<p>The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.</p>

<p>Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.</p>

<p>The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.</p>

<p>The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.</p>

<p>Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.</p>

<p>The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.</p>

<p>The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.</p>

<p>Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.</p>

<p>Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.</p>

<p data-end="345" data-start="110">The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.</p>

<p data-end="689" data-start="347">Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.</p>

<p data-end="689" data-start="347">Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.</p>


Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

<p>Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.</p>

<p>The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.</p>

<p>The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.</p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.</p>

<p>The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" /></p>

<p>SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.</p>

<p>“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.</p>

<p>The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.</p>

<p>“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" /></p>

<p>The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.</p>

<p>Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.</p>

<p>The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.</p>

<p>COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" /></p>

<p>“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.</p>

<p>The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.</p>

<p>The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.</p>

<p>Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.</p>

<p><em>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a></em></p>


First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.</p>

<p>The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.</p>

<p>The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" /></p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.</p>

<p>SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”</p>

<p>The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" /></p>

<p>The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.</p>

<p>A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.</p>

<p>Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" /></p>

<p>The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.</p>

<p>Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.</p>

<p>The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.</p>


First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

<p>Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."</p>

<p>Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;</p>


Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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<p data-end="157" data-start="0">The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.</p>

<p data-end="459" data-start="159"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.</p>

<p data-end="459" data-start="159">[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]</p>

<p data-end="651" data-start="461"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.</p>

<p data-end="950" data-start="653">Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.</p>

<p data-end="1081" data-start="952">“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.</p>

<p data-end="1081" data-start="952">[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]</p>

<p data-end="1307" data-start="1083">Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.</p>

<p data-end="1522" data-start="1309">The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.</p>

<p data-end="1522" data-start="1309">[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]</p>

<p data-end="1714" data-start="1524">Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.</p>

<p data-end="1945" data-start="1716">The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.</p>

<p data-end="1945" data-start="1716">[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]</p>

<p data-end="2220" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="1947">More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.</p>
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</section>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]</p>


SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Residential Development

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<p><img src="/images/2016/12/07/CWG-logo-270W-trans.png" alt="" width="437" height="118"></p>
<p>SPONSORED POST </p>
<p>Acclaimed architects SJB has revealed its latest signature design  – Stellar Ryde which is an $80 million development located in the heart of Ryde.</p>
<p>Ninety five luxurious apartments are spread across two towers reaching nine and five storeys high with prices starting from $599,000 for a one bed.</p>
<p>Gabrielle Suhr, associate SJB Architects, comments: “Bright metallic ribbon like balustrades wrap and shimmer around the solid exterior which brings an element of movement to the façade. The contoured and geometric architecture establishes a unique street presence. </p>
<p>“Stellar Ryde’s striking grand forms feature a unique blend of colours, with radiant orange on lower levels ascending to yellow and white as the building meets the sky. Bronze louvres and charcoal renders support the autumn colour palette to unveil a distinctive and smart design.</p>
<p>“The interiors reflect the playfulness of the façade with the majority of the apartments enjoying light spanning the depth of the spaces. Shelving details in bright colours bring a touch of the signature yellow into the apartments, while a colour palette of elegant navy and white joinery options bring a crispness to the interiors that are framed by the bronze coloured window details.”</p>
<p>Stellar Ryde comprises 38 one beds, 53 two beds and four three beds. Nine floor plate options are on offer and 24 apartment types. Landscaped gardens and outdoor living areas will also support Stellar Ryde in addition to 208 square metres of retail space on the ground level. Building A also features a roof top terrace with a BBQ and picnic area for recreational activities. Also, 121 car spaces are included in the project (95 residential, 19 visitors, seven retail).</p>
<p>The spacious apartments boast floor to ceiling windows, open-plan layouts, chic modern kitchens with island benches and glazed splashbacks and splendid views of the district and city skyline from most apartments. </p>
<p>For further information visit <a href="https://www.stellarryde.com.au/" target="_blank">www.stellarryde.com.au</a> or the display suite at 819b Victoria Road, Ryde which is open daily from 11am to 4pm.</p>
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

