National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

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]

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

Reform

<html><body>
Another fascinating week with Australia experiencing a significant stock market correction followed by the National Reform Summit which in all probability won’t amount to anything given the responsibility rests with our politicians. When it comes to anything economic in Australia we see a typical allergy where they are too frightened to come into contact with these issues.
Since 2013, the internet population grew approximately 20% – from 2.4 billion to 3.2 billion people yet for some strange reason we still struggle to understand data, or is it that the data we should be seeing is withheld? Australia’s misunderstood property markets are a prime example – with Sydney well ahead of the country in terms of inaccuracy in reporting.
One of the main areas for concern to come from the National Reform Summit was productivity where many believe Australia has come to a grinding halt which is replicated with our present GDP growth rates. For some time now I have been carefully watching property growth rates which (wait for it) closely resemble our GDP results.
To further explain we closely looked at sales data from 2009 to 2014 for house and apartment sales in Seaforth, Mosman, Cremorne, Neutral Bay, Cammeray and Northbridge where the total number of households equates to 39,227.Source CoreLogic RP Data.
We need to bear in mind that when you closely examine individual suburb markets at five (5) per cent turnover per annum the market turnover is normal and slightly under-performing. When it gets to ten (10) % per annum turnover the market is considered strong and when the market hits fifteen (15) % turnover per annum that is a boom. The last time we witnessed the market hitting 15% was in 1988.
So we took the six year averages for sales and this is what we found.
<ul>
<li>Seaforth – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 120 houses which equates to 5.1% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Seaforth – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 16 apartments which equates to 4.7% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Mosman – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 312 houses which equates to 5.3% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Mosman – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 492 apartments which equates to 4.9% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Cremorne – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 62 houses which equates to 4.6% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Cremorne – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 278 apartments which equates to 5.0% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Neutral Bay – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 55 houses which equates to 4.95% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Neutral Bay – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 323 apartments which equates to 4.8% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Cammeray – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 56 houses which equates to 5.6% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Cammeray – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 147 apartments which equates to 5.5% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Northbridge – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 88 houses which equates to 4.3% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
<li>Northbridge – Average number of sales from 2009 to 2014 per annum – 28 apartments which equates to 5.5% of the total market on a per annum basis.</li>
</ul>
When one takes into account that the cash rate at the beginning of 2009 was 3.25% and dropping to 2.50 at the end of 2014 we would have expected the number of properties to be rapidly increasing – which has not been the case. Moreover this reaffirms that business is not doing that well given households are not that interested in taking on more debt, which certainly resonated with a lot that was presented at the National Reform Summit. . The burning question is what is Canberra going to do about this?
<h5>Mosman Houses Sold – Total Number 5,890 Houses</h5>
2009 – 303 2010 – 325 2011 – 264 2012 – 276 2013 – 355 2014 – 350
<h5>Mosman Apartments Sold – Total Number 10,020 Apartments</h5>
2009 – 523 2010 – 453 2011 – 474 2012 – 443 2013 – 543 2014 – 514
<h5>Cremorne Houses Sold – Total Number 1,135 Houses</h5>
2009 – 71 2010 – 65 2011 – 56 2012 – 56 2013 – 66 2014 – 59
<h5>Cremorne Apartments Sold – Total Number 5,481 Apartments</h5>
2009 – 339 2010 – 302 2011 – 288 2012 – 218 2013 – 267 2014 – 255
<h5>Neutral Bay Houses Sold – Total Number 1,109 Houses</h5>
2009 – 61 2010 – 69 2011 – 51 2012 – 51 2013 – 61 2014 – 40
<h5>Neutral Bay Apartments Sold – Total Number 6,638 Apartments</h5>
2009 – 411 2010 – 362 2011 – 287 2012 – 283 2013 – 308 2014 – 286
<h5>Cammeray Houses Sold – Total Number 1,275 Houses</h5>
2009 – 58 2010 – 50 2011 – 50 2012 – 56 2013 – 64 2014 – 61
<h5>Cammeray Apartments Sold – Total Number 2,610 Apartments</h5>
2009 – 156 2010 – 194 2011 – 156 2012 – 107 2013 – 135 2014 – 137
<h5>Northbridge Houses Sold – Total Number 1,914 Houses</h5>
2009 – 88 2010 – 63 2011 – 68 2012 – 89 2013 – 102 2014 – 94
<h5>Northbridge Apartments Sold – Total Number 504 Apartments</h5>
2009 – 32 2010 – 33 2011 – 20 2012 – 23 2013 – 35 2014 – 27
<h5>Seaforth Houses Sold – Total Number 2,317 Houses</h5>
2009 – 113 2010 – 109 2011 – 113 2012 – 121 2013 – 138 2014 – 127
<h5>Seaforth Apartments Sold – Total Number 334 Apartments</h5>
2009 – 21 2010 – 11 2011 – 10 2012 – 14 2013 – 17 2014 – 26 Source – CoreLogic RP Data
<h5>MOSMAN – 2088</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 69
• Number of houses on the market last week – 53
• Number of houses on the market this week – 65
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 51
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 41
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 42
<h5>CREMORNE – 2090</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 7
• Number of houses on the market last week – 2
• Number of houses on the market this week – 4
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 15
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 15
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 18
<h5>NEUTRAL BAY – 2089</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 5
• Number of houses on the market last week – 4
•Number of houses on the market this week – 2
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year– 36
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 25
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 30
 ROBERT SIMEON is a director of <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM" rel="nofollow">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985.  He has also been writing real estate blog <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News" rel="nofollow">Virtual Realty News</a> since 2000. 
 
