a defibrillator to auctions after one bidder had a heart attack while attempting to buy a Brighton East unit late last year.
Attendee Tom Friedman was bidding on a Binnie St property for a friend who had been “too anxious” to do so herself, according to reports on realestate.com.au, when he  collapsed.
Dane Costello, real estate agent and a local GP performed CPR on the 65-year-old before an ambulance arrived.
They performed CPR until an ambulance came and took Mr Friedman to hospital, where he remained in an induced coma for a week.
Agency director and auctioneer, Nick Johnstone, said his staff had all had CPR training since.
“We’ve also bought a defibrillator and will be taking it to all our auctions,” he said.
“Auctions are obviously a pretty stressful time for the buyers, sellers and agents.”
"I stopped the auction when Mr Friedman went into cardiac arrest and sold the house to another party later that night."
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Mr Friedman’s friend bought another property through the agency soon after.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Defibrillator to be taken to Brighton auctions after heart attack

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The strategic expansion at Di Jones Real Estate continues with the northern suburbs team appointing Heath Dockary and his support team.
Di Jones Real Estate CEO Rob Ward said the appointment of Heath Dockary, Wilson He and Vanessa Short was an important step in further strengthening the company’s growth plans in the Epping, Eastwood and Carlingford markets.
Formerly of McGrath, Dockary has been recognised in the top 25 agents across the McGrath network for several years and in the top 5% of all agents in NSW, Ward said.
In the last year Di Jones Real Estate has recruited nine McGrath staff.
It expanded to the upper north shore in early 2016.
Dockary said he and his staff were excited to be joining the Di Jones team, which started from a single office based in Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in 1992.
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Di Jones secures ninth McGrath agent with Heath Dockary appointment

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Online property agency iBuyNew has appointed Alex Caraco as chief executive officer.
He was a former CEO with Coldwell Banker Australia. iBuyNew founder Mark Mendel, previously CEO, has become head of strategy.
Alex Caraco said we are working hard to expand iBuyNew’s presence with plans to install sales teams in all mainland state capitals as well as on the Gold Coast.
“This month we have boosted our Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne sales teams as we seek to expand our sales volumes,” he said.
“Mark has worked tremendously hard to get iBuyNew to where it is today and it is fantastic that he will be continuing the journey as head of strategy.
"iBuynew would be working closely going forward with some of the nation’s leading development companies.
“We will hit the ground running with our sales and marketing initiatives to assist developers of apartments, townhouses and house and land packages.
“iBuyNew has nearly 5000 properties for sale throughout Australia and is actively seeking new quality projects to add to our vast selection.”
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iBuyNew doubles sales team as Alex Caraco takes CEO reins

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Seemingly with the backing of mortgage broker John Kolenda, the veteran agents who recently quit the McGrath Estate Agency are set to launch as The Agency.
The website countdown clock has it scheduled to open in<a href="https://theagency.com.au/" target="_blank"> nine days</a>. It advises "change is coming."
The partners in the foray are still unconfirmed but likely to be headlined by the departees who turned against the listed ASX McGrath Estate Agent group last year.
Longtime McGrath agents Matt Lahood, Stephen Chen and Ben Collier have all maintained a low profile since their departures last year. Their departures were preceded by weeks of avoiding any confirmation of any departure decision - and in some cases outright denials of any departure. It is widely assumed they will band together in the new outfit.
There were four estate agents initially tipped last October as taking on the new agency - with richly rewarding commissions - but one of the mooted four remains at McGrath.
Also not all associated team members have made the shift with their decisions fracturing the Edgecliff-based agency that dates back to the 1980s.
The non-descript website - the agency.com.au - is owned by Daring Investments with Paul Niradonne traceable as the contact.
Nirradonne is the chief executive officer at Ausnet Financial Services Ltd.
Daring Investments is directed by John Kolenda. There have been no amendments to ownership or shareholdings of any Daring's ASIC documents since 2015 when he changed his address from his then recently sold $10.2 million Vaucluse home to his current $7.3 million Darling Point address. 
Ausnet have run a little-known real estate practice out of Doubleview, Perth since 2006 called The Agency which offer a range of Ausnet financial services. Ausnet has offered finance broking, real estate services, settlement services, property management, project marketing, insurance and financial planning initially to the Western Australian market with an aim to be rolled out nationally. Ausnet’s target is to have 600 sales representatives nationally. 
A Double Bay agency, that traded at The Agency recently rebranded into the expansionary Stone Property Agency group with Daran Baran and Reece Coleman also changing the name of their operating company on December 17 from The Agency Australia Pty Ltd to SDB Pty Ltd. Their decision which was months in the making was <a href="https://www.stonerealestate.com.au/double-bay/our-office/" target="_blank">the first Stone office east of the harbour</a>.
The rebel agency is tipped to open next month on the strip at Bondi Beach.
Local landlord Eduard Litver declined to comment when approached last week by Property Observer.
Ausnet is backed by the retail finance broker, Finsure Group.
Ausnet is close to listing on the Australian Securities Exchange after Namibian Copper Limited raised $5.8 million in a heavily oversubscribed offer last month.
Ausnet is currently in the process of being acquired via reverse takeover by NCO, an ASXlisted gold, silver and base metals exploration company previously focusing on Namibia, Africa. 
Mr Niardone said via late 2016 press release a key reason for the heavily oversubscribed take-up of the offer was the enterprise value of $5.6 million only took into account the $1.1 billion loan book and not the new real estate business model called “The Agency” or the other business units on the referral platform.
“Our valuation was asset backed, no premium on hype," he advised late last year.
"Unlike our peers, Ausnet has built a proven concept over the past 12 months which has delivered record revenue of A$6.5 million in FY2016, up 37 per cent on the previous year,” he added.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Defecting McGrath agents to launch The Agency