SJB presents its stunning Stellar Ryde design

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<p><img src="/images/2016/12/07/CWG-logo-270W-trans.png" alt="" width="426" height="115"></p>
<p>SPONSORED POST</p>
<p>Ryde, which is the third-oldest settlement in New South Wales behind Sydney and Parramatta will soon be given a new lease of life with the emergence of Stellar Ryde.</p>
<p>Construction is expected to start early in the new year on Stellar Ryde, which comprises ninety five luxurious apartments across two towers reaching nine and five storeys high.</p>
<p>Jennifer Loh, head – sales and marketing for CWG Development, comments: “Ryde is an area that is steeped in history and is surrounded by great infrastructure with an abundance of entertainment, shopping and recreational facilities for the locals to enjoy. Its tree lined streets merge with traditional family sized homes and new dwellings to suit buyers of all ages and demographics.</p>
<p>“Stellar Ryde will bring a new level of sophistication to this beautiful suburb which is peppered with lifestyle choices. Whether you are seeking to go for a walk, run or swim there is an abundance of options. Ryde’s Aquatic Leisure Centre was home to the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is a favourite venue, enjoyed by the entire community.”</p>
<p>Prices start at $599,000 to $675,000 for one bed (52-59 square metres internal), two beds are priced from $810,000 to $940,000 (75-80 square metres internal) and three beds are priced from $999,000 to $1.16 million (97 square metres internal). All apartments include parking and most enjoy a Northerly aspect. </p>
<p>Stellar Ryde is located within 1.5 kilometres to West Ryde and Meadowbank train stations and several bus stops are located along Victoria Road which connect to the city. Top Ryde City Shopping Centre, Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre, Ryde Park and Meadowbank Memorial Park also easily accessible.</p>
<p>Rhodes is a 3.7 kilometre commute, Eastwood is 4.4 kilometres, Concord Hospital is 4.7 kilometres, Macquarie Park is 5.8 kilometres and the Sydney CBD is 13 kilometres.</p>
<p>There are also several excellent schools in the near vicinity including Ryde Public School, St Charles Catholic Primary School, Northcross Christian School and Gladesville Public School.</p>
<p>For further information visit <a href="https://www.stellarryde.com.au/" target="_blank">www.stellarryde.com.au</a> or the display suite at 819b Victoria Road, Ryde which is open daily from 11am to 4pm.</p>
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Luxurious living comes to Ryde

