Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/31-41-o-hara-street-marrickville-nsw-2204">Third.i</a>&nbsp;has announced a new transport-oriented development in one of Sydney Inner West’s most sought-after metropolitan locations, delivering much needed housing within steps of world-class public transport and vibrant village life.

Located at&nbsp;31-41 O’Hara St,&nbsp;Marrickville, the proposed mixed-use development will include around 300 apartments, with up to 17 per cent dedicated to affordable housing, reinforcing Third.i’s commitment to creating inclusive, well-connected communities that support a diverse mix of residents who keep Sydney’s neighbourhoods thriving.

Located just 100 metres from the new Metro station, the development places residents within minutes of the CBD while offering seamless access to the Inner West’s cafés, retail, and local services. Anchored within a thriving local centre, the project supports everyday living without reliance on cars, while also delivering new public open space for the local community, including a new park and landscaped green areas, alongside high-quality private resident amenities.

Florian Caillon, Head of Acquisitions for Third.i Group, said the project builds on the company’s ongoing work alongside the NSW Government to deliver housing and amenity alongside major transport infrastructure. Amenity includes an activated pedestrianise retail strip that connects Illawarra Road down to the pocket park, and health and wellness facilities.&nbsp;

“Delivering housing of this scale within an established village is a rare opportunity, and few companies have achieved residential outcomes of this size at a village centre," Caillon said.

"We are excited to set a new standard for urban living in the heart of Marrickville,” he said.&nbsp;

The inclusion of affordable housing has been welcomed by frontline workers.

“We are supportive of developments which will allow essential workers like nurses, midwives and carers, the opportunity to live in the communities they care for," said&nbsp;Michael Whaites, General Secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association..

“Many healthcare workers tell us they would like to live closer to where they work, but are being priced out of the market, forcing them to move further away.&nbsp;

“Dedicated apartments for essential workers will support recruitment and retention in local hospitals and aged care facilities, helping to strengthen our health system.”

The project has been declared State Significant Development (SSD) by the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

Joel Robinson

Third.i to deliver 300 apartments in Marrickville TOD precinct

A luxury half floor penthouse intended to be retained by Queensland developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/qm-properties">QM Properties</a> has hit the market as the final residence within <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/160-macquarie-160-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">160 Macquarie</a> apartment development, an exclusive enclave of just 33 premium apartments located on St Lucia’s riverfront.&nbsp;

The 14-storey building, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/st-lucia-qld-4067">St Lucia</a>’s first riverfront development to be completed in over a decade, smashed the suburb record in 2024 with a 12th storey, half-floor residence selling for $6.29 million, nearly $1.5 million higher than the previous highest sale of $4.8 million in 2020. &nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=25721 project_image_fid=299769]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Residential Director, Andrew Roubicek sold three apartments within the recently completed development in 2025 and 2026 realising increases in value averaging 65 per cent compared to the original prices of the apartments sold off-the-plan.

Andrew said these sales underscored the unparalleled desirability of 160 Macquarie, located on the riverfront in one of Brisbane’s most sought after suburbs, to the local downsizer market. &nbsp;

“Most of the residents in 160 Macquarie are like-minded western suburbs people, downsizing from large homes and attracted to the design, size and expansive aspects across the river and northeast views towards the Brisbane city skyline," Roubicek said.

“Residents of 160 Macquarie also enjoy exclusive access to a rooftop sanctuary that features a range &nbsp;of lounge and dining areas with uninterrupted panoramic views. The state-of-the-art private pool, nestled beside the Brisbane River, further enhances the luxurious lifestyle on offer."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=25721 project_image_fid=299764]

This demand for high quality, riverside residences has prompted QM Properties to release the final &nbsp;half floor penthouse, previously intended to be retained by the company, which has never been occupied. &nbsp;

The brand-new luxury 246 sqm sub-penthouse, designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>,&nbsp;has three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a master with walk-in robe including make-up bench and ensuite with freestanding bath, open plan living and dining, built in bar and wine display, three side-by-side carparks, and an entertainers balcony with uninterrupted, never to be built out views of both the Brisbane CBD &amp; Mount Cootha.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=25721]

QM Properties have released the final half floor penthouse at 160 Macquarie, St Lucia’s first riverfront development in over a decade  

Final luxury penthouse released following 65% uplift in values at 160 Macquarie, St Lucia

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> may sit just south of Melbourne’s officially designated Bayside suburbs, but this small coastal pocket offers all the hallmarks of its neighbouring areas, at a considerably lower entry point to the property market.

