Melbourne developer Spacious Group has completed Voyage Altona, one of the closest new apartment developments to Altona Beach.

Off the plan purchasers have started moving into the 49-apartment project on Pier Street, with the remaining move-in-ready one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments starting from just over $500,000.

Display apartments have now been fitted out, allowing prospective buyers to inspect the completed residences by appointment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=372638]

The completed apartments feature open-plan living and dining areas which extend onto private balconies and terraces, while full-height glazing maximises natural light throughout the interiors.&nbsp;

Hybrid timber-look flooring, stone benchtops, Miele appliances, porcelain-tiled bathrooms and generous storage feature throughout the building which also features landscaped communal areas, expansive shared terraces, lift access and secure on-grade parking.

Drawing inspiration from its bayside setting, Voyage adopts a restrained palette of warm neutral tones and textured finishes. Many of the apartments take advantage of views across Port Phillip Bay, while the indoor-outdoor living spaces have been designed to make the most of the coastal outlook.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=3286]

Voyage was developed to address what Spacious Group identified as an undersupply of higher-quality apartment product in Altona, with a focus on owner-occupiers looking to remain within the bayside community.

"Voyage responds to very strong local buyer demand for quality, owner-occupier-focused product," says Barry Plant Projects Director Jarrod Farey, who has handled sales since the project's launch.

"The project delivers an elevated lifestyle proposition, with its design and quality of finish far exceeding anything previously produced in the area, as well as its proximity to Pier Street Village and the beach."

The majority of purchasers have been local downsizers and owner-occupiers looking to stay within the Altona community but who previously had limited opportunities to buy a brand-new apartment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112195]

Joel Robinson

Spacious Group completes Voyage Altona in Altona's beachside precinct

Homecorp has secured approval for a $360 million apartment development at Budds Beach, paving the way for one of the Gold Coast's most amenity-rich residential projects to launch later this year.

Gold Coast City Council has approved Lýon Residences, a 32-level tower that will deliver 178 two and three-bedroom apartments across a prominent corner site at 8-10 Acacia Avenue and 25-27 Oak Avenue.

The approval comes as developers continue to invest in premium lifestyle-driven apartment projects on the Gold Coast, where owner occupiers are increasingly prioritising amenity as much as apartment size and location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/l-on-residences-25-27-oak-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Lýon Residences</a> has been designed around a resort-style wellness offering, headlined by a Moroccan-inspired spa precinct featuring treatment rooms, a Nordic sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a soaking pool and a residents-only juice bar.

The rooftop will include a heated infinity pool and spa, residents' lounge with private kitchen and bar, gymnasium, yoga and Pilates studio, outdoor entertaining areas and barbecue facilities overlooking the Surfers Paradise skyline.

<img alt="Lyon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d3e29af-8793-486e-a684-52cef862241f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-15%20at%204.32.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ayG2zpLf3SS6Zy8XmKDcQods4kVWb0gm" />

Homecorp Founder and CEO Ron Bakir said Budds Beach provided the ideal location for the company's latest luxury apartment project.

"Budds Beach represents one of the most unique and sought-after pockets of the Gold Coast, and Lýon Residences has been designed to reflect that sense of rarity and refinement," Bakir said.

The project arrives as wellness continues to become a defining feature of new residential developments both in Australia and internationally.

The latest Global Wellness Institute figures show wellness real estate remains the fastest-growing segment of the global wellness economy and is forecast to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030. Australia continues to rank among the world's 15 largest wellness real estate markets, with developers increasingly integrating health, recreation and community facilities into apartment projects.

Queensland is also experiencing strong population growth, with the Gold Coast continuing to outperform many other Australian cities as demand for new housing remains elevated ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Bakir said the project had been designed to respond to that shift in buyer expectations.

"Strong population growth and sustained demand across the Gold Coast continue to highlight the need for well-designed new housing supply. Lýon Residences responds directly to this demand while setting a new benchmark for residential living," he said.

Each apartment has been designed to maximise views across the coastline, the Nerang River and the Gold Coast hinterland.

Located just minutes from Surfers Paradise beach and the Broadwater, the development also offers easy access to the light rail network, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

Early site works are underway, with construction expected to commence later this year.

Homecorp approved for Budds Beach apartment tower, Lýon Residences

New apartment developments with uninterrupted, north-facing views over Perth's Swan River are exceptionally rare.