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<div>The ABS released its Construction Work Done figures for the June quarter, which showed total construction for the quarter rebounding by +1.6% to a seasonally adjusted $49.8 billion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Over the last year total construction remained at historically very high levels at $198 billion, although this is now down from a sky-high annual figure of $211 billion one year ago.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/A1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>As any good politician would, of course, smiling Treasurer Hockey immediately took to Twitter to claim credit for the rebound.</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXXSPCW_nbQ/Vd49Y3e_dTI/AAAAAAAAXz8/ZfZZ5h_X5Ic/s1600/a9.jpg"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXXSPCW_nbQ/Vd49Y3e_dTI/AAAAAAAAXz8/ZfZZ5h_X5Ic/s640/a9.jpg" width="640" height="178"></a></div>
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<div class="separator">
<div>But in fact public infrastructure work has been very weak. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Furthermore, against recent trends the rebound in the June quarter was not driven by residential construction either, rather it was a punchy quarter for engineering (i.e. resources) construction works, with expenditure rebounding by +5.6 per cent to a seasonally adjusted $25.6 billion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/a2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/a2.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>
<div>Despite this positive blip, engineering construction work done was -8.8 per cent lower than a year ago, and will doubtless resume its downward trajectory in due course, as considered in more detail below.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mining rebound in WA</span></strong><br><div> </div>
<div>The driver of the engineering construction rebound was an increase in spend of nearly +$3 billion in Western Australia to $11.3 billion for the second quarter.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/A3.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>
<div>In fact, anyone who was paying very close attention might have anticipated this.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Recall that the so-termed "record trade deficit" in April 2015r actually included an <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/trade-deficitwtf" target="_blank">anomalous spike</a>in Western Australian imports from Korea. As I <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/trade-deficitwtf" target="_blank">noted at the time</a>:</div>
<br><div><span><em>"<span>No further detail is provided by the ABS, but given that there was a kahuna $1.5 billion spike in merchandise imports in Western Australia, and we can assume that this was probably related to a major mining project.</span></em></span></div>
<div><span><em> </em></span></div>
<div><span><em>In all likelihood, one might hazard that this was rail capex for Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill iron ore project (which typically a business would treat as an investment in a fixed asset for the generation of revenue streams, rather than trading expenditure)."</em></span></div>
<br><div>In all probability, therefore, the June quarter rebound was capex driven with a large asset purchase accounting for most of the spike.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Moreover we can expect that the September quarter will see engineering construction work resuming its inevitable decline.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Building by state</span></strong><br><br><div>At the state level, Victoria has been the king of residential building across recent years.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>However New South Wales is now the one state which is benefitting from a material public sector and non-residential building contribution, thereby thrusting total building work done in the Premier State to its highest ever level in the June quarter.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A8.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/27/A8.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>
<span>Indeed, the New South Wales economy in generally is in very fine shape at the present time.</span><br><br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Residential building by state</span></strong><br><br><div>Looking at specifically residential buiding we can see that the +7.4 per cent year-on-year increase has been overwhelmingly a function of "other residential" building - which is to say, the construction of units, townhouses and apartments.</div>
<br><div>As denoted by the green line below, outside Sydney major renovations activity has been very subdued through this cycle.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div>Although new house building has responded to low interest rates almost everywhere to a greater or lesser extent, the trend has been looking increasingly peaky over the past four quarters.</div>
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<div>Victoria continues to lead the way on the house building front, a state which appears to suffer less from greenfield land supply constraints than other states and territories do.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/08/27/A6.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div><span>On the other hand the higher density sector building work continues apace, particularly in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, which is a trend you can see everywhere from West End, South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley and Newstead (Brisbane), to Mascot, Wolli Creek and Zetland (Sydney). </span></div>
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<div>The latest building approvals figures suggest that the cycle for unit and apartment approvals may also be set to peak in due course, thoughthe duration of higher density projects from approval to completion may run to several years.</div>
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<div>Consequently the elevated levels of building activity in this sector may have quite some way to run yet.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The wrap</span></strong><br><br><div>Overal this was a positive result for construction in the June quarter which masks an ongoing decline in resources construction that is locked and loaded for the next few years. </div>
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<br>Residential building remains strong for the time being, but even here Australia can only build new apartment projects for so long.</div>
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<div>Of more significance will be today's capex intentions for the 2015/16 financial year, and specifically whether businesses are becoming more inclined towards investment plans.</div>
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<div>If not, in a nutshell, interest rates will have further to fall.</div>
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<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Construction rebounds...for now: Pete Wargent