Trains, beaches, dog parks and retail, the pillars of any Bayside lifestyle, are all thriving in Parkdale. It was these four factors, combined with a clear undersupply of new apartment developments, that drew boutique Bayside developer Lowe Living to the suburb around five years ago.

The group secured a site on Como Parade East, where it launched, and has now almost sold out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kallara-house-parkdale-by-lowe-living-129-137-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Kallara House</a>.

Now, Lowe Living has returned to Parkdale, this time with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elanora-place-parkdale-152-como-parade-west-parkdale-vic-3195">Elanora Place</a> on Como Parade West, just a few minutes’ walk from the water.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148731 project_image_fid=364174]

Designed by Jackson Clements Burrows, Elanora Place will comprise 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments.

While “large-scale” is a term often overused in project marketing, the residences at Elanora Place genuinely live up to the label. Entry-level two-bedroom apartments, priced from $1.15 million, span nearly 115 sqm. Larger two-bedroom configurations, including ground-floor residences with courtyards, exceed 150 sqm, while three-bedroom homes range from 180 sqm to more than 220 sqm. These are priced between $1.75 million and $1.815 million.

A select number of residences also feature EV charging stations within private two-car garages.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148731 project_image_fid=364176]

The design of Elanora—translated as “a home by the sea”—draws on Parkdale’s architectural legacy and bayside charm, with careful consideration given to scale, materiality and local character, according to Jackson Clements Burrows.

Resident amenity has been curated to foster a sense of community, with a rooftop terrace offering sweeping bay views, built-in barbecue areas, and tranquil garden retreats designed to bring neighbours together in a relaxed coastal setting.

Construction of the low-rise development is already underway, led by Lowe Living’s in-house arm, Lowe Construction, with completion anticipated in early 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=148731]

Lowe Living continues Parkdale preference with Elanora Place apartments

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">BPG Developments</a>’ Palm Beach project Liérre has raced to 35 per cent sold within its first two months on the market, as the Queensland builder-developer prepares to start construction in the coming two months.&nbsp;

The momentum adds to a strong early response for the Jefferson Lane address, which recently secured development approval for the $165 million beachfront-adjacent scheme.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364569]

Planned for a 1,733 sqm amalgamated site on the beach side of Gold Coast Highway,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> will deliver 58 apartments, three townhouses and eight penthouses, bringing a scaled residential offering to one of the Gold Coast’s most in-demand coastal suburbs. The project is one block back from the beach, a position that has helped shape both its design approach and buyer appeal.

BPG Developments Co-founder Nick Parr said the project reflects the next stage of Palm Beach’s evolution. “<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> reflects the next phase in Palm Beach’s evolution as one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after residential markets,” Parr said.&nbsp;

“Our vision was to deliver a project of enduring quality, one that responds to its beachfront location through thoughtful design and functionality.” He said BPG’s integrated builder-developer model gives the team greater control over quality, timelines and outcomes.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364572]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> draws on Palm Beach’s coastal character through what the architect describes as a calm, finely detailed response to the shoreline setting. The palette leans into raw, earthy tones such as blush and rust, paired with travertine finishes, soft curves and organic forms.&nbsp;

Plus Studio Principal Chrisney Formosa said the building was “sculpted from the rhythm of the coast,” with a shell-inspired form and sand-hued facade intended to support Palm Beach’s emergence as a design-led beachfront neighbourhood.

Residents will also have access to a substantial wellness offering, including a gym, sauna, spa, outdoor shower, and an amenities deck with pool, cabanas, sunbeds and landscaping throughout.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364581]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a> has continued to attract attention from both developers and buyers as the southern Gold Coast tightens in supply.

MOTIV Founder Carly Cottam said the suburb was the fourth most searched on the Gold Coast for property, citing its community feel and proximity to beaches and dining. She said Lierre would appeal to buyers seeking a luxury address at a relatively attainable price point, particularly given the rarity of a site just one block back from the beach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149551 project_image_fid=364576]

For BPG, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bpg-developments">Liérre</a> is also part of a broader period of growth. The approval followed another recent green light for the developer’s $250 million Newstead project, taking its pipeline to around $500 million across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Co-founder Glen Williams said Palm Beach embodied the company’s focus on refined design, craftsmanship and long-term value over volume.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149551]

BPG’s Palm Beach project Liérre races to 35 per cent sold as construction commencement nears

Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a>&nbsp;has commenced early works on its $1.5 billion One Queens Bridge development, reviving a Southbank site that has remained dormant for more than a decade.

