Brisbane-based <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co Developments</a> has officially launched its $250million COMO apartment development in Varsity Lakes, while simultaneously commencing construction.&nbsp;

Building work is now underway at COMO following the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/5point-projects">5Point Projects</a> as contractor to deliver the boutique development which will rise on a 2857 sqm site overlooking Lake Orr at 22 Lake Street.

When completed, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO</a> will comprise 156 apartments across 16 levels located in the heart of Varsity Lakes.

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The project, which will sit alongside Bond University, will deliver a diverse array of apartment designs comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom residences that have already attracted interest from local and interstate investors as well as an array of owner occupiers looking to gain a foothold in the precinct.

Red &amp; Co, which has largely focused on the Brisbane market in recent years where it has delivered more than 500 apartments and townhouses across 26 projects, has designed COMO to combine tranquil, lakeside living with the vibrant urban convenience of the vibrant Varsity Lakes village.

“We’re thrilled to announce a start to construction of COMO in conjunction with the official launch of the project, our first for the Gold Coast,” said Red &amp; Co Director and Co-Founder David Laverty.

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“COMO is superbly positioned to capture the essence of the Varsity Lakes village lifestyle and its thriving café and dining precinct, while delivering a much-needed diverse supply of premium residences for the local market.

“Pre-launch inquiries have been strong among both local and interstate investors and owner-occupiers, including downsizers and upgraders who appreciate the value proposition that COMO represents.”

Prices at COMO start from $1,000,050.

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, the COMO development incorporates an extensive range of amenities for residents including a 25-metre rooftop lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, as well as multiple rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts, a wellness and activity centre, gym, sauna, plunge baths and landscaped gardens.

“COMO presents a rare opportunity to secure a stylish, lifestyle-focused home in one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after neighbourhoods,” added Laverty.

“The rooftop will be the epicentre of fun for residents with an array of amenities for residents that are quite unique for a boutique project such as this, all while offering spectacular vistas across the Gold Coast as far north as Southport and south to Burleigh.”

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&nbsp;

Red &amp; Co has chosen the Varsity Lakes site for its proximity to top-tier schools, major shopping hubs, such as Robina Town Centre and its CBD offering, as well as key Gold Coast transport links, including Varsity Lakes Train Station.

COMO will be located just a short walk to shops, cafes and restaurants in Varsity Lakes and just a 10-minute drive to the Burleigh Heads beachfront.

With construction currently underway, Red &amp; Co anticipates COMO will be completed in 2028.

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Joel Robinson

Red & Co to launch debut Gold Coast development Como Varsity Lakes as construction commences

Longstanding Gold Coast developer Raptis has acquired a prime development site on Surf Parade for its next Broadbeach apartment project.

Progressing towards completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-sterling-broadbeach-6-8-george-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Sterling Broadbeach</a>, 90 apartments on nearby George Avenue, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a>, led by second-generation family man Evan Raptis, has picked up a block on the corner of Surf Parade and First Avenue.

The site had been earmarked for a luxury apartment project with 33 full-floor apartments across a 37-storey tower. Raptis will go back to the drawing board and create a building more appropriate for the site. The development application will be lodged later this month.

Evan Raptis told Apartments.com.au the site ticks all the boxes.

"Broadbeach is a suburb we've developed several buildings over the years. Surf Parade ticks all the boxes for the type of apartment development we want to deliver."

Raptis had several pre-lodgement meetings with council to ensure they are aligned in the development.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0d58573-07a4-47a8-9f5e-fbf35fb03dc3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-03-05%20at%204.58.23%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iczZEd_4_o4UL0PHMPJGfy_q3tv96J5i" />

Surf Parade has emerged in recent years as one of the most popular streets in Broadbeach for development.

South East Queensland developer Mosaic Property Group kicked it off with Marella by Mosaic. Bassar Group sold out Infinity on the street, while for its&nbsp;first Gold Coast development, Polycell grabbed a Surf Parade site for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rochester-broadbeach-143-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Rochester</a>, which is nearly sold out.