</body></html>

robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Data doesn’t lie when you keep misreading it: Robert Simeon

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Hopes for root-and-branch internal reform of the federal Labor Party at its national conference look set to be dashed. The draft organisational reform agenda, published ahead of this weekend’s conference, signals that wholesale democratisation of the party’s decision-making structures may not happen.
Expectations had been building for more than a year that the national conference would deliver deep organisational reform. This belief was sparked in April 2014. Bill Shorten, who won the leadership of the federal Labor Party in its first election to involve rank-and-file members, set down his vision for a “modern, outward-looking, confident and democratic party” in his <a href="https://billshorten.com.au/towards-modern-labor-party" target="_blank">“Towards a Modern Labor”</a> speech.
Shorten called for:
<ul>
<li>
a reduction in the structural power of the union in party matters;
</li>
<li>
increased membership involvement in preselections for the lower house (70:30 split between local members and a central panel) and for the Senate (50:50 split);
</li>
<li>
increased female representation across all party domains; and
</li>
<li>
direct election of delegates to national conference.
</li>
</ul>
However, not all of the bold initiatives that Shorten laid down in 2014 appear on the draft agenda. Conspicuously absent from the document are commitments to enshrine the new rules for selecting the leader in the national party constitution, and significant reform of preselection.
Many of the agenda items are less radical proposals to introduce online policy branches and consider new types of local branches. These sit alongside the usual calls to increase the membership, encourage union members to become active party members, and foster greater engagement by the parliamentary party with the rank and file.
There are also reforms that could be construed as increasing the centralisation and consolidation of power in the hands of party elites. The proposal to require state campaign directors to consult the leader and the national campaign director before the selection of candidates in both targeted and safe Labor seats is a case in point.
The draft statement also “supports state branches that are considering direct election”. Significantly, it proposes an implementation committee be established to further explore the direct election of national conference delegates. While this could ultimately result in reform, it is just as likely to postpone change in the short term.
Why such a tentative agenda?
Three key factors can explain the reforms being put forward.
First, while Shorten is federal parliamentary party leader, he does not have the power to change the rules unilaterally. A majority of national conference delegates must approve the changes.
Second, as a decision-making forum, the conference is not naturally suited to deep, system-wide organisational reform. Achieving agreement among 400 delegates on comprehensive organisational reforms is a logistical feat, especially when no faction has a majority of delegates capable of mobilising the numbers.
It is complicated further because the conference also seeks to tackle contentious matters of policy and platform, such as climate change, same-sex marriage, the treatment of refugees and the recognition of Palestine. The national conference has many issues to deal with, and only three days to do so.
Third, although Shorten is in a unique position to argue for the reforms as party leader, he would need to expend significant political capital on this. Given the possibility the Abbott government will call an early election, and Labor being ahead in the polls, Shorten may be reluctant to allow the party to become embroiled in contentious debates, which may evoke memories of the divisive Rudd-Gillard era.
Does it matter if internal reform is not achieved?
The presumption is that failing to achieve substantive outcomes will consign the ALP to political and electoral irrelevance, and Shorten’s leadership to oblivion. Both are dramatic overstatements.
For a start, although Gough Whitlam’s efforts to reform Labor’s organisational structures are widely lauded, few recent Labor leaders have systematically pursued – let alone secured – major organisational change. Leaving aside Kevin Rudd’s move to have rank-and-file involvement in electing the party leader in the dying days of the last Labor government, Simon Crean has been the only federal leader to achieve major reform in recent times.
And although political commentators are deeply engaged in the issue of organisational reform, it is rarely a vote-winning issue.
Elections are usually decided by public policy issues, leadership and government performance – not by matters of internal party reform. Both the ALP (2007) and the Liberals (2013) were able to win office while largely failing to act on the major reforms recommended by internal party organisational reviews.
However, there are signs that momentum for organisational reform is gathering pace.
Senior party figures such as former senator John Faulkner and ex-Victorian premier Steve Bracks have renewed their calls for change. They have been joined by former union bosses, such as Greg Combet and Bill Kelty, in calling for structural and cultural change. Within the party, newly formed ginger groups such as Open Labor are calling for party democratisation.
It would be a mistake, then, to view the national conference as a failure if comprehensive organisational reform is not achieved. The short-term importance of reform to Labor’s electoral fortunes and Shorten’s leadership has generally been exaggerated. However, the pressure to change is unlikely to dissipate.
Narelle Miragliotta is senior lecturer in Australian Politics at Monash University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/narelle-miragliotta-3372" target="_blank">here</a>.
Nicholas Barry is lecturer, faculty of humanities and social sciences at La Trobe University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-barry-13539" target="_blank">here</a>. Both are authors on The Conversation.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Longing for Labor to reform itself? National conference may not provide