Located on one of Melbourne’s most significant riverfront sites, the project, to be known as No.1 Queens Bridge, will deliver a 71-level mixed-use tower comprising 588 residences and a hotel, complemented by dining and wellness offerings overlooking the Yarra River.

Originally constructed in the mid-1800s, the Queens Bridge Hotel will form a central part of the development, with PDG embracing and elevating the historic pub as a key arrival point into the precinct. The landmark building will anchor a new hospitality and dining offering, including a rooftop bar, a grand atrium entry, and a proposed global luxury boutique hotel integrated into the podium levels.

Crafted by internationally renowned design studio <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX</a>, in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the project draws inspiration from its riverfront setting. The architecture explores the movement and fluidity of the Yarra River, expressed through a sculptural facade composed of six vertical pleats extending the full height of the 71-storey tower.

The pleated form creates a distinctive three-dimensional expression that captures and reflects Melbourne’s changing light throughout the day, adding a dynamic presence to the city skyline.

Residents will have access to more than 5,500 sqm of amenities across multiple levels, creating an “urban village in the sky” that redefines how people live across generations.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the project represents a major milestone for both the site and Melbourne’s next wave of city-shaping developments.

“This project marks the revival of one of Melbourne’s most prominent riverfront sites and the beginning of a new chapter for Southbank," Giuliano said.

"For more than 15 years, the site has remained dormant, and the recent commencement of demolition on site is a powerful signal of our confidence in Melbourne’s future and in PDG’s ability to deliver a project of this scale and quality."

Giuliano says&nbsp;No.1 Queens Bridge has been designed to deliver something truly exceptional for Melbourne, an address that brings together heritage, architecture, hospitality and residential living in a way the city hasn’t experienced for many years."

PDG purchased the 5,059 sqm site at 1–29 Queens Bridge Street in December 2024. Plans for No.1 Queens Bridge are currently before the Department of Transport and Planning, with sales due to launch in the coming months.

PDG kicks off early works on $1.5 billion Southbank tower No.1 Queens Bridge

Regional Market

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Demand for lifestyle areas have been exacerbated by COVID-19, CoreLogic’s best of the best 2020 report revealed.

The report, dominated by Australia’s high-performing regional areas, highlighted the resilience of luxury markets in Australia.

“The relative popularity of lifestyle markets is evident in our report, and regional Australia out-performed the combined capital cities market”, said CoreLogic's head of research, Eliza Owen.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-01-13_at_8.22.20_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Top performing regional suburbs. Source: CoreLogic"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="298" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-01-13_at_8.22.20_pm.png?itok=aLkp7KZD" title="Top performing regional suburbs. Source: CoreLogic" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Top performing regional suburbs. Source: CoreLogic</figcaption></figure>Sunshine Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast saw the highest annual capital growth in houses nationally, with an annual change in value of 27.6 per cent. The nearby Sunrise Beach also saw a significant annual growth of 24.4 per cent, to a median house value of $1.23 million.

The Sunshine Coast also hosted the regional property market’s best performing units with Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach placing first and third, respectively, for the highest median unit value.

For investors and owner-occupiers who have yet to break into the Queensland market, their interests are expected to turn to the units with the highest annual capital growth, located on the Gold Coast.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-01-13_at_8.22.27_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Top performing regional suburbs. Source: CoreLogic"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="296" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2021-01-13_at_8.22.27_pm.png?itok=QRpeGg7D" title="Top performing regional suburbs. Source: CoreLogic" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Top performing regional suburbs. Source: CoreLogic</figcaption></figure>Currumbin recorded a 24.9 per cent annual growth in unit value to $632,749, while Tugun and Bilinga recorded an 18.7 per cent and 21.8 per cent growth, respectively.

Gold Coast’s Palm Beach similarly recorded a 20.8 per cent annual growth in unit prices, and has seen <a href="/news/temple-palm-beach-whole-floor-apartment-sells-for-375-million">recent trophy apartment sales</a>.

“Overall, the housing market outlook for 2021 is positive, given highly accommodative monetary and fiscal policy, signs of an economic recovery and many first home buyer incentives remaining in place through to early next year,” Owen said.