Melbourne-based developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched its fourth Gold Coast project on the exclusive strip. The Eveleigh Broadbeach will have 100 apartments across a 31-storey building designed by Rothelowman.

GV Property Group site development specialists Antonio Mercuri and Luke Reaby, who both amalgamate sites and sell shovel-ready sites to developers up and down the Gold Coast, sold Surf Parade to Raptis.

Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development

Less than two years after breaking ground, Gardner Vaughan Group is celebrating the topping out of Bask, its second development in the exclusive coastal enclave of Bokarina on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.&nbsp;

Located only minutes from the beachfront, the two seven-storey luxury apartment towers, known individually as Mydas and Caretta, offer a selection of one-to-four-bedroom residences with views of Lake Kawana, the Glasshouse Mountains, and Bokarina Beach.&nbsp;

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Gardner Vaughan Group Commercial Director Sam Gardner said the milestone marks the home stretch for construction, with first residents expected to be able to move in from Spring 2026.&nbsp;

“This is a significant milestone in bringing this development to life and represents our confidence in this region’s long-term growth and appeal,” Gardner said.&nbsp;

“With 85 per cent of apartments already sold, buyers are joining an established, coastal village that offers the very best of the Sunshine Coast – seasonally patrolled surf beaches, renowned restaurants, and links to established health and retail.&nbsp;

“The final collection of three- and four- bedroom apartments range in size from 127sqm to 300sqm, each with two or three secure car parks and storage, and with construction fast approaching completion we don’t expect the last few apartments to remain on the market for long.”&nbsp;

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Local restaurateur Luke Stringer, who co-owns and manages the award-winning Bocca Italian and Playa Mexican restaurants in Bokarina, has lived in the beachside suburb for 18 months and worked there for more than three years, and said the beachside suburb was thriving.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say Bokarina is finally stepping into the sun and there’s a lot to love about the place,"&nbsp;Stringer said.

"It’s such a great community, where you see the same smiling faces every morning and everything’s within easy reach – it’s the perfect hub in the middle of the Sunshine Coast.

“When we first opened Bocca Italian, we were the lone restaurant, but it’s been amazing to see how the area has grown. The more venues that open, the busier it gets for everyone. When Playa Mexican opened its first Saturday night, Bocca had a record night and Playa was packed too, which blew us away how everyone is thriving.&nbsp;

“There’s a great energy around the place now, and people are really embracing Bokarina as a food and lifestyle destination.”&nbsp;

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Stringer joined other buyers at Bask Bokarina and the Gardner Vaughan Group team to celebrate the topping out at a special event in February.&nbsp;

Located in Kawana Waters, midway between Caloundra and Maroochydore, Bokarina locals enjoy scenic walking paths around Lake Kawana, playgrounds, beachfront boardwalk and parklands, alongside all the convenience of a masterplanned beachside community.&nbsp;

“You see people jogging or swimming in the morning, then grabbing coffee at the cafes, people are really embracing the area and all this growth is bringing more people to Bokarina,” Stringer added.&nbsp;

To take advantage of the vistas, each of the 135 apartments at Bask is designed with full size windows and high ceilings that provide an abundance of natural light.&nbsp;

Prices for the remaining three-bedroom apartments start at $1,599,000 and four-bedroom apartments start at $3,149,000.&nbsp;

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The mixed-use development also features ground-level retail space for cafés, dining options and boutiques, including the soon-to-be-opened ‘Corner Shop’, by the team behind Noosa’s well known ‘Organika’.

Sam Gardner said Gardner Vaughan Group’s 37-year history building and developing across South East Queensland has contributed to the success of its second development in Bokarina, which follows the recently completed Zinc Apartments.&nbsp;

“We care how people live and this is reflected in the way we approach the design and delivery of every development,” he said. “Furthermore, as a builder-developer we have full control over the construction program and our 100 per cent completion rate is something people can draw confidence from.”&nbsp;

Founded by civil engineers Guy Gardner and Darryl Vaughan in 1989, the family-owned business has evolved from a consultancy firm to an award-winning builder-developer, with projects across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

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Gardner Vaughan Group tops out Bask Bokarina apartments

