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

Joel Robinson

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

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

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

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

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

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

Residential Development

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Quest Apartment Hotels has opened its 10th Brisbane property and second in the suburb of Chermside.
Quest Chermside on Playfield is at 38-40 Playfield Street with 78 serviced apartments 10 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and 15 kilometres from the airport.
It features a mix of studio, one and two -bedroom configurations. The one and two bedrooms apartments have fully-equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. 
This was Quest's third opening in the state this year, taking its total in Queensland to 17, said Quest CEO Zed Sanjana.
“According to Tourism and Events Queensland, international business visitors to the state grew by 11.5% in the year ending June 2015, with total international visitor numbers increasing by almost 8%. Domestic business tourism increased by a significant 28% during the same period.”
Quest Chermside on Playfield was developed by Treelight Development Group. 
Quest has a pipeline of property openings in the next 18 months across Australasia, opening in 13 locations which includes West Perth, Mounts Bay Road, East Perth and Fremantle (WA); Chatswood, St Leonards, Newcastle, Bella Vista and Macquarie Park (NSW); Dandenong Central (VIC); Port Adelaide (SA); and Petone (New Zealand).
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Quest opens tenth Brisbane property - Quest Chermside on Playfield

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A prime 1,180 square metre Burwood development site has sold.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-burwood-501699493" target="_blank">79-81 Liverpool Road</a> site fetched $3.3 million.
The property was sold through CBRE's Nick Tuxworth on behalf of Nelson Meers Hotel Group to a local private developer for a residential development, as shop top housing.
“We are happy with the result after the property initially passed in at auction with three bidders after not reaching the price the vendor wanted,” Tuxworth said.
He said both local and Chinese developers showed interest in the property.
It traded at $630,000 in 1993 and at $1.98 million in 2007.
 
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Nelson Meers sells shop top housing development site in Burwood

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Draft Legislation for the Greater Sydney Commission gives the commission the power to make Local Environmental Plans and District Plans. 
The powers proposed for the Greater Sydney Commission give it a major role in determining Sydney’s future. The Sydney Planning Panels will be determining development applications over $20 million and the Commission will have the authority to make Local Environmental Plans (LEPs). The Draft legislation even precludes the Minister from making LEPs thereby ensuring that the independent commission has significant power.
The ultimate signal of the Greater Sydney Commission’s power will be demonstrated by the quality of the appointments to the commissioner positions. It will be important that the commissioners understand the planning system and that they are able to advocate for sensible growth in appropriate areas in metropolitan Sydney.
The principal objectives of the Commission stress the role of planning, aligning infrastructure with planning and promoting housing supply but do not mention jobs. One of the major priorities of the GSC will be to manage the location of jobs closer to where people live.
One important role that is missing from the proposed legislation is that of co-ordinating government agencies on development application referrals. Currently many development applications in metropolitan Sydney are delayed for many months by referrals to many government agencies. Referrals to roads or rail agencies as well as to water and electricity agencies are slowing the approval process down.
In Queensland a one stop agency, the State Assessment and Referral Authority (SARA), resolves all state government referrals within tight timeframes. NSW must adopt a similar system and the Greater Sydney Commission should lead in driving reform in this area.
The Urban Taskforce is keen to work with the Greater Sydney Commission in its important tasks. While local communities are represented by the six District Commissioners, the involvement of the risk taking development and investment sector does not seem to be part of the structure.
It will be essential for the Greater Sydney Commission to listen to the private sector investors in new property to ensure that they are encouraged to create the new housing and job development Sydney needs as growth continues.
 