<h2>Here are two apartments in Queensland’s high-performing suburbs on the market right now</h2>

1. <a href="/new-apartments/chevron-one-36-46-stanhill-drive-chevron-island">Chevron One</a>, Surfers Paradise 
Address: 36-44 Stanhill Drive, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 
Two-bedroom apartments from $705,000

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/chevron_one_island.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/chevron_one_island.jpg?itok=uDq5_-L_" width="580"></a>

Located in Surfers Paradise, Chevron One presents an opportunity to secure a luxury residence nearby other high-performing Gold Coast suburbs. Bensons Property Group’s Chevron One boasts a collection of 236 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Designed by Marchese Partners, the development includes a Club One residents’ lounge, floating cinema, sculptured gardens and dining facilities. 
 

2. <a href="/buildings/elysian-185-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach">Elysian</a>, Broadbeach 
Address: 185 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach QLD 4128 
Two-bedroom apartments from $835,000

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/elysian.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="350" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/elysian.jpg?itok=Rxk6SYe2" width="580"></a>

Spanning 21 levels, Spyre Group's Elysian is a boutique collection of 61 apartments. Redefining the standard of luxury, Elysian blends modern luxe styling with expansive ocean, city and Gold Coast hinterland views.

Designed by Bureau Proberts, the development includes floor-to-ceiling windows, resident-only pool, gym and yoga terrace and smart home technology.
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Regional Australia out-performed the combined capital cities market, according to CoreLogic's Eliza Owen.

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Regional Queensland market dominates CoreLogic's best of the best report