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<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">One of the first things Property Bloom looks at when starting our design work on a development project is not the style of dwellings we'll build or what materials we'll use...it's something a lot less glamorous but vitally important.</span></p>
<p>We look at how to maximise the site area. As part of this, the boring old retaining wall comes into play.</p>
<p> When we assess a site we need to consider if the site will need retaining - most do - even the sites will very little fall will need some retaining after the site is cut - so we need to think about where the retaining walls will be built and the costs associated with building them.</p>
<p>In a perfect world, it would be great to build a retaining wall right on the boundary and share the cost with your neighbour (if their site needs retaining too). In new land estates we can easily negotiate this with our neighbours, however we need to consider more than getting the best result for both our clients and their neighbours.</p>
<p>We need to check with our local council to see  if they have specific requirements around  retaining walls. One council we work with insists retaining walls, footings and their associated drainage be located wholly within the subject property boundaries by a whole whopping metre. This can take up valuable space, but at least we know what we have to do. Other council's are not so clear and it's here we like to try and push the boundaries so to speak, to use all space to our advantage.</p>
<p>If a retaining wall is built on a shared boundary, council may request an easement be set up.  This is not such a big deal but something that needs to be considered.  Our  surveyor is our go to guy in these situations.</p>
<p>We look at the style of retaining wall to use. If we are on a strict budget, then we'll go with timber retaining walls. If we are tight on space and want a nicer finish, then we'll use concrete block retaining which can be purchased in different colours and doesn't need as much width as a timber retaining wall.</p>
<p>Of course, if you need to build a high retaining wall, generally over one meter, then it may need to be engineered. This means an engineer needs to design the wall and you'll have to submit the plans as part of your Development Application.</p>
<p>The best time to build a retaining wall is after the site is cut but before the slabs are laid. This gives the contractors the best access and means this work is taken care of early in the build phase.</p>
<p>I recently had a dispute with someone about whose responsibility it was to pay for an upgrade to a  retaining wall. It can be a grey area. In this case, there was an existing, old retaining wall situated wholly inside this person's side boundary.  They had knocked down the original cottage and built a new house and their land levels had changed as a result.  The properties were on a hill. Many years ago, their back yard had been retained and filled so it was level. The house on the lower side had been built to the natural contours of the land and their back yard fell to the rear.</p>
<p>After the people on the high side finished their new house build, the old retaining wall needed upgrading as it was made of stone blocks and their soil filtered through each time it rained, plus the existing wall was not high enough now works had been completed. In addition, there was more retaining required to the entire side boundary due to the change of levels during construction.</p>
<p>The responsibility for the erection of retaining walls rests with the person who <span style="text-decoration: underline;">excavates or fills</span> their land. It is not up to an adjoining landowner to contribute to the costs of a retaining wall, unless the wall is a common wall to support both cut and fill, for the benefit of both properties, on the common boundary.</p>
<p>To me this was cut and dry - their yard had been retained and filled at some stage (before these owners). They argued that the lower property had at one stage been cut (it hadn't but how do you prove this?).  The situation ended in a difference of opinions and a compromise was made by one party. It could have got ugly but at the end of the day, the additional cost was $500 and we put it down to an investment in future neighbour relations and hoped the neighbour appreciated this.</p>
<p>Works on common boundaries can be tricky business and communication is key but at the end of the day, if your development is going to benefit from a particular style or position of a retaining wall, then it may be easier to include it in the costs of the project and move on, after all the time saved on negotiating disputes can be put to better use.</p>
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<p><em>Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.</em></p>
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Pushing the boundaries: Jo Chivers

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<div>The ABS released its Residential Property Price Indexes to June 2015 last week. </div>
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<div>As you can see in the first chart below, over the dozen years since September 2003 on average established capital city houses (+89%) have outperformed attached dwellings (+73%).</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/09/28/RPI1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div class="separator">Since the full ABS indices only track back to Q3 2003, Sydney will naturally appear to be a moderate performer on this index, since the harbour city's preceding boom peaked on this data series almost immediately thereafter in Q4 2003.</div>
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<div class="separator">The strongest performing cities through the mining boom were Darwin - by a huge margin - and Perth. </div>
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<div class="separator">A number of cities in resources regions also performed strongly through the mining construction boom, although that particular dream has turned on a dime into an illiquid nightmare for many owners of property in mining towns.</div>
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<div class="separator"><a href="/images/2015/09/28/RPI2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Houses</span></strong><br><br>Looking in the second chart below at established houses only since Q3 2002, Sydney has been playing some serious catch-up over the past three years.</div>
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<div>Melbourne has also had a solid run, while there have been some steady gains of late for Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.<br><br>The most interesting point of note is how the long run data since 2002 seems to imply a convergence of the results for all eight of the respective capital cities.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/09/28/RPI3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/09/28/RPI3.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Attached dwellings</span></strong><br><br><span>Meanwhile the attached dwellings only index below reveals a similar pattern, although on average it records a slightly less dramatic incline through the present cycle to date, but less impressive growth in a number of cheaper cities where demand for apartment dwelling is less robust.</span><br><br><span>Note that the ABS data for attached dwellings only runs back to Q3 2003 which partly accounts for the lower growth over the full history of the data.</span>
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<div><a href="/images/2015/09/28/Attached%20dwellings.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
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<div>Of course while these figures are useful indicators they are based upon averages and can mask any number of sub-trends.<br><br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Suburbs</span></strong>
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<div>The same holds true for long run analysis of median prices at the suburb level, where miniscule sample sizes can skew results materially.<br><br>There has also been the small matter of a once-in-a-century mining boom combined with a one-off structural shift to lower interest rates to take account of.<br><br>As as a result those "top 100 best performing suburbs" lists almost invariably include a number of remote suburbs that few people have heard of where median house prices are around $150,000.<br><br>Since $150,000 is more or less the cost of building a house today, it follows that the real appreciation in land values has actually been weak, and the strong "growth" results are just as likely to be quirk of sampling.<br><br>The <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/long-run-uk-house-prices" target="_blank">house I grew up in</a> is a great example, having apparently achieved incredible compounding capital "growth" of an amazing 9 per cent per annum for fully 35 years!<br><br>Thing is, you take off the cost of the extension, the replacement of the dodgy carport with a garage, and various upgrades to the interior, and the capital growth in real terms has been zero percent.<br><br>Cheaper properties can sometimes come with other associated problems - such as tenancy or vacancy risk - while any unfortunately substantial repair cost (e.g. for the roof) can wipe away years of returns at a stroke due to the lower base cost of the asset.<br><br>Moreover suburb median prices are by and large a waste of time - the only statistics that really tell you anything worthwhile when it comes to real estate are like-for-like sales. </div>
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<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Long run residential prices: Pete Wargent