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There were some 90 plus proposed changes to strata laws announced by the NSW Government Fair Trading Minister Victor Dominello​ last week that will affect how strata operates for owner occupiers, landlords and tenants.
It is the first major reform of strata laws since the Strata Titles Act was made in 1973. 
NSW has around 75,000 strata schemes worth $350 billion in assets. 
The draft Strata Schemes Development Bill 2015 and Strata Schemes Management Bill 2015 have been released for public consultation.
Here are what Property Observer senses are the key reforms. 
<h3>OVER CROWDED APARTMENTS</h3>
The reform will allow owners' corporations to create bylaws limiting the number of adults who can actually live in an apartment with fines for over-crowding to be raised to $5500 for the first offence and $11,000 on the second offence. The reforms allow owners corporations to make a by-law limiting the number of people who can reside in a lot (but schemes must still allow no fewer than two adults per bedroom), so that strata schemes are able to better manage overcrowding. Schemes wanting to impose such a limit could introduce a by-law by passing a special resolution. Larger families would not be discriminated against because the by-law would not apply to children and an overcrowding by-law cannot be inconsistent with the planning approval for the building.
<h3>COMPULSORY SALES AND DEMOLITION </h3>
The reform will allow 75 per cent of residents of older buildings to agree to their sale to a developer for redevelopment, regardless of the wishes of the 25% minority. Currently there is a requirement of a 100 per cent vote in favour of abandoning a strata scheme. The new process will apply only to existing schemes if the owners corporation agrees to opt in. If the majority of owners (50% or more) don’t support the decision, no further action can be taken.
<h3>RENOVATION</h3>
The reform will create a three-tier regime that allows certain minor work to be done without permission, some significant renovations to be carried out just with a simple majority vote of the owners' corporation and then for major renovations the need for special resolutions, bylaws and restrictions. The reforms aim to provide clearer, common-sense approvals for owner renovations. They would waive restrictions for minor, cosmetic changes to lots such as inserting a picture hook. Renovations with a lasting impact, such as installing floorboards, would still require approval but only a general resolution (50% of the vote). Renovations like those that affect the structure or external appearance of the building would still require a special resolution (75% of the vote).
<h3>PROXY FARMING FOR MEETING VOTES</h3>
The reform sees a cap on number of proxies held by owners in larger buildings with a limit of 20 per cent of the vote or five votes, whichever is less.
<h3>ILLEGAL PARKING</h3>
The reform will allow owners' corporations and local councils to let council parking inspectors patrol strata car parks and issue fines to people who have parked where they shouldn't. As part of proposed changes, owners corporations would be able to enter into an agreement with the local council to manage unauthorised parking on the common property. Current options already available to owners corporations to address unauthorised parking include by-law enforcement, signage and barriers and calling the police if an individual is thought to be trespassing.
<h3>DEVELOPER DEFECTS BOND</h3>
The reform will see property developers having to place a bond of 2 per cent of the value of the building to cover potential defects after completion. A building bond for the construction of high rise strata buildings (those over 3 stories in height) would maintain developer and builder accountability for their work. A process for the early identification and rectification of defects would be implemented, requiring developers to engage an independent building inspector to carry out a defect inspection report, at their cost, between 12 and 18 months after the completion of the building.
<h3>PETS</h3>
The reform will change the standard or default bylaw to state that pets are allowed, provided that the strata committee approves, although that approval can't unreasonably be withheld. During consultation on the reforms it was highlighted that, in some cases, people can be forced to choose between their pet and living in a strata building. Reforms would amend model by-laws to make it easier to keep pets as opposed to automatically prohibiting pet ownership in a scheme. The strata reforms would remove any reference to a ban in the model by-laws. Schemes would also be actively encouraged to review their by-laws and to consider whether their existing ban should be lifted. The strata reforms would not remove a scheme’s ability to make its own rules about pets. Schemes could place reasonable conditions on keeping pets (eg. its access to common property). If the model by-law were adopted, the request to keep a pet could not be unreasonably refused. For example, schemes could not unreasonably refuse the keeping of small animals, such as fish, or a cat, but could reasonably refuse rodents or venomous snakes. Each case would be considered on its merits.  Guide dogs would continue to be allowed regardless of a scheme’s by-laws and the reforms expand the category of guide dog to include hearing dogs and other assistance animals.
<h3>SMOKING</h3>
The reform identifies balcony smoke drift as a potential "nuisance" under the legal meaning of the word. The owners corporation would be able to prosecute offenders rather than leaving this to individual owners.
<h3> </h3>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Overcrowded strata apartments, illegal parking and other NSW strata reforms