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Prices are growing strongly in selected markets in different parts of Australia, not that you would know it if you confined your research to reading mainstream media.
And the areas where the growth is the greatest include the fringes of the Melbourne metropolitan area and locations within an hour or so of the capital city.
Last week I wrote: “Right now, many of the best opportunities to buy well for future growth and good rental returns are in regional Australia. While media’s focus remains firmly on the capital cities, the reality is that the strongest price growth in the past year has been recorded in regional centres.
“The best-performing markets this year, based on our analysis of all the research, have been Geelong in Victoria (above), the towns of Cardinia Shire just outside Melbourne, the NSW Central Coast and the Newcastle region.”
One of the key factors here is that the most active buyers, now, are those looking for affordability. So first-home buyers and investors on small budgets have been targeting the outer-ring suburbs of Melbourne and near-city regional centres.
The problem, once again, is that media likes to dumb things down for its readers and listeners, on the basis that we’re all a bit thick and can’t digest sophisticated information (although I suspect it’s the journalists themselves who need to have things dumbed down, because few of them have specialist knowledge of the subject).
So they generalise. And the generalised data tells us Melbourne prices are falling – apparently, because it depends on whose data you believe.
Consider this: in annual terms, CoreLogic records a 4.5 percent decline in Melbourne house prices, but SQM Research essentially says there’s no change and the latest ABS figures report a 2.6 percent rise.
With apartments, CoreLogic reports a slight 0.3 percent rise in Melbourne’s median price, ABS has a 1.4 percent increase and SQM claims a 7 percent rise.
So it’s not a fact to declare that Melbourne prices are falling, given that some research data contradicts the claim. What is true, I think, is that the average rate of growth is much lower than before.
But, and here’s the thing, the growth remains strong in some areas, particularly the outer-ring suburbs being targeted by budget buyers.
The research from various sources shows that first-home buyers, nationally, are more active than at any time in the past eight years. And Melbourne is one of the national leaders for the activity of first-time buyers.
I did some detailed research last week for an interview on ABC radio Melbourne and this confirmed just how prolific the growth is in some of the outer-ring areas.
On the northern fringes of the Melbourne metropolitan area, median prices are up strongly in annual terms in Epping, Lalor, Thomastown, South Morang, Broadmeadows, Jacana and elsewhere – led by Epping (up 22 percent) and Broadmeadows (up 26 percent), according to CoreLogic figures.
It’s notable that most of those suburbs have had further solid growth in the most recent quarter.
Similar trends are evident in the south-west, where Wyndham Vale, Werribee and Hoppers Crossing have all recorded 18-19 percent growth in their median prices in annual terms, including around 3 percent growth in the most recent quarter.
But the really big growth is happening in the regional centres just outside Melbourne. Geelong has been attracting attention as a leader not just in Victoria but nationally. Domain says the median house price for the City of Greater Geelong has grown 12 percent in the past year - but individual suburbs, notably the cheaper ones, have recorded much stronger figures.
North Geelong and Herne Hill are both up 24 percent in annual terms, while Corio and Norlane (which both have median house prices in the mid-$300,000s) have grown 30 percent in 12 months.
Norlane, Corio and North Geelong have each grown at least 7 percent in the most recent quarter for which we have figures.
Geelong is not an isolated example. A little beyond the Melbourne metro area to the south-east, Officer, Pakenham and Warragul have recorded annual rises between 20 and 27 percent. Those three towns, plus nearby Drouin, rose a further 4 percent or so in the most recent quarter.
Other regional areas where prices have been outperforming Melbourne averages include the Surf Coast, Ballarat, Mildura and Warrnambool – and I suspect that most of these markets, as well as Bendigo and Shepparton, are very early in their growth cycles.
The latest Domain data indicates that there are eight regional areas of New South Wales which have recorded annual growth above 10 percent, but I’ll save that discussion until a future column.
Remember this data next time you read in mainstream media that property prices are falling everywhere.
 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Victorian regions where property prices are growing strongly: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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GUEST OBSERVATION
After a full year spent delving into the economic and social challenges facing regional Australia, the Select Committee on Regional Development and Decentralisation this week delivered its report.
It’s a surprising piece of work. Why? Because it avoids the ingrained partisanship that has bedevilled regional policy in Australia.
Put simply, it’s good, rigorous work. It makes recommendations that any smart government, of any political hue, could support.
The report even avoids the landmines surrounding the highly contentious policy of decentralisation – the relocation of city-based public service agencies to the regions. It has sidestepped its most obvious route – a squabble over decentralisation – and instead taken a good, hard look at the big issues confronting regional communities and economies.
Let’s take a moment to recall the politically awkward background to this inquiry. It was launched following Barnaby Joyce’s controversial decision to uproot the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority from Canberra and relocate it to Tamworth, in his own electorate.
A separate Senate committee had already inquired into that decision. Its report (issued a year ago) demonstrated the highly politicised nature of this policy terrain: the majority report, by non-government senators on the committee, firmly rejected the relocation, while the minority report by government senators slammed the entire inquiry as “a political witch-hunt”.
This new inquiry could have traversed the same terrain, with the same outcomes. Certainly, the terms of reference were heavily focused on the issue of decentralisation. But they also invited comment on the overarching wellbeing of regional Australia, and this provided an opportunity the committee members seized.
The committee’s report covers a sweeping range of issues, which is entirely necessary, given the complex interactions between regions and what the committee terms “megatrends” – things like globalisation, population ageing, urbanisation and technological change.
The committee’s recommendations are similarly comprehensive and unapologetically ambitious. The explicit goal is to move beyond the old “roads and rail” approach to regional investment. Instead, it supports strategic (or “catalytic”) investments that build workforce and leadership capacity, cultural capital and infrastructure to support and attract jobs.
The report even elucidates 12 principles of regional development. It’s a sure sign that the committee made a genuine effort to synthesise information from the 196 submissions it received and the more than 100 witnesses at public hearings around the country.
The 13 recommendations are arranged around a central strategy, with six interrelated themes:
<ul>
<li>
building “enabling infrastructure” that supports development
</li>
<li>
identifying regional development priorities through a national process
</li>
<li>
extending the fledgling City Deals program to regional cities
</li>
<li>
giving Regional Development Australia committees more power and resources
</li>
<li>
developing a proper policy for public sector decentralisation
</li>
<li>
strengthening regional universities.
</li>
</ul>
I’ll own up to being very pleased that my own recommendation made it onto the list: that the government prepare a white paper on regional Australia. This would elevate regional policy to the same hallowed arena as foreign, defence and security policy.
All of this would be monitored by a new Joint Standing Committee on Regional Development and Decentralisation, to cement parliamentary oversight of the work program.
And what about shifting all of those public sector jobs out of the capital cities and into the regions? This isn’t a new debate. In fact, decentralisation is a recurring theme in regional development, at both federal and state levels.
The practice of governments luring, or pushing, jobs from the corporate and public sectors into regional Australia stretches back to the 1930s. Since then, governments have periodically promised – and occasionally delivered – highly interventionist policies to move labour and capital from the cities to the country.
This inquiry was charged with examining decentralisation, and its report does exactly that, but in an admirably low-key way. Shedding more light than heat, the report insists that decentralisation should only be pursued where it makes sense – that it “should be part of a broader strategy for regional development”. That simple statement is a marked departure from the previous partisan bickering on this issue.
So where does this report leave us? And, more importantly, what does it do for the nearly 9 million Australians who live in regional and rural areas?
The answer is, the committee has laid out a far-reaching and highly practical work program for regional development. If either side of politics took up its recommendations, regional communities might find themselves in a better position to construct sustainable, enjoyable futures.
In the short term, an election is due in the next 12 months and there’s a good chance this report’s recommendations will be cherry-picked for election policies.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99136/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">But beyond the current electoral cycle, this report gives federal parliamentarians a comprehensive plan for meaningful work over the next decade or more. Here’s hoping they make the most of it.
Amanda Walsh, Associate Director, Government Relations, Australian Catholic University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/report-recommends-big-ideas-for-regional-australia-beyond-decentralisation-99136" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Report recommends big ideas for regional Australia – beyond decentralisation