Prolific Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has launched its fourth new Gold Coast development in as many years.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a>, led by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum, has unveiled The Eveleigh, on a prime 1,100 sqm site at 7-9 Surf Parade in the heart of Broadbeach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a> will deliver 100 apartments across 31 levels, making it the company’s largest Gold Coast project to date. It builds on the success of its three earlier developments, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach">The Hemingway in Palm Beach</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/emerson-kirra-100-musgrave-street-coolangatta">The Emerson at Kirra</a>, both completed, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yves-mermaid-beach-7-9-mermaid-avenue-mermaid-beach">Yves Mermaid Beach</a>, which is nearing completion.

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The announcement of The Eveleigh affirms the company’s sustained confidence in the Gold Coast market which continues to remain undersupplied. It also increases the value of Hirsch &amp; Fa​igen’s Gold Coast development portfolio to more than $700 million since the company first entered the market in 2021 with Hemingway.

The company has enlisted its preferred architecture firm Rothelowman to design The Eveleigh, which will offer a thoughtfully curated lifestyle, including a substantial wellness precinct, communal recreation areas, children’s play spaces, work-from-home facilities, and shared lounge and dining areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

Designed for the prime market demographic of downsizers and interstate lifestyle investors in mind, The Eveleigh has been crafted to offer an increasingly rare blend of affordable luxury in a tightly held market. Uniquely positioned in the heart of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after lifestyle suburb of Broadbeach, the project will also boast uninterrupted beach and hinterland views.

The Surf Parade site is just a short walk to the bustling Broadbeach dining and retail precinct, Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and convention centre, and an easy stroll to Kurrawa Beach and the recreational amenity of Pratten Park on the Broadbeach foreshore.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

“We’re excited to be proceeding with our fourth project on the Gold Coast in what is certain to become the new luxury precinct in Broadbeach,” says Anthony Bueti, the CFO of Hirsch &amp;a​mp; Faigen and a shareholder of the group.

“With the likes of Mosa​ic and Abedian &amp;a​mp; Co also launching quality projects in the area, the transformation will cement Broadbeach as the premier lifestyle and amenity suburb on the Gold Coast.

"After four years in the Gold Coast market, and with three successful projects completed, The Eveleigh is the product of everything we have learned to love about the Gold Coast and it will be an incredible addition to our growing portfolio in one of the most vibrant property markets in the country. We continue to remain very confident in the high-end Gold Coast property market.”

Urban Activation Director Matt George is handling sales for The Eveleigh, having sold out The Emerson, The Hemingway, and Yves, all before construction was completed.

Melbourne builder MAXCON has already commenced construction on The Eveleigh. They are forecasting a mid-2028 completion.

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Hirsch & Faigen unveils The Eveleigh in Broadbeach

Two years after securing development approval for the final stage of its award-winning Thornton Precinct on the doorstep of Penrith Station, Urban Property Group is set to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/mayfair-on-penrith-172-lord-sheffield-circuit-penrith-nsw-2750">Mayfair on Penrith</a>, around 400 apartments designed to reflect two of Sydney’s most iconic structures.

The builder-developer has continued refining the design plans for the two-building development on a significant 8,280 sqm site on Sheffield Circuit, recognising the importance of the prime parcel as one of the closest developable sites to the station.

UPG enlisted architecture firm SJB to design the project. The team said they drew inspiration from both the General Post Office in Martin Place and East Circular Quay to help shape the design. The two-level colonnade, in particular, reflects the famous GPO building, which dates back to the 1860s.

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There will be one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on offer, with interiors by Cox Architecture. Residences will sit above a retail podium featuring hospitality and lifestyle operators such as One Playground and Volcano’s Steakhouse, contributing to an activated ground plane within the broader Thornton precinct.

A communal rooftop with a pool and views towards the Blue Mountains will provide shared open space for residents. The development is positioned between Ron Mulock Oval and Westfield Penrith, with the Nepean River and Great River Walk also nearby, placing daily amenity and green space within walking distance.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362015]

Mayfair is being delivered by Urban Property Group, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly 40 years’ experience across Sydney. The project will be the first in Penrith to be offered with Resilience Insurance’s 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy, which Urban Property Group has adopted across a number of its recent developments. The developer also has a 4.5-star iCIRT rating, one of the best ratings in market providing further confidence to buyers.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said providing additional assurance to off-the-plan buyers has become increasingly important.