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<p>I’m not sure if you are into New Age stuff, but in my experience it works. I’ve read a few books and I think most of us has seen the movie “The Secret” a few years ago which really bought it all into the mainstream.</p>
<p>The Law of Attraction is a belief based on the concept that ‘like attracts like’ and that focussing on positive thoughts you will attract positive outcomes. Negative thoughts will do the same, attract negative outcomes. </p>
<p>Whilst property developing is mostly all about numbers, if you don’t have the right mindset then you may find it hard to succeed. This goes for most things in life really.</p>
<p>I’ll tell you a little story. It’s been about 15 years since I started my business. Looking back, it was pretty crazy times. Not only did I transition from a career in marketing cosmetics to developing property, I also educated myself financially and bought a hand full of investment properties and had my first son all in the space of about a year.</p>
<p>I’ll always remember when I started Property Bloom as it was the year I also started a family. After discovering I was pregnant, I suddenly decided that we (my then husband and I) needed to build up our wealth in preparation for our retirements, still a way away but this must have been how my “nesting instinct” played out. When you are pregnant the increase in adrenaline in your system, alongside hormones and emotions makes mother’s-to-be very productive.</p>
<p>Rather than buying baby things, I started buying properties. Instead of cleaning out the cupboards, I sat in lecture theatres being inspired by all the strategies you can use to build wealth through property.</p>
<p>In the process of setting up our portfolio of investment properties, I realised just how much I loved property. I wanted to create a business where I could still do what I loved and have the flexibility to look after my little baby. After developing property for myself, a couple of friends asked me to project manager theirs and so that’s how Property Bloom came about. My little baby is turning 15 soon and so much has happened in this time.</p>
<p>The biggest, most challenging change for me came just two years ago when I became a single mum. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for my marriage and after 19 years it was the biggest decision of my life to leave it. I had to weigh up many things and the most important being the kids. I have two beautiful sons and they are my priority. With the help of some good counselling and support of my awesome girlfriends, I made it through. The scariest thing was not fully knowing how I would manage financially.</p>
<p>But I needn’t have worried as during the last few years, I worked out how we can create and attract what we want. It’s all about having the right energy or mindset.</p>
<p>I was so unhappy I didn’t realise how much this sadness impacted on my daily life. I used exercise and keeping busy to cope but at the end of the day, I was finding it hard to keep a positive mindset. Then two massive life changing things happened. My elderly father died and then suddenly my younger mother-in-law died in the space of just a few months. These were the first deaths in my family and the harsh perspective they gave me was so powerful it literally kicked me into action.  Life was too short and I knew I had to make a massive change.</p>
<p>When I became happy after making that enormous and very tough decision, it was like the entire universe was on my side. My business was already doing well, possibly as I used it to focus on to get me through the tough times. But as a feeling of peace flowed through me, everything became brighter and it was easy to be positive.</p>
<p>I cherished the time I had with my boys and also the newly found time I had to myself when they were with their father. I’d never had much time to myself. Building a business and raising a family is time consuming and hard work. I used this precious time to recharge my energy levels, rebuild my self-esteem and focus on what I wanted.</p>
<p>In the meantime, my property development project management business that I love so much, was gaining momentum. Lots of clients were coming back to do a second and third project with us and new clients were attracted to the high level of service our boutique business offers. This meant I had no reason to feel financially worried despite taking out a massive mortgage on the family home so the kids and I could still stay there. Thank goodness for low interest rates!</p>
<p>After a while, I started thinking that the only thing missing was a partner to share my happy life with.</p>
<p>This is the fun bit. One New Year’s Eve, over a few glasses of champagne with my girlfriends, I wrote out a list of things I wanted in a new partner. This is much like writing out a list of goals. When you write them down, they become real and the more you go back and review them, the more energy and focus you are putting on them.</p>
<p>Almost a year to the day of writing that list, I met an amazing man. As we got to know each other, I was blown away that he was literally everything on my list, and more – no mean feat considering it was two pages long!</p>
<p>I’m ecstatically happy and very grateful, its amazing how awesome life is.</p>
<p>So how is your mindset right now? Make it positive and not negative, as remember like attracts like. Are there any changes (hopefully not as dramatic as mine) that you can make that will help you achieve your goals and have you written them down yet?  If something cannot be changed, you can still change your attitude about it. Get started on attracting what you want, perhaps it’s to get started on that development project you’ve always wanted to do.</p>
<p>Your mind is the most powerful tool you’ll ever need on a development site. </p>
<p><em>Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.</em></p>
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What’s the most important tool needed to develop property? Jo Chivers 