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Geelong has regularly taken the top spot for Victorian regions with the highest auction clearance rates, according to CoreLogic.
Last week the region had an auction clearance rate of 80 percent amid its 52 auctions.
Now Leopold, Corio, Norlane and Lara have joined the top 30 suburbs where Terry Ryder has predicted house prices will take off this spring.
Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder listed Geelong suburbs Corio, Lara, Leopold and Norlane in his top rising markets in his spring Price Predictor Index.
Ryder recently described Geelong as the superstar of the Victorian property market.
The local paper, the Geelong Advertiser noted expansion of Leopold’s Gateway Plaza shopping centre, including Bunnings, Kmart and Aldi, was a catalyst for interest in the suburb, Allpoints agent Janet McIntosh said.
“People see us as a suburb with lots of extra facilities that’s got the potential to keep growing to become like another Waurn Ponds,” Ms McIntosh said.
New land estate Estuary sold out early this year, increasing demand in the suburb, Ms McIntosh said
“It’s very hard to get any houses under $300,000 now,” she said.
Leopold and Lara’s median house price is $380,000, the report shows.
<img src="/images/2016/10/27/14%20Teesdale%20Court.jpg" alt="">
A three bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-lara-122910142" target="_blank">14 Teesdale Court</a> (above) was recently sold for $380,000.
Ryder sees Geelong as an affordable alternative to Melbourne.
Corio and Norlane, which were in July’s survey, have median prices of $240,000 and $222,000 respectively.
Overall Hotspotting listed eight Geelong suburbs that were rising steadily and another 12 suburbs were sales volumes were steady, outranking any council area in Melbourne.
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Geelong outranks Melbourne in Hotspotting property location list

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Geelong is ranked the number one region with the highest clearance rate, according to CoreLogic’s latest weekend report.
Its auctions result in a clearance rate of 80 percent.
This is followed by Wollongong with a clearance rate of 66 percent.
The region with the lowest clearance rate was the Sunshine Coast with a clearance rate of 41 percent.
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80 percent success in Geelong auctions: CoreLogic

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The regional auctions were at a steady rate last week, according to CoreLogic's latest market report.
Geelong took the top spot with an auction clearance rate of 81 percent, 22 of the 31 auctions were cleared last week. Wollongong takes second place with a 70 percent auction rate while the Sunshine Coast comes behind with 59 percent auction clearance rate.
This is compared to the Gold Coast’s clearance rate of 43 percent where only 37 of the 69 auctions were cleared.
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Geelong takes top spot in regional weekend auctions: CoreLogic

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The housing market between $300,000 and $400,000 in Warrnambool is hot at the moment, according to Herron Todd White.
Herron Todd White's October Month in Review found three bedroom brick veneer houses in North Warnambool built within the last decade as particularly hot, with interest driven by strong rental returns for investors.
"The drivers behind this market are the strong rental returns investors can expect to achieve and the affordability for young families who want something new without the hassle of building," HTW noted.
"Although there is somewhat of a demand for this type of property we have not seen significant increases in value due to the current supply of land within Warrnambool. This statement is true for the entire Warrnambool residential property market which has seen little increase over the past 24 to 36 months.
"Due to the current availability of residential land and demand for newly constructed dwellings, older constructed dwellings appear to be the property type being hit hardest, with a decrease in value and demand for properties built in the 1980s and mid 1990s. This current trend appears to be sustainable for the foreseeable future."
The local unit market, according to HTW, are in good demand at present with two-bedroom units priced between $225,000 and $275,000, and newly constructed three-bedroom units priced between $325,000 and $375,000.
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