Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

What does it really mean for a building to be 'green'?

Retail Development

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Property developer Greenland Australia, Lachlan’s Square Village has now officially welcomed six new stores to the 5,000 sqm retail precinct, joining anchor supermarket tenant Coles, and its accompanying Liquorland outlet, which opened in September this year.

The new specialty tenants that will service the Macquarie Park and North Ryde communities include lifestyle and grooming outlets, Ocean Nails &amp; Beauty and Totally Male Barbershop, as well as a selection of food and beverage operators – Saigon Summer (Vietnamese street food), Shoga Japanese (modern sushi bar), Chicken V (Korean fried chicken and tap beer) and Hey Juice (fresh juices, milk tea and snacks).

Further specialty tenants are scheduled to commence trading in the precinct in early 2021, with a medical centre, pharmacy, and a gym also planned. To celebrate, Lachlan’s Square Village hosted a range of COVID-safe activations across the precinct on the opening weekend, including a Santa’s Breakfast, which saw over 200 children and adults enjoy breakfast with their families including a festive Christmas show, followed by a Santa Meet and Greet in the brand-new City of Ryde Community Centre located on-site. 

According to Greenland Australia’s Director of Asset Management, the growth of <a href="https://www.greenlandaustralia.com.au/en/new-retail-stores-open-at-lachlans-square-village-in-time-for-christmas/">Lachlan’s Square Village</a> is further proof of his company’s commitment to the area. “We love north-west Sydney, and we are thrilled to be offering even more retail variety to the people of Macquarie Park and North Ryde,” said Mr Fidler.

 
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Six specialty stores have joined Coles and Liquorland at their new retail precinct Lachlan's Square Village in Sydney.

urban.com.au

Greenland Australia's Lachlan Square Village launches new retail stores

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SPONSORED POST
Retail centres form the backbone of many communities. More than simply places to shop, they can enrich the communities they serve as destinations for socialising, culture and education.
There’s a growing focus in retail design on “lifestyle shopping centres”, says Frasers Property Australia general manager of sustainability Paolo Bevilacqua. 
“Sustainability was about the environmental aspects. Now there’s a shift back to the people,” he says. 
“Buildings are for people so the impact of health-related initiatives such as improving air quality and access to day light, are being considered much more closely.”
Gardens and “green walls”– with vertical plantings – are increasingly being integrated into shopping centres’ designs. Facilities that encourage people to commute by bicycle, public transport and on foot are also gaining popularity.
“Now we’re starting to see urban agriculture within shopping centres as a way to connect people to nature,” Bevilacqua says. “These types of features have been shown to make people feel better in a space and stay there longer.”
The World Green Building Council found in its Health, Wellbeing &amp; Productivity in Retail report, released in February, that beyond improving customers’ experiences, retailers can boost profits by providing greener, healthier stores.
The concept of sustainable development is not new but Stephen Choi, Vice-Chair of the Board for the Living Future Institute of Australia, says there’s still room for improvement. 
“We have to do better than just continuing with more of the same; we have to try to create a built environment where every single act of design and construction made the world a better place,” Choi says.
In line with this aim, the International Living Future InstituteTM coordinates the Living Building Challenge, a design standard for sustainable buildings.
The LBC inspires the creation of buildings that have a positive impact on their environments and communities. Choi says unlike other standards, it uses nature as a benchmark rather than a bare minimum construction code. It is a philosophy and advocacy tool as well as a certification system.
It asks us to imagine a building designed and constructed to function as elegantly and efficiently as a flower: a building informed by its bioregion’s characteristics, that generates all of its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats all of its water, is toxic free and beautiful.
To become a Living Building®, a new project must meet a stringent set of requirements, not only to be water and energy positive efficient and use sustainable materials, but also to promote health, happiness and equity, and to be beautiful places.
For more information, download our eBook <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/tools/ebooks-and-webinars/52152-australia-aspires-to-global-green-leadership-the-living-building-challenge" target="_blank">here</a>.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

What are the future trends in sustainable design for retail centres?