Chris Johnson is chief executive officer of property development industry group Urban Taskforce and can be contacted <a href="https://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=97&amp;Itemid=126#.Vdaart55dFI" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Greater Sydney Commission Legislation gives real planning power: Chris Johnson

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A $325 million project comprising a five-star hotel and an apartment tower has received approval from Brisbane City Council.
Christened Mary Lane, the project will be developed by Mary 111 Pty Ltd - associated with local businessman Sam Chong.
Set at 111 Mary Street in Brisbane's CBD, the project has been designed by <a href="https://www.woodsbagot.com" target="_blank">Woods Bagot</a>.
“The combination of a five-star hotel, luxury residences and dining precinct is popular in cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and New York but until now has not been seen in Australia on this scale,” said Ian Pert, development manager of GMP Management.
The approval is for 286 hotel rooms and 167 residences, however, the developer has since lodged an amendment which will retain the current building form but increase the residences to 184. 
Mary Lane will comprise a mix of one-, two- and three- bedroom units as well as some penthouses.
The developer will retain the building’s 400 square metre retail space which will include a café, restaurants and bar.
Construction of the tower is set to begin in early 2016 and an agreement with a international hotel operator is in its final stages.
The residences will be marketed by Colliers International.
Brisbane-based Chong also owns the neighbouring Four Points by Sheraton.
 
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Brisbane council approves $325 million inner city tower and hotel 

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A Gold Coast hinterland acreage residence has been listed for sale with $2.35 million hopes through Ken Jacob at Ray White Tugun.
The <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/720-tomewin-mountain-rd-currumbin-valley/Property-Details-buy-residential-9502232" target="_blank">720 Tomewin Mountain Road</a> property sits on over 4 hectares with views from the Cougalls to the ocean.
The property has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, five car spaces a full-sized tennis court and a self-contained guest quarters.
This property has possibilities as a potential wedding venue, B&amp;B; or as a plant production nursery, which was its original purpose.
Retired engineers Robert Roy and Jean Law have lived there for 30 years. 
The median price for a home in <a href="/news">Currumbin Valley is $805,750</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Gold Coast hinterland acreage hits the market

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Building activity held up solid for the June quarter, with a healthy proportion of residential commencements flowing through to completions.
The latest ABS Building Activity data indicated that housing commencements recorded 53,314 starts, which is down 3.2% on the previous quarter, but climbed to 16.9% over the year to post 211,976 commencements.
Multi-unit residential commencements grew to make up 46.2% of the total starts for the year.
The completions activity also continued to carry through, reaching 48,941 for the quarter, to record an annualised 189,239 homes completed in seasonal terms.
Multi-unit residential completions made up 40.8% of the total homes finished over the year.
“The strong numbers of new homes coming through to completion are going to provide additional homes to improve affordability, which has been needed in regions such as Sydney for some time,” said Property Council of Australia’s executive director residential, Nick Proud.
“Multi-units completions leaving the pipeline over the coming six months will be stronger than they historically have been, which is expected to provide options for those looking to buy and rent.
“The commencements have definitely hit a peak, however the completions should sit at these levels for at least another quarter or two as the pipeline of homes gets built”, Mr Proud said.
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Housing commencements at 211,976: ABS

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Magnolia, an apartment project in Sydney's Lane Cove, is offering luxury abodes with a 2017 completion.
Built by SJD Property at 27-43 Little Street in Lane Cove, the apartments comprising one, two and three-bedrooms, are close to nature reserves, shops and schools.
<a href="https://www.magnolialanecove.com.au/?utm_source=Property+Observer+List&amp;utm_campaign=34db017cdd-14_October_2015&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_a523fbfccb-34db017cdd-245347537" target="_blank">The display suite</a> is at 126 Longueville Road with sales through Ray White Projects.
SJD Property has extensive international property development experience in Asia and Australia, its most recent project Watsons Grove, three five-level buildings at Epping.
Mijollo International is the architecture firm who designed the project, led by Milton Lloyd and Matthew Cumming. 
The apartments have modern interiors, with engineered timber flooring.
There will be a neutral colour palette accented by timber veneers and joinery. 
The exterior architecture combines sandstone, brick and timber.
Penthouse level apartments feature generous living spaces and entertaining decks. 
Contemporary bathrooms include frameless shower screens.
The mostly four-story buildings will sit in gardens developed by Sturt Noble.
The median sale price of units in Lane Cove is $674,000, while the median rent is $510 per week, recent data from <a href="/news">propertyvalue.com.au</a> shows.
Over the last 12 months, 168 apartments were sold in the suburb with an average of 18 days on the market.
 