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<p>There are many benefits developing property will bring, but what should you focus on when assessing a development opportunity?</p>
<p>I get lots of calls and love speaking to people about property development. It’s interesting to see what kind of questions are raised. There is one question that is asked often and that is; “what kind of Return on Investment (ROI) do we get from our development projects?”</p>
<p>Even though our ROI is pretty good, it varies from project to project - this can be a dangerous way to assess the success or otherwise of a property development.</p>
<p>“ROI is usually expressed as a percentage and is typically used for personal financial decisions, to compare a company's profitability or to compare the efficiency of different investments. The return on investment formula is: ROI = (Net Profit / Cost of Investment) x 100.” Source: investinganswers.com</p>
<p>It can be a bit misleading to compare ROI on different opportunities as you need to be sure that you are comparing apples with apples. In Property Bloom cost calculations, we include every single cost, fee and charge, including our project management fee. But there is one thing that is hard to put a cost on.  Time.</p>
<p>Having a development professionally managed saves our clients valuable time.  If you didn’t use a project manager and made a higher ROI but your development took you twice as long to complete, then you need to consider the ROI over say two years instead of one. </p>
<p>But focussing on ROI can also mean that you are missing the other valuable advantages that property development can bring. These include:</p>
<p>-       Yield – higher yield is created through adding value, this leads to passive income</p>
<p>-       Strategy Flexibility – hold them, sell them, hold a few or sell a few</p>
<p>-       Equity creation – whilst waiting for capital growth, access the equity that has been created through the development process by refinancing/selling</p>
<p>-       Depreciation – create tax credits</p>
<p>-       Fast growth of portfolio – increase your collection of properties quickly</p>
<p>-       Experience – with each development, your experience widens</p>
<p>-       Fun &amp; exciting – beats watching TV</p>
<p>So, there are many other ways apart from the ROI, to assess what you’ll get out of a development project and it’s worth considering the bigger picture.</p>
<p><em><em>Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a><a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/">.</a></em></em></p>
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Is ROI the best way to assess a development project?