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SPONSORED POST
Sustainable retail development doesn’t end when the buildings have been completed. A retail centre’s ongoing operations have as much of an effect on its sustainability as its design and construction.
Buildings account for over 40 percent of the world’s energy usage, according to the United Nations Environment Program Sustainable Buildings and Construction Initiative. Additionally, the built environment consumes about a third of our water, generates 40 percent of our waste, and is the world’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Green Building Council of Australia.
Vice-Chair of the Board for the Living Future Institute of Australia Stephen Choi says owners and operators of Australian commercial buildings, including retail centres, have been active in reducing their energy and water consumption as it makes business sense to do so. Forward-thinking centre operators are now looking to contribute more to their communities over the long term.
For example, Central Park in Sydney, which includes retail and residential buildings, has an on-site thermal tri-generation plant and an on-site water recycling plant. These reduce carbon emissions, minimise mains water demand and may allow excess water and electricity to be exported to nearby neighbourhoods.
One of the criteria in the Living Building Challenge performance standard is that a project must supply 105 percent of its energy needs by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis. Projects must also provide on-site energy storage, which advances in battery technology are helping to make possible.
Frasers Property Australia’s general manager of sustainability Paolo Bevilacqua predicts battery storage will be common in commercial buildings in five years.
“The technology has developed rapidly and feasible to use it on a commercial scale,” he says.
Other ways retail centres are becoming more sustainable concentrate on their interactions with the community and inspiring consumers to act more sustainably.
“Retailers are offering visual examples to the consumer to demonstrate the fact that the energy they use is renewable, that they grow food on site, and sharing that knowledge and data to have a role beyond the centre itself,” Bevilacqua says.
Some retailers are promoting that they use local produce, including food grown on site. Frasers Property has investigated growing mushrooms in retail centre basements, for instance.
Bevilacqua expects to see urban agriculture expand from small scale gardens to commercially operated urban farms over time. There are examples of this in the US and UK, although in Australia urban farming is in its infancy.
In future, shopping centres may run workshops on how to grow food, expanding their role from being places to shop to centres for learning, Bevilacqua says.
Existing examples of retail centres operating this way include Jamie’s Ministry of Food, which runs workshops on healthy cooking in UK shopping malls, (<a href="https://www.jamieoliver.com/jamies-ministry-of-food/" target="_blank">https://www.jamieoliver.com/jamies-ministry-of-food/</a>) and demonstrations held at Westfield Stratford in the UK of Pavegen, a technology that generates energy as people walk over it (<a href="https://pavegen.com/home" target="_blank">https://pavegen.com/brands/generation-green-westfield</a><a href="https://pavegen.com/home" target="_blank">stratford</a>).
For more information, download our eBook <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/tools/ebooks-and-webinars/52152-australia-aspires-to-global-green-leadership-the-living-building-challenge" target="_blank">here</a>.
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What are the future trends for operating sustainable retail centres?