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Magnolia, Lane Cove's latest residential luxury garden complex

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A family has put up for sale a three-home site in Sydney's Burwood spread over 1,833 square metres with approvals in place for a boutique residential development.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-burwood-501732202" target="_blank">59 Park Road</a> site comprises three detached dwellings with development application approval. 
Zoned R3 Medium Density Residential, the approval allows for a residential complex comprising seven luxury four-bedroom townhouses directly opposite Burwood Park.
Selling agent Stuart Cox of Savills said price expectations are circa $5 million for its November 10 auction.
He expects significant interest from local developers with Sydney’s shortage of housing and rising prices, seeing demand for the inner west dramatically increasing.
Located within Sydney’s Inner West, Burwood is 10 kilometres to the Sydney CBD. 
Burwood Plaza Shopping Centre, Burwood Rail Station, Strathfield Railway Station and the sub-regional Burwood Westfield Shopping Centre are all within a 400 metre radius of the site.
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Family bands together to sell Burwood, Sydney home on large lot

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John 'Strop' Cornell and his model wife, Delvene Delaney, who were Paul Hogan's sidekicks in their comedic heyday, took a fancy to property around Byron Bay.
Now after almost three decade's ownership the couple are selling 41 housing sites at Ewingsdale, with underground electricity, natural creeks and the extensive planting of an additional 10,000 native trees.
Aged 74 he's "clearing the decks for my wife and girls to make everything easier," John Cornell advised recently.  
The land for sale at <a href="https://byronbay.ljhooker.com.au/7ZUF5G/lot-22-currawong-way---figtree-fields-ewingsdale" target="_blank">Fig Tree Fields</a> was bought 25 years ago.
"If you want a large block where wallabies drop by and Mother Nature lives next door, get in quick," he said.
Prices through agent Glen Irwin from LJ Hooker Byron Bay start at $500,000 with 19 sales already.
They also recently sold the best beach-front blocks in Byron Bay to Melbournites, restaurateur Shannon Bennett and bsuiness partner, Adam Garrisson. The lots were bought in the early 1980s for around $325,000 from the then local abattoir. Harvey Norman heir, Glen Norman was the buyer of the house block from his former father-in-law, John Cornell.
The sale by LJ Hooker's Glenn Irwin is short of the Byron Bay record which was set in 2006 at $15.68 million for a house on Wategos Beach.
Delvene Delaney was a Sale of the Century television hostess and appeared with Paul Hogan and the John Cornell-devised character, the dopey Strop  in Channel 9 comedy shows.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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John 'Strop' Cornell sells 19 Fig Tree Fields, Ewingsdale building blocks

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Property developers in areas with strong apartment supply had faced more difficulty in obtaining finance, the ANZ’s head of Australia, Mark Whelan has confirmed.
The lender had dialled down its appetite to ­finance property developers, he told The Australian.
"Six months ago, eight months ago some of the development ­finance deals we were seeing were probably too aggressive for us so we stepped away from it (over) the terms and conditions and pricing.
"Even as I look outside my office in Brisbane, there are a lot of cranes that I can count and they vary from stuff that’s been sold off the plan, pretty much to foreign buyers, to top-end stuff and my experience tells me we need to be judicious.”
His comments come after Stockland chief Mark Steinert noted last week that “a lot of the supply that potentially could cause a problem is not going to be built this cycle because developers won’t get the funding”.
“(It’s) correct," Mark Whelan said.
"I can tell you now when one of the majors stopped doing some lending in the commercial space in NSW recently, some of those deals came back to market — we’d said no to them six months prior,” he said.
There were reports in August that Commonwealth Bank had tightened developer lending standards.
“If you sit down here in the (Melbourne) Docklands … and it gets to eight o’clock at night, there’s not many lights on in some of these apartment buildings so it’s a bit concerning. But we’ve been very cautious with some of those ­commercial developments for a long time.”
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