Recognising just how limited those opportunities are, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/edge-visionary-living">Edge Visionary Living</a>, one of Perth's most respected builder-developers, targeted <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/applecross-wa-6153">Applecross</a>, assembling an unrepeatable 6,342 sqm riverfront site on the corner of Moreau Mews and Canning Beach Road to create one of Perth's only new north-facing apartment developments directly overlooking the Swan River.

Today, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/riviere-residences-applecross-59-canning-beach-road-applecross-wa-6153">Rivière Residences</a> offers buyers a unique opportunity to choose between completed residences ready to move into now and off-the-plan homes in the final stage, Rivière West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3823]

Across the completed East and Central buildings, residents are already enjoying the development's luxury amenity, while two of the precinct's hospitality venues are now open.

The completed component of the development gives buyers the advantage of experiencing the finished product firsthand, including its uninterrupted river views, while still having the opportunity to secure a residence in the final stage.

"People are wowed by the view and the quality of the apartments,"&nbsp;Edge Visionary Living Sales Executive, Holly McSweeney, says.

"They're looking for the convenience of lock-and-leave living, but they're not looking to downsize on quality."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3826]

The rarity of the development hasn't been lost on prospective buyers, McSweeney says.

For McSweeney, it all comes back to a location that is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate.

"Location, location, location," she says. "We are nestled right on the front of the Swan River. You can never get built out, so wherever you are in Rivière Residences, you've got views of the river forever."

The unique waterfront position has resonated particularly strongly with local downsizers. McSweeney says many buyers are long-time Applecross residents looking to transition from large family homes into a luxury apartment without sacrificing space, quality or the lifestyle they've enjoyed for decades.

<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/N_FowNW0wu8?si=vb25XFq1wZ-iufAW" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

A major focus for Edge in recent years has been resident amenity. Across its apartment portfolio, from beachfront developments in Scarborough to luxury towers in South Perth, the developer has increasingly invested in the spaces beyond the apartment itself.

The strategy has largely been shaped by downsizer demand. Many buyers are moving from large family homes with swimming pools and established gardens. While they're looking to leave the maintenance behind, they don't want to compromise on lifestyle.

At Rivière, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hillam-architects">Hillam Architects</a> designed the resident facilities as an extension of each apartment. A 25-metre heated swimming pool takes advantage of the north-facing river outlook, complemented by a large gym, sauna and steam rooms, private dining spaces, residents' lounges, a cinema, games room, and dedicated wine and whisky rooms.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=372542]

The waterfront location has also proved to be a major drawcard. Residents are within walking distance of the Raffles Hotel, South of Perth Yacht Club, the Heathcote Cultural Precinct and the cafés, restaurants and boutiques along Ardross Street.

Beyond the location and amenity, McSweeney says many buyers take confidence from Edge's fully integrated development model.

Having delivered apartments across Perth for decades, Edge now designs, develops and constructs its projects in-house, giving the company greater control over quality, delivery and the finished product.

"What I love is when people walk through their apartment for the first time and say, 'This is better than what we imagined,'" McSweeney says. "We hear that all the time."

Completed apartments in the East and Central buildings are now available to inspect by appointment, while Rivière West, the final stage of the precinct, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=28384]

North-facing Swan River views drive demand at Rivière Residences in Applecross

Nearly 60 per cent of apartments at McNab Group's $220 million The Tannery development in Brisbane's West End have sold ahead of the project's public launch, including a suburb-record $2.57 million sale for a two-bedroom apartment.

The early sales campaign has secured buyers for 50 of the project's 87 apartments, highlighting continued demand for larger owner-occupier apartments that combine generous floorplans with premium lifestyle amenities in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374768]

McNab Group Executive Chairman Michael McNab said selling more than half the project before launch reflected changing buyer expectations.

"Selling more than half the project before public sales open tells us buyers are actively seeking apartments that offer something genuinely different," McNab said.

"Today's buyers are looking beyond four walls. They want homes that genuinely enhance the way they live, with spaces that support health, connection and everyday wellbeing."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374767]

A key point of difference for the project is the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed Dixon's Tannery building, which will become The Retreat, a residents-only wellness precinct rather than being redeveloped into additional apartments.

The Retreat will feature a sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a commercial-grade gym, Pilates studio, cinema, library, co-working spaces and private dining room. Rooftop amenities will include a swimming pool, landscaped gardens, outdoor entertaining areas and dog-friendly spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374760]

Designed by Cottee Parker Architects with interiors by Tom Mark Henry and landscape architecture by Aspect Studios, The Tannery comprises 87 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 11