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW welcomes the release of the state government’s Strata reform Bills following more than three years of stakeholder consultation.
The Bills introduce a number of measures that reflect the complexity of modern strata developments, and have the capacity to continue to change as more home buyers prefer to live in apartments. The strata laws under which we operate are the oldest in the world so the system is in desperate need of an upgrade.
Under current strata schemes it is difficult to renew dilapidated buildings because of outdated processes and procedures.
These Bills pave the way for Strata schemes to opt to modernise buildings that have reached the end of their economic life. 
The Bills do not apply to existing strata schemes, only future strata schemes with current strata schemes having the option to opt in, so it will take time to see material change in the NSW system. The introduction of the legislation will also be telling. 
We won’t see an impact from the draft Bills overnight, the true impact will be realised when the legislation is introduced, and we see the effect on existing strata schemes.
Numerous protections have been introduced for owners under the new schemes including a 2% bond to guard against building defects and major protections for elderly and disadvantaged residents through just-terms compensation and legal assistance. 
The UDIA NSW has minor concerns with aspects of the draft bills, particularly the proposal to include a non-voting tenant representative on strata executive committees – which may not be effective for a number of reasons including the often transient nature of tenants.  
While we will be working through the details over the coming weeks, we can’t lose site of the fact that the reforms are an improvement on the antiquated system that presently exists.
The Institute will be making a submission to the draft Bills and it looks forward to continuing to work with government on strata reform.
Stephen Albin is chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.udiansw.com.au/pages/contact">here</a>.
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