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<p>I was lucky to recently spend an amazing weekend riding horses in the NSW Snowy Mountains National Park.</p>
<p>It was one of those bucket list trips and I went with an old school friend. We'd gone to pony club together and grown up as horse crazy girls. We'd spend most of our teenage years riding and looking after our horses (which kept us out of trouble!).</p>
<p>Whilst sitting around the camp fire at night with a group of other women and staff we'd just met, I was discussing property investing with one of the ladies – can't help myself!</p>
<p>She was a pretty amazing single lady with her sights set on the future. She'd been clever enough to buy a few investment properties in-between serving our country in the army.  We were discussing her recent purchase of an off the plan apartment.</p>
<p>She shared with me the numbers on her deal and I was a bit surprised. I have good experience with buying off the plan but it was over ten years ago now that I used this strategy. Back then, the property developer offered a good discount to purchasers and this helped create some equity. If the market was also moving upwards, then a nice chunk of money could be made by settlement time. I would settle an apartment then draw out the equity to use as a deposit to settle the next one.</p>
<p>But things have changed. There seems to be more risk as there isn't the same discounts being applied. So you buy in at today's market price. If, of course, it's a hot market, as Sydney is at the moment, that price could end up more than what the apartment may be worth in a year or two once completed.</p>
<p>I explained what I did to the lady. Property Bloom manages small developments for our clients. A dual occupancy development can create a big chunk of money within twelve months and you end up with two properties.  I explained that the big difference between buying off the plan and developing yourself, is that you are creating the equity through the development process, not hoping for capital growth whilst your apartment is being constructed.</p>
<p>Would you rather control of the equity creation by cutting some keen deals on the land and construction or rely on a stranger to build your investment and hope for the market to rise?</p>
<p>I did the latter six times and was lucky four out of the six times. The other two deals were borderline. If I had my time again, I would not have completed on the two ordinary investments.  But as they say, time heals all wounds and because I held onto these investments (in lieu of selling at a loss) they've turned out well.</p>
<p>My big lesson from buying off the plan?  It is far more lucrative to be the developer than the investor.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au">www.propertybloom.com.au</a></p>
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Chewing the fat on off the plan investments

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<p>Whilst there has been so much commentary this week on the Federal Budget, I thought we could talk about a different type of Budget - one that’s just as important to property developers as the Budget is to the politicians.</p>
<p>Budgeting well for your building or construction works is crucial to the success (or not) of your development. </p>
<p>Property developing can throw many different challenges at you but one thing I have learnt in this industry is there is always a solution to a problem. The trick is to understand what possible problems may arise and preparing yourself for them. This comes with experience but sometimes things don’t always go to plan and as a project manager it’s our responsibility to make sure a development is completed as efficiently as possible.</p>
<p>When pricing a development and running feasibilities, it is important to understand that your building estimate is an organic creature. By this I mean the building estimate you start with will nearly always be different to the one you end with.  It will evolve throughout the process as you obtain more and more details.  Once you have all the fine details, the building estimate can be finalised and a fixed price builder’s contract issued. </p>
<p>When architecturally designing our villas, we follow this process:</p>
<ol>
<li>Once the site has been secured, a Concept and Yield Plan is designed – this shows the number of units we can get onto a site and the size of each, but not much more detail.</li>
<li>After we are happy with the Concept Plan and we’ve received a Detailed Contour Survey and Geotech Report, then we progress to the more detailed Development Application (DA) plans. These include enough information to satisfy council requirements.</li>
<li>When the DA Consent is received, we finalise Construction Certificate (CC) plans – these include more detail, including engineering detail for the stormwater drainage and slab design.</li>
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<p>Before a Concept Plan is available, the starting point in assessing the development potential is our construction estimate.  This is based on similar projects that we have recently completed and includes any allowances for differences in the sites.</p>
<p>The builder is asked to run their first quote based on the Concept Plan.  This is still a ‘loose’ estimate as there is not enough detail on the Concept Plan for the builder to give a finite cost.  The build estimate we have at this stage will tell us whether we are tracking within budget.  If not, we can make the necessary changes required, perhaps reducing the size of the units working with both our builder and architect to design the right dwellings for our project to be successful.</p>
<p>Once the Concept Plan is approved, the architect will proceed to full DA plans.  Using the information received on the Contour Survey and soil test results, there is much more detail added to the plans.  Our builder will then price the DA plans and we will review the costs against our initial estimates and make sure they are within our range for the project to be successful. At this stage we still do not have the final build cost but we will be getting closer to the expected outcome.  Once approved by our client, the DA plans are finalised and the DA is lodged with council.</p>
<p>During the DA process, council may request some changes to the plans, so it is important to understand we are still ‘evolving’ at this stage. Then once approved, we need to review the Conditions of the DA Consent before we have more detail to finalise the build costs.</p>
<p>Next we move to preparation of the CC plans.  Engineers will be briefed and a stormwater drainage and engineered slab design or footings for the foundations will be produced. More detail is added to the CC plans, finalising levels and double checking schedules. </p>
<p>Before we lodge the CC plans with our private certifier we will have our builder issue a third costing. It is this costing that will give us the final build costs...well almost.  We still need to have the CC approved and ensure there are no further revisions to the plans required.  </p>
<p>After we have the CC stamped plans, our builder will issue their final tender and the building contract. This will be a fixed price contract; however, there may still be a few items that will be ‘provisional’. They are usually some site works, removal of fill and retaining walls.  The builder may mark these items as provisional as they won’t know until works proceed exactly what the cost is. For instance, if rock is hit during the site cut, this will increase the site costs. If the site cut differs slightly to the plans, this may impact on the height of retaining walls.  So these ‘provisional’ items will be charged at actual cost whether it is lower or higher.</p>
<p>So you can see how the build budget must evolve through the development process and until your development is completed, you really won’t know the exact cost.  It’s important you allow a contingency amount for any variations that may arise along the way. </p>
<p>As a developer, you will embark on a challenging journey from start to finish and the development budget is a very important part of your work. If you don’t have experience, then consider using the help of an experienced project manager to guide you along the way.</p>
<p>And always take the time to have builder’s estimates updated at each stage of your development planning process to avoid any nasty surprises. </p>
<p><em>Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.</em></p>
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Building a better Budget: Jo Chivers