“Anything we can do to give confidence in our product is a plus,” Elias told Apartments.com.au.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. They’re making their single large investment, which is their home, and providing confidence is something that we feel is paramount.”

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The LDI policy provides a 10-year warranty covering structural defects, with independent inspections carried out during construction and protection for owners if defects arise post-completion.

Mayfair represents Urban Property Group’s sixth and final development within Thornton, consolidating the masterplanned precinct immediately east of the station.

The developer, which builds its own projects, has already commenced construction. SRM Residential is handling the sales campaign.

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Urban Property Group to close the curtain on award-winning Thornton precinct with Mayfair on Penrith release

Rural Nsw

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One of Australia’s largest integrated beef and cropping businesses, spanning nearly 26,000ha is being offered to the market for sale.
CBRE Agribusiness has been appointed to sell the northern NSW aggregation, comprising a large scale integrated business producing more than 100,000 MSA graded cattle and 40,000 tonnes of grain on a yearly cycle.
Located in NSW’s north-west, the business recently received certification and trade mark for its unique cattle finishing model, ‘Certified Free Range Grain &amp; Grass Fed’, which has underpinned its award-winning beef brands.
CBRE’s Richard Royle and Col Medway are seeking a buyer via an expressions of interest campaign closing October 31.
Mr Royle said the opportunity to secure a successful enterprise with both scale and diversity had already generated significant investment interest.
“To date, inspections have been conducted by a wide variety of buyers, including Australian and international corporates, Australian family offices, private capital advisors, private equity managers, cropping businesses and beef industry participants,” Mr Royle said.
<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/2018/10/3/Agri%202.jpg" alt="">
The aggregation has a current cattle capacity of 30,000 head of cattle, with an annual turnoff capacity in excess of 140,000 and further expansion capabilities. The cattle are accommodated in the licensed 7,000 SCU feedlot
(DA approval for an expansion to 20,000 SCU) with the remainder in paddocks under the grain and grass fed system.
The dry land cropping ranges from flat Moree plains to rolling hillside at Croppa Creek/Warialda. The business also operates its own fleet of modern livestock and bulk trucks, ensuring the prompt delivery of cattle to processors and customers.
Structural improvements and infrastructure include quality plant and machinery, grain storage facilities, reticulated water troughs, fencing, cattle yards, storage facilities and accommodation. It also includes a long-standing management team and support team of mechanics and maintenance staff.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