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Although not abundantly obvious at first thought, there has been a massive amount of investment in retail development and refurbishment across the Gold Coast over the past few years, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White (HTW).
The financial valuation firm noted that there has been development activity across all sectors of the retail market.
Pacific Fair and Robina Town Centre are the two largest shopping centres on the Gold Coast and have collectively spent almost $800 million dollars in refurbishment works over the past five years.
The report suggested that "class leading design and unparalleled tenancy mixes will cement these centres as the Gold Coast’s premier shopping destinations for years to come, with their biggest competition or threat realistically being each other (and online shopping of course)".
In response to these redevelopments, other major centres such as The Strand and Tweed City on the southern Gold Coast and Tweed Coast, together with Oasis and Australia Fair in the central Gold Coast have undertaken major extension or renovation works in an attempt to maintain local patronage.
In order to achieve this, according to the report owners have been forced to undertake full scale renovations to totally change the face of these centres rather than just adding a lick of paint and re-tiling the common areas as was the case in the preceding fifteen year period.
The real growth however has been in the neighbourhood centre category, in particular within the growth corridor north of Helensvale and south of Beenleigh, this report suggests.
The valuers stated, "in a classic case of chicken before the egg, Coles and Woolworths have been aggressively securing sites within the region to ensure they can capture a piece of the market share over the coming decades as population growth booms in the region".
Of particular mention is made of Coles Pacific Pines which was developed as a standalone supermarket (no speciality stores) and was presented to the market for sale with a brand new 15 year triple net lease in place.
The property achieved one of the lowest initial yields seen on the Gold Coast for an asset of this size at 4.63%.
A mention must also go out to Westfield, who after decades of planning hurdles have finally commenced work on their highly anticipated Coomera Town Centre.
The $470 million centre is slated to open late 2018 with 140 new stores, including Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Target and Event Cinemas. 
The report notes there is still a large sector of the market that will avoid major shopping centres, particularly when it comes to food and dining options and many investors who own standalone retail buildings have been capitalising on this in recent years.
"Of particular note is Palm Beach which has witnessed a massive boom in the number of restaurants, cafes and bars over the past few years - in 2018 alone, there have been 12 new town planning applications for cafes within the suburb," said the valuers.
Numerous venues in Burleigh Heads (Justin Lane), Nobby’s Beach (Hellenika), Broadbeach (The Oasis), Surfers Paradise (The Island) and Southport (Mr P.P.’s Deli) have been "re-inventing" themselves, extending floor areas and adding value to their respective properties in response to growth in the retail sector.
From a valuation perspective the biggest risk HTW can foresee moving forward is rent sustainability.
With such an influx of retail accommodation across the Gold Coast and only so many consumer dollars on offer, there will unfortunately be some retailers that will not see it through.
The HTW valuers forecast that the supply and demand metric at any given time will ultimately dictate the strength or otherwise of the retail leasing market, however their projection is that rental growth in most areas will be stagnant at best.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Billions of dollars in retail development on the Gold Coast: HTW Retail

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The first half of 2018 has seen a major shift in Adelaide's retail environment, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White (HTW).
The financial valuers stated that for the first time in 16 years South Australia has a Liberal Government, who have long advocated for extended trading hours.
Currently, shops in the Adelaide CBD or tourist precinct are allowed to trade during public holidays and these factors among others may assist brick and mortar retail to compete with the online space.
Infrastructure spending has also continued in South Australia following the change of Government, noted the report.
The Torrens to Torrens, Darlington Upgrade and Northern Connector, which all form part of the government’s North South Corridor are still undergoing construction and are a combined expenditure of $2.3 billion.
There has also been the approval of the current construction of a new Bunnings Warehouse on South Road in Edwardstown, creating a 17,008 square metre super store.
The $45 million Bunnings outlet will be completed early next year.
The report notes that "a part of the infrastructure spending taking place is a planned $174 million upgrade of the Oaklands Crossing (rail/road grade separation), which surrounds the Westfield Marion Shopping Centre".
"True to form, the bulk of the retail development is occurring in the Adelaide CBD, which has seen a sharp increase in the amount of residential accommodation under construction."
In January, it was announced that the $40 million redevelopment of Rundle Mall Plaza will house the new tenant, H&amp;M, across four storeys, Rundle Plaza was constructed in the 1960’s for David Jones. 
"In respect to Retail growth, the story over the last few years has been heavily weighted toward supermarkets such as Aldi who have opened 23 stores since entering the market in 2015," stated the valuers.
The 23rd was a centre at 209 Port Road, Aldinga, anchored by Aldi which was completed in January 2018.
There are more on the way with Aldi recently securing another site in Adelaide’s South East suburb of Blackwood, with the purchase of the Blackwood Village Shopping Centre for $5.5 million.
The Westfield Tea Tree Plaza Shopping Centre is also being extended and there are upgrades planned for Westfield Marion, which will take place in 2019.
Despite this, research undertaken by numerous outlets is positive and the retail trading environment seems to be improving in South Australia with retail spending being the second highest in the country in February 2018, reaching 3.7% compared to the national average of 2.7%, the report concluded.
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Adelaide's new north-south corridor constructions worth $2.3 billion dollars: HTW 