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GUEST OBSERVER
An initiative to provide better customer service and help consumers make more informed decisions will been introduced in NSW this week but will unfairly tarnish reputable businesses.
The NSW Fair Trading Complaints Register which is due to come into operation on Wednesday, 24 August 2016 will provide information about businesses that are the subject of 10 or more complaints to NSW Fair Trading in a calendar month. 
The Complaints Register will list businesses under their public and recognisable ‘trading’ or ‘brand’ name which means that franchises or brand co- operatives will be grouped together instead of as the individual businesses they are. 
As a result, the register will simply be full of franchises and groups who, due to the popularity of their brand and their sheer size, will almost always have 10 consumer complaints per month.
While the Real Estate Industry wholeheartedly supports the concept of a complaints register, we believe the NSW consumer watchdog has poorly executed what is essentially a good idea – a complaints register to “out” poor traders. 
NSW Fair Trading has failed consumers in the creation of this initiative and has missed an opportunity to use data in an effective way for the benefit of consumers. 
REINSW has been engaged in discussing better consumer complaint outcomes with our members and the major brands for some time now. To have this register effectively target the major brands is simply unjust and needs to be remedied urgently. 
Small businesses with exemplary records, operating under franchise or co-operative brands, will be impossible to distinguish from those who have been identified as poor traders given all businesses operating under a brand will be grouped together. 
This false and misleading information could be used to discredit businesses who demonstrate responsible business practices and, in their wake, innocent parties could be disadvantaged including consumers, employees and small business owners. 
NSW Fair Trading has been negligent and reckless to apply a product based system to the service industries of NSW, thereby unfairly discrediting good businesses and, as such, is acting as one of the worst discriminators in NSW. 
The consumer will naturally gravitate to the agent that does not appear on the register due to the misleading information provided by NSW Fair Trading. 
The issue could be simply rectified by providing accurate and helpful information to the consumer by treating businesses as individuals rather than trying to lump large groups under one umbrella.
It is not too late to remedy this issue and REINSW calls on Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello to right this wrong and provide consumers with accurate information and to protect small businesses in NSW who may been tarnished unfairly.
John Cunningham is president, REINSW, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.reinsw.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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Real estate franchises tarnished by flawed complaints register

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The McGrath Ltd chief operating officer Geoff Lucas has quit to take a role at the NSW bread maker and café group, Sonoma.
Lucas announced his resignation to staff yesterday that he intends to pursue the business opportunity after being at the estate agency for almost eight years.
He will start with Sonoma as chief operating officer as Sonoma is on an expansion path.
Lucas retains a 4.3 percent shareholding in the recently listed McGrath Group.
He was previously chief executive at Credit Corp, the financial services sector company.
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Geoff Lucas quits McGrath for bread maker

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Real estate agency New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR) is rolling out a nationwide expansion plan.
The new offices at Waiheke Island and Kerikeri take the total to 15 offices, including new-look offices in Matakana and Blenheim.
There is also a major expansion of its head office in Queenstown launching this month and a new Auckland flagship office in Parnell scheduled for later this year.
An office in Takapuna is due to open in November.
It all comes as the specialist agency celebrates 10 years in business, after co-owners Mark Harris and Julian Brown bought the NZ rights to the prestigious global brand and launched it from Queenstown in 2005.
Back then, Harris and Brown were the only agents for NZSIR.
The duo have facilitated some of NZ’s most high-profile property sales, such as Eagles Nest in the Bay of Islands for over $20 million, Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown and individually hold residential sales records in the Southern Lakes region.
There are now more than 100 licensed NZSIR agents and employees.
NZSIR currently has more than $500m worth of property listed and is on track to complete $750m in sales this financial year. The national average sale price is $1.5 million. 
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Sotheby's New Zealand expands to 15 offices