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<p style="text-align: left;" align="center">SPONSORED POST</p>
<p style="text-align: left;" align="center">Esplanade is first-ever completely integrated ‘vertical village’ at Norwest that offers unrivalled amenities and a relaxed lifestyle.</p>
<p>The project is geared for convenience and enjoyment, with residents to get exclusive access to features including landscaped lawns and gardens, a rooftop cinema, spectacular transparent-sided pool, outdoor gym, cabanas and barbecue areas for relaxation and social activities.</p>
<p>These are the services and amenities you’d come to expect from a luxury hotel but Esplanade is a place to call home that makes daily life more enjoyable and convenient.</p>
<p>The diverse mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as premium three and four bedroom Sky Residences, are complemented by three levels of boutique workspaces, waterfront dining and retail areas as well as a significantly upgraded public boardwalk on Norwest Lake.</p>
<p>The convenience of the all-in-one nature of Esplanade is enhanced by its proximity to the Sydney Metro Norwest station under construction, making the project an attractive option for both investors and owner-occupiers, particularly local people looking to downsize from larger homes.</p>
<p>And it’s not just the local residents re-sizing from house and land that the project speaks to.</p>
<p>“There are some 20,000 people working in Norwest right now with projections that could grow to 35,000. More than 400 companies – some among the largest in the country – base themselves here and investors will see the obvious opportunity in locating attainable urban-style living within such a successful employment centre,” says Steve Grant, Managing Director of Capital Corporation which has been tasked with bringing Esplanade to life.</p>
<p>“It could just become the easiest commute in Sydney,” he says. </p>
<p>To see for yourself the lifestyle on offer at Esplanade, visit our unique display suite featuring a full-sized two-bedroom apartment. The display suite is located at 11 Solent Circuit, Baulkham Hills and is open daily from 11am to 2.30pm or by private appointment.</p>
<p>Details: Visit <a href="https://esplanadenorwest.com.au" target="_blank">esplanadenorwest.com.au</a> or call 1800 088 800.</p>
<p> </p>
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