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Yarra Council has approved Salta Properties plans for its $390 million plus mixed use project. 
Salta Properties plans to explore a build-to-rent model at the project, which comprises of 426 dwellings with a mix of one, two and three bedrooms over the five separate apartment buildings.
They were one of first Australian developers to announce a build-to-rent model with 16 floors of residential stock at 699 La Trobe Street in Docklands in early 2017.
Salta Properties welcomed the City of Yarra’s unanimous decision approving its development plans for a more than $390 million mixed-use project across a 14,766 sqm site adjacent to Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre in the heart of Richmond.
Designed by the architects at Rothelowman and located on the south-west corner of Victoria Street and River Boulevard, the prime location led Salta to design a project comprising residential, commercial office and retail spaces across five buildings ranging from seven to 13 storeys.
The stand-out development boasts a unique 3,000 square meter linear park designed by landscape architects, ASPECT Studios to provide a pathway between buildings.
Salta seeks to bring the entry of the existing Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre to the River Boulevard, as well as providing an additional 775 carparks across four basement levels, a medical centre, childcare facility and restaurant precinct.
“In close to proximity to Melbourne’s CBD and the tranquil Yarra River, this development sits in the heart of Richmond, making it an unrivalled site for Salta Properties to offer a design solution that will become the very best place to live, work and shop,” said Sam Tarascio, Managing Director at Salta Properties.
Since the precinct has a strong commercial leasing environment and low vacancy rate, Salta Properties says it will seek to immediately offer the three level 3,500 sqm office and 5,500 sqm restricted retail to the market.
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Build-to-rent plans as Salta Properties secures approvals at Victoria Gardens, Richmond

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GUEST OBSERVER
One of the most significant and far-reaching retail legislative changes will quietly come into effect in New South Wales on 1 July 2017.
The amendments to the Retail Leases Act of NSW are numerous and in essence, will change the dynamics of retail leasing as we know it.
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Of the many changes being made, the change I believe that will have the biggest impact on the sector is the requirement for all leases under the Act, over three years in length, to be registered within three months from leases being signed. This will increase transparency in the sector and help to continue levelling the playing field between tenants and landlords. 
Even more transparency will result with the change that requires Landlords to accurately disclose and estimate outgoings in a Disclosure Statement, failing which, that outgoings will not be recoverable. 
The removal of the requirement for a minimum five-year lease term in the new Act will likely result in both longer and shorter-term leases. This is a positive for the market as it will allow greater flexibility in this volatile and ever-changing market. 
Also included in the Act is a change to how bank guarantees need to be handled. Once the Act is in place, Landlords will be required to return bank guarantees to the tenant within two months after the tenant completes performance. 
Another change for landlords means they will no longer be able to request online sales revenue information from tenants, except for goods delivered from the premises or where the centre or the transaction takes place while the customer is in the premises. 
Redundant manual processing of rental bonds will be replaced with a change to the Act that will see the rental bond scheme move to an online platform cutting out the need for physical documents to be lodged. 
Another change includes increasing the penalty notices for offences. These include the right to compensation if a landlord fails to provide a disclosure statement within seven days before the lease is entered into or if it is misleading or incomplete. 
The amendments to the Act will create a more transparent and balanced retail leasing market, enabling greater flexibility and operational efficiency for both tenants and landlords, in a sector that is undergoing significant cyclical and structural change. 
Simon Fonteyn is Managing Director, Leasing Information Systems and can be <a href="https://www.leaseinfo.com.au" target="_blank">contacted here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Amendments to the Retail Leases Act of NSW looming

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Developer Stockland will soon start work on the expansion and upgrade of the Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre in Victoria’s Ballarat. 
The project is expected to cost $37 million, Stockland said in a media release.
The redevelopment work, which starts on July 6, will see the addition of 6,700 sqm of retail floor space, with a focus on fashion, casual dining and everyday convenience. Upon completion, the centre will feature more than 100 retailers, reaffirming its position as the largest enclosed shopping destination in the area. 
Stockland Group CEO of Commercial Property, John Schroder, said the company was responding to customer feedback in undertaking the upgrade.
“Our vision is to create the best retail shopping destination in Victoria’s central west. We’re responding to our customers’ feedback to ensure Stockland Wendouree remains the retail destination of choice with a greater range of specialty fashion, retail services and a vibrant and inviting casual dining experience for our customers to enjoy,” he said.
There will be a new full-line 3,800 square metre Woolworths and an adjoining BWS liquor store. 
There will also be a laneway dining precinct to be added as part of the redevelopment. The new foodie hub will offer indoor and outdoor seating and a variety of casual dining choices including cafes and restaurants. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/23/Stockland2.jpg" alt="">
Ballarat has been identified as one of the largest and fastest growing regional cities in Victoria with its population expected to reach 139,650 by 2031.
“Ballarat is a fantastic city steeped in history, with a strong and diversified economy,” said Schroder.
Sustainability at Stockland Wendouree will also be part of its design with plans for a rooftop solar installation to reduce carbon emissions. 
The development at Stockland Wendouree will take approximately 12 months to complete. Stockland expects the project to generate approximately 500 jobs during construction and 250 local retail jobs in perpetuity.
The centre will remain operational during the redevelopment period with most retailers trading as normal. 
Woolworths will temporarily cease trading at the centre from 4 June 2017 to make way for the construction of a new revitalised Woolworths supermarket. 
 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Stockland to start $37 million upgrade of Ballarat shopping centre