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There was a recent survey that again ranked real estate agents as less trustworthy than politicians. 
Roy Morgan's annual professionals survey placed real estate agents third-lowest - at 10 percent - among the 30 professions rated, only beating advertisers at 9 percent and car salespeople at 4 percent.
Nurses ranked the highest at 92 percent. Ranking slightly higher in ethics and honesty than estate agents, were trade union leaders on 13 percent and Federal MPs getting 17 percent.
The survey results, which I guess are even starker when considering the electorate backlash at the polls last month, come at a time the the NSW government is conducting a review of training in the property industry.
Indeed Rod Stowe, the NSW Fair Trading commissioner, recently got a report that referred to the Roy Morgan results. The report on training in the New South Wales property services industry, which was chaired by Chris Batt, noted the level of trust in agents was much higher in rural NSW, mainly because of the establishment of longer-term relationships.  
According to his department, there were 6455 complaints about property matters in 2014-15. The mismanagement of trust funds becoming one of the significant issues. 
Better Regulation Minister Victor Dominello has noted NSW has among the lowest entry standards in the country.
There has been ongoing debate on the role of government as the prevailing wisdom is that it not the role of a licensing regime to increase real estate professionalism, although that may be a desirable outcome.
It is the role of a licensing regime to protect the public interest.
The recent report noted submissions invariably began by saying that training standards were too low. 
For some, the issue is about the need for more training before people start, but also about the need to improve the quality of training.
The report to Stowe by review chairman, Chris Batt noted a common complaint was about the difficulty in attracting the right people to enter the industry.
His review explored the attributes that make for good estate agents. 
"The key skill appears to be the ability to gain people’s trust and a capacity for hard work."
But Batt's report noted there is a public perception that "selling real estate is a glamorous industry where people drive expensive cars, wear nice clothes and make lots of money." 
The report suggested the reality was often far different and a better understanding would help to "encourage the right people to enter the industry."
Most stakeholders agreed training courses left an inadequate level of knowledge because they were too short. 
There were also concerns of trainers not having currency in industry experience. 
And as assessments were in a simulated environment they not did reflect the real life environment.
The review noted that supervision out in the workplace was either poor or absent.
It even raised concerns about the literacy and numeracy skills of the aspiring agents.
All this translates into detrimental impacts on consumers with poor selling and appraisal skills, which meant that a vendor did not always get the best price or service. 
One real estate trainer recently suggested the industry’s poor perception had remained low for the past dozen or so years years because many agents had learned bad habits from having the industry teach the industry.
Not enough looking at it from the customer’s point of view, he said, pinpointing scripts and dialogues to outsmart clients in sales, along with "the controversial things in the industry like cold canvassing or vendor contributions." 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Real estate agents less trustworthy than politicians: survey

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Stockdale &amp; Leggo has got expansionary plans with NSW agents and offices being approached by its chief, Peter Thomas.
It has been a major force in Victorian real estate since 1936.
With its strongest presence by far in Victoria, its 90 offices span the CBD, metropolitan areas and regional centres.  
<img src="/images/2016/07/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-07-27%20at%2010.53.26%20AM.png" alt="">
Stockdale &amp; Leggo have expanded beyond Victoria, to have offices in New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland.
It has recently employed Andrew Lane, as its NSW Franchise and Business Development Manager to further grow into NSW beyond its current Albury and Corowa offices.
Andrew, who went to school in the Albury district, has had over 20 years in the industry with the last seven being in similar corporate roles at Raine &amp; Horne and The Professionals.
"His experience and dedication will ensure Stockdale &amp; Leggo NSW offers not only an alternative when thinking about your future, but ensures it becomes your number one choice," Peter Thomas said.
"We’re constantly on the hunt for eager, ambitious operators keen to succeed alongside us," he said.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Stockdale and Leggo want NSW offices

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GUEST OBSERVER
An overhaul of education and training standards for the real estate profession must take place to help prevent illegal activities.
Trust account fraud, misleading and deceptive conduct, underquoting and a lack of knowledge about property and the laws relating to its transaction are simply unacceptable behaviours.
On the surface real estate sales and management appear to be very simple, however it is in reality a very complex and multilayered process that requires a high level of knowledge and diverse skills to carry it out in a professional manner.
Most people would expect that an agent has been properly trained and has the required qualifications to fulfil their obligations. The sad truth is that for the past 10 years the education standards delivery especially in NSW have been watered down and in the interest of increased competition abused by many course providers that are allowed to continue operating.
It actually requires more training to become a barista than a real estate agent.
You would expect an agent to understand how the property they are dealing with was built; its age; what the zoning is; if there are any easements, building or height restrictions; and what special conditions are in the contract, to name just a few issues.
Professional agents can answer all of these questions, but not every agent will be able to because of the low level of training in the industry.
The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales has been fighting for the past 10 years for better training and qualifications, and government cannot ignore the issue any longer.
Inadequate real estate agent training needs to be addressed to achieve better consumer experiences and outcomes. Both the NSW Government and NSW Fair Trading must act on our recommendations for reform.
Professional agents and consumers demand it, and now is the time to deliver it. 
John Cunningham is president of the REINSW and can be contacted <a href="https://www.reinsw.com.au/imis15_prod/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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