26,000 hectare agri footprint in NSW’s Golden Triangle hits the market

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service declared the earliest total fire bans in its history this week. The entire state was declared to be in drought on the same day.
The combination of winter drought and hot, dry weather has made dangerous fires increasingly likely.
Already this week two fires on the south coast have escaped containment lines and destroyed houses. The weather during these fires was 6℃ warmer than the August average, dry and extremely windy. The wind speed peaked at 104 kilometres an hour in Bega and 85km/h in Nowra, two towns close to where fires broke out.
Under these conditions, bushfires will spread quickly, produce large numbers of embers and are hard to stop.
Our fire seasons now start earlier and last longer. This means we’re increasingly likely to see repeats of historically large fires threatening residential areas.
Fire seasons are longer
Current dry conditions are reflected in the maps of live fuel moisture produced by Dr Rachael Nolan of Western Sydney University.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232411/original/file-20180816-165961-10g0j70.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232411/original/file-20180816-165961-10g0j70.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2016GL068614" target="_blank">Nolan R.H., Boer M.M., de Dios V.R., Caccamo G., Bradstock R.A. (2016), Large-scale, dynamic transformations in fuel moisture drive wildfire activity across southeastern Australia. Geophysical Research Letters 43, 4229-4238.</a>
This method tracks the weekly moisture content of the forests in southern Australia, as observed by NASA’s MODIS satellite. The latest map shows a patchy distribution of dry areas and a drying trend over recent weeks.
It looks like NSW’s fire season has already started, and it’s likely to be bad. Last year’s fire season also extended well into autumn, with serious bushfires burning in mid-April.
Fire agencies usually enjoy a six-month break from bushfires between April and September, but this year they had only three months’ respite.
This reflects evidence of a trend toward more extreme fire weather over the past 30 years, and lengthening fire seasons.
This problem is being keenly felt in western United States, where fire agencies have warned that the fire season now lasts all year round. Not only that, there is clear evidence climate change is increasing fire activity in the United States; the record for the largest fire in California history has been broken two years in a row.
Alarming precedents
The most damaging fire season for NSW in the past 30 years was in October 2013 when the Linksview fire destroyed 200 houses in the Blue Mountains.
The build-up to that season was eerily similar to this year, with a winter drought and bushfires in September, but the moisture maps show that the forests are drier now than at the same time in 2013, and we have already seen serious bushfires in August.
As we move into September and October, the weather will warm, which means any remaining moisture in the ground and plants will evaporate even faster than at present, and fires will be more intense and spread faster. The only thing that will reduce the risk is soaking rain of at least 100mm.
Whether or not that will occur in the next two months is almost impossible to predict. At the moment it seems unlikely. The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest seasonal forecast, issued on August 16, considers it likely that dry conditions will persist for the next three months.
The heightened risk of bushfire this season should be a wake-up call for residents in bushfire-prone areas. Most people in really risky areas such as the Blue Mountains are well prepared, but many people who are a little more removed from the forests are not aware of the risk.
For example, many residents of Wollongong probably don’t know this October is the 50th anniversary of the great 1968 fires that swept down the Illawarra Escarpment into the suburbs of Figtree, Bulli, Austinmer and others.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232412/original/file-20180817-165955-1f2bhyl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232412/original/file-20180817-165955-1f2bhyl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
 The footprint of the 1968 Illawarra fires, which burned through residential areas.
If the same footprint of fire were to occur again, some 5,000 houses would be affected. The present indicators suggest a repeat of this event is more likely than at any time for decades.
Residents need to prepare a bushfire survival plan, which includes a decision on whether to stay and defend or to leave as soon as they learn about a nearby bushfire.
Current research at University of Wollongong suggests that the biggest influence on the risk of house loss during a bushfire is the actions that the residents themselves take. This includes ensuring that natural and man-made fuels are kept to a minimum in the garden, especially close to the house, and also defending the house from spot-fires caused by embers.
The Rural Fire Service has a wealth of advice for preparing for bushfires on its <a href="https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare" target="_blank">website</a>.

We’re look at a torrid upcoming fire season, dependent on the vagaries of the Australian climate. Either way, now is the time for people to brace themselves and get prepared.
Owen Price<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/owen-price-105069"></a>, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, University of Wollongong
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/drought-wind-and-heat-when-fire-seasons-start-earlier-and-last-longer-101663" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Drought, wind and heat: when fire seasons start earlier and last longer

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The general southern New South Wales and northern Victorian market continues to display signs of strength and resilience, according to the latest rural report from Herron Todd White (HTW).
The valuation firm stated that recent positive rainfall outcomes across the Albury and northern Victorian areas has also served to allay any concerns that were beginning to appear because of the extended dry period.
"With regards to recent transactions, we are aware of a property approximately 50 kilometres north of Albury that has just gone under contract," the HTW valuers noted.
"This property is all open, mostly arable, improved grazing country, typical of the area and has transacted at approximately $8,300 per hectare, excluding the added value of the buildings in place.
"This is in line with recent agents comments about the area which indicated that the area to the north of Albury has been achieving $3,000 to $4,000 per Acre ($7,400 to $9,800 per hectare)."
Recently, a number of valuations in the far western New South Wales area to the north and north east of Broken Hill have been undertaken.
There has been a change in what the market has been prepared to pay on a dollar per dry sheep equivalent (DSE) rate for typical open grazing country in the area.
Previously, (up until late 2016) DSE rates in the $200-$350 range would have been expected, however, now all of the sales analysed indicate rates in the $400 to $500 range.
The valuers discussed that while initially this was "concerning" when the rates were reviewed in comparison to the rates paid for higher rainfall inside tablelands country to the east, "it became apparent that the relative ratio of dollars per DSE rates paid between the tablelands country and the far western country is still similar to what it has been".
"Now that far western country is at $400 to $500 per DSE, we see that the tablelands country is now $600 to $700 plus per DSE, whereas previously, rates were mostly in the $450 to $600 range."
These elevated rates equate to significant strengthening in the corresponding underlying land value.
The exact dollar per hectare rates vary with the carrying capacity of the country involved however, in general we would expect country to the north of Broken Hill to be in the $90 to $100 per hectare range.
HTW reported despite the deteriorating seasonal conditions that the Buckanbe offering has gone under offer.
Buckanbe is a 40,000 hectare, very well located grazing property on the Darling River just downstream of Tilpa.
"Whilst we are not aware of the negotiated outcome, we would expect it to achieve approximately $150 per hectare overall," the valuers concluded.
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Far western NSW rural DSE rates almost double: HTW

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The general market in southern and western New South Wales continues to show strengthening signs, according to the latest HTW report.
"Generally we have seen the level of sales activity drop slightly, however this is a reflection of a lack of stock rather than a softening of market interest overall," the March 2018 update by the valuation firm advised.
In far western New South Wales, HTW valuer Scott Fuller noted new benchmark levels set in dollar per DSE rates achieved.
The sale of Berta Station which is a 43,500 hectare holding with a carrying capacity of 10,000 DSE located 120 kilometres south-west of Broken Hill on the South Australian border recently sold for $5.38 million which equates to $124 per hectare overall.
From a productive capacity basis this equates to $527 per DSE.
"These rates are generally seen in tablelands country in far higher rainfall areas," Fuller said.
"Like all market activity there are always outlying sales and it appears that this sale is one of those, however it does indicate the willingness of buyers in the current market to stretch the normal excepted boundaries in terms of a value perspective," he said. 
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Two examples of the level of strengthening included a recently visited, large mostly arable grazing property in the Cootamundra area which we last valued in June 2016. 
"Our current assessed value for the same property has risen by 26 percent over the 19 month period, with a number of solid large-scale sales to support this assessment. 
"This equates to 1.4% per month over 19 months which is quite phenomenal. 
"We have also revisited some larger grazing properties to the north-east of Broken Hill which were last valued in late 2014. 
"Our current assessment indicated a 28.8% rise in overall value which equates to 9% per annum - still a strong result."
Fuller advised when building a business plan for a rural purchase at present, it would be prudent not to allow for any capital growth in the short to medium term as this same situation occurred back in 2008.
"Our experience then indicated that generally the market in New South Wales peaked in late 2008 and general value levels softened slightly and then were steady for a number of years.
"There were a number of corporate purchases made at this time and our relationship with these assets over the ensuing years showed that the original value levels were not reached again for approximately six to seven years.
"While we are not saying that the market will perform exactly the same, it does have a history of repeating and our expectations are that a similar scenario will result over the coming 12 to 18 months.
"The difference in 2018 is that our interest rates are at record lows and are still encouraging investment from within the industry, so we may just see the golden period continue for a bit longer yet!"
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Far west NSW rural prices matching tablelands country: HTW

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<div>The former solicitor-general of Australia, David Bennett QC, and his wife Angela, a former judge of the Federal Court, have bought a weekender on the NSW south coast.</div>
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<div>The Woollahra-based couple have spent $4.75 million on an <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-berry-124868898" target="_blank">architect-designed manor in Berry</a>. Set on an elevated 20ha near Seven Mile Beach, the hobby farm property has previously run 20 Black Angus cows, horses and sheep.</div>
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<div>The two-storey home has four bedrooms. There’s an entertainer’s terrace overlooking a heated pool, which comes with a self-contained pool house.</div>
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<div><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/2018/2/12/berry%202.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>The home was sold by the London-based Macquarie infrastructure boss David Roseman and his wife, interior designer Sue, who had it initially listed for March auction last year when they were seeking $4.75 million through Gary Dale at Belle Property.</div>
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<div>Their manor-style mansion was built after they had bought the Coomonderry Ridge holding in 2011 for  $1.18 million.</div>
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<div>Roseman was appointed to the merchant bank’s top infrastructure post in 2015.</div>
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<div>Bennett served as solicitor-general for a decade until 2008.</div>
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<div>This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.</div>
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<h2><a class="clickable" title="View Property Detail" href=""> </a></h2>
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Former solicitor-general of Australia David Bennett buys Berry weekender

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The Federal Court has ordered Murray Goulburn to pay a $650,000 fine plus ASIC's legal costs over the embattled dairy giant's disclosure failures ahead of last year's profit downgrade.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission took Murray Goulburn to the Federal Court alleging that from March 22, 2016 to April 27, 2016, the listed diary co-op failed to notify the ASX that it was unlikely to achieve forecasts it made in February.
Confirming the settlement agreed to between the troubled dairy processor and ASIC in November, Justice Davies said the penalty was towards the higher end of the statutory maximum, because of the "gravity" of breach, the "involvement of the senior level of management," and the "market impact and prejudice" it caused
The court found that MGRE contravened its disclosure obligations under section 674(2) of the Corporations Acton and from 22 March 2016, continuing until 27 April 2016 by failing to notify the ASX that circumstances had arisen a consequence of which was that, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (MG) was unlikely to achieve the forecast:
<ul>
<li>Available Weighted Average Southern Milk Region Farmgate Milk Price for the financial year ending 30 June 2016 of $5.60 per kilogram of milk solids; and</li>
<li>Full-year net profit after tax for the financial year ending 30 June 2016 of approximately $63 million, as stated by MG and MGRE in their ASX announcements dated 29 February 2016 entitled 'Murray Goulburn – Half Year Financial Results News Release' and 'Murray Goulburn – Half Year Financial Results Presentation.'</li>
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ASIC issued proceedings against MGRE in November last year.
MGRE admitted the contravention in a Statement of Agreed Facts and Admissions and the parties filed joint submissions for a declaration and a civil penalty to be imposed.
In handing down her judgment on Friday 15 December 2017, the Hon Justice Davies said "the penalty is towards the higher end of the statutory maximum but a penalty towards the higher end is warranted, reflecting the gravity of the contravention, the market impact and prejudice caused by the contravention, the involvement of the senior level of management in the contravention and failure of governance, and the inadequacy of MGRE's compliance policies at the time and the duration of the contravention."
ASIC Commissioner Cathie Armour said if an entity has previously given a profit forecast to the market and that subsequently changes causing its profit forecast to differ from that guidance by a material amount, it is crucial to inform the market immediately in order that investors are apprised with up-to-date information.
MG Unit Trust was officially admitted to the official list of the ASX in July 2015.
Murray Goulburn's previous management was responsible for destroying one of the greatest agricultural entities in Australia, Barnaby Joyce recently said.
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MG plans to sell its assets to Saputo, the owner of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, and dissolve MG, Australia’s largest dairy co-operative.
 
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Murray Goulburn cops $650,000 fine over disclosure failures