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Family owned property firm GLG has submitted plans for its $35 million Mount Gambier retail precinct to the South Australian government department for approval.
The 58-72 Commercial Street East site spans an area of 24,400 sqm. 
The retail precinct will come up at the Target site (acquired by GLG in 1980) and the adjoining Fidler and Webb site (acquired by GLG in 2013). 
The office of the State Coordinator-General of the Government of South Australia for the Development Assessment Commission (DAC) will determine GLG’s development application.
Supermarket chain ALDI and Target have already committed themselves for the new complex. ALDI will occupy a 1,740 sqm space and Target will occupy a new 5,710 sqm tenancy, supported by a new light-filled mall, 31 specialty retail tenancies and circa 300 on-site car parks.
“We’re really excited to announce our development plans for what will be named the ‘Fidler &amp; Webb’ retail centre in recognition of the site’s rich history and relevance to Mount Gambier,” said Campbell Blennerhassett, director of GLG.
The firm’s proposed plan occupies the entire city block barring the plot of land where the South Australian Hotel stands. 
"Together with our consultants, we believe the project will create a key shopping destination for the limestone coast region, while providing employment and economic benefits significant to Mount Gambier, regional South Australia and the state as a whole.”
The proposal comprises a single storey, connected development with more traditional tenancies presenting to Commercial Street East that also draw references from the original Victorian Fidler &amp; Webb Ltd façade, said Tim Hargreaves, senior project leader of ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects.
“A number of shops will also present to Ferrers Street with a central atrium and market square encouraging strong pedestrian links through the site. The interior will be light filled, high ceiling spaces with integrated landscaping and features encouraging people to enjoy what will essentially function as public space.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/09/Fidler2.jpg" alt="">
Other key features of the proposed Fidler &amp; Webb plan include: 
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<li>outdoor dining adjoining tenancies suitable for use by cafes/restaurants, with indented shop </li>
<li>fronts and wider pedestrian paths; </li>
<li>internal and external landscaping including a variety of native and deciduous trees and large shrubs around the perimeter of the car park;</li>
<li>with integrated climbing plants to grow over the façade and columns. </li>
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Construction of the Fidler &amp; Webb retail precinct is expected to start later this year, with completion scheduled for the end of 2018. 
 
 
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GLG to develop $35 million shopping centre in Mt Gambier

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A Dan Murphy’s retail outlet officially has opened in Stockland Green Hills - the first retailer to open following the $372 million shopping redevelopment which began in January. 
The outlet will be 44 percent larger, stock over 3,500 products and offer a ‘Click &amp; Collect’ service with online ordering and in-store pick up.
The redevelopment includes a cool room twice the size, a climate controlled Vintec cabinet to keep wines at their optimum temperature, a tasting station with dedicated in-store tastings manager and specialist sections for Whiskey, Champagne and Sparkling wine. 
Chris Travers, Stockland centre manager, said they are now moving into another stage of the project.  
The next stage of works begins this week and the centre will open the second stage of the 110 space customer carpark at Two Mile Creek, taking the total number of parking spaces to over 870.
Upon completion in April 2018, Stockland Green Hills will feature the first new format David Jones department store in the Hunter with over 225 specialty shops and a vibrant new dining and entertainment precinct.
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