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57732/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
It’s time for a fresh look at community and policy development in rural and regional NSW – one that will deliver rewarding jobs, a proper say for people in how they’re governed, decent infrastructure, access to essential services, and an enriching environment.
<h2>Looking after the land</h2>
Rural and regional NSW provides the state with much of its food, water and tourism opportunities, as well as crucial hidden services such as regulating the climate. Properly funding projects that preserve regional environments benefits all citizens, but can also help develop regional economies.
Regional NSW is well placed to become a leader in the farming, supply and production of renewable energy, so governments may wish to consider what policy levers are needed to incentivise investment in this area.
It’s also important we involve local experts in finding ways to improve land and water management in regional areas, sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, and develop well-managed protected areas that facilitate biodiversity conservation.
Fostering people’s connection with, and appreciation of, nature can achieve health benefits, facilitate tourism and recreation, and even boost mental health.
<h2>Creating a happy and healthy regional citizenry</h2>
It’s no secret there is a shortage of GPs and other specialist medical service providers in regional areas.
Mental illness prevalence rates are similar to metropolitan areas but there is a lack of mental health services in regional areas, and self-harm rates are much higher.
Mental health prevalence rates are similar to metropolitan areas but there is a lack of mental health services in regional areas, and self-harm rates increase with remoteness.
Addressing these shortages is important if we are aiming to create a happy, healthy and productive citizenry in regional NSW – and attract highly trained professionals to the regions.
<h2>Attracting highly skilled, mobile and trained professionals</h2>
It’s important that NSW develops better ways to attract highly skilled, highly mobile and highly trained professionals to its regions. In the past, organisations like the Bathurst-Orange Development Corporation gave concessions to industry in the short term to relocate to Bathurst. This model could be revisited more broadly.
Diversity and a culturally rich environment can serve as a strong selling point for urban and international migration to regional areas.
Welcoming and inclusive communities are more likely to retain highly skilled and professional migrants. We need creative campaigns that focus on the promotion of arts and culture heritage, healthy lifestyle, sport and outdoor activities, as well as educational opportunities available outside urban centres.
Regional and rural citizens are crying out for improved infrastructure – better roads and public transport, fast and reliable broadband and telecommunications would help attract high trained professionals to the regions.
Proper access to legal services
Citizens in some remote areas of NSW lack access to legal services, and it’s important that policy be developed according to local need in context (rather than a one-size-fits-all “solution”).
It’s crucial that governments plan to ensure a mix of legal services are available to regional and rural citizens. Both private lawyers and public services are needed.
It’s important that key government departments such as the Department of Education, Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Primary Industries have a stronger and continuous presence in regional areas.
These agencies employ lawyers. Locating these key departments in regional areas also creates opportunities for country lawyers beyond private practice and ensures citizens are getting advice from local lawyers who understand the regional context.
<h2>Breaking down stereotypes</h2>
The urban mindset is preoccupied with an image of the regions as all hay bales and agriculture, as portrayed on television shows like The Farmer Wants A Wife.
The reality is much more varied and nuanced. Vibrant arts communities exist along side long-standing farming industries. While some regional areas have been on a relative decline, much of this has to do with growth in urban areas. Services are clustered in some regional areas, and found wanting in others.
Developing a more accurate picture of what life in rural and regional NSW is really like – through funding regional art communities, social links between urban and regional citizens, and developing more realistic social marketing – would go a long way to breaking down misconceptions about country NSW.
<h2>Inclusion and consultation</h2>
A courageous government could consider creating Regional Advisory Councils, made up of representatives selected across each region. These council members could be trained to use deliberative democracy – a form of collective discussion and decision-making – to help tackle complex problems in their local areas.
Lip service is not enough. It’s important that funding be made available to help implement projects that rural and regional citizens say their local areas need.
That means breaking down the traditional silo-based approach to funding, where we run the risk of allocating money to government departments or pet projects based on the ideas of centrally located decision makers. Importantly, governance and oversight mechanisms are needed to ensure there are not conflicts of interest.
Regional policymakers could harvest the vast amounts of data available to allocate funds based on where the need is greatest; making such data publicly available where possible is a key part of results-based accountability too.
<h2>What’s at stake?</h2>
Recent political events – think Brexit, the rise of Donald Trump and voter dissatisfaction with the major parties in Australia – have underlined how disenfranchised many regional and rural citizens feel in a rapidly changing world.
We need to ensure that regional and rural citizens are not left behind as advanced economies shift away from traditional manufacturing and toward a knowledge economy. Doing so will help preserve social and political harmony for all citizens.
Alison Gerard is associate professor in Law, Charles Sturt University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alison-gerard-12350" target="_blank">here</a>.
Branka Krivokapic-Skoko is economist and economic sociologist, Charles Sturt University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/branka-krivokapic-skoko-285542" target="_blank">here</a>. 
Liz Reimer is lecturer in Social Welfare, Southern Cross University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/liz-reimer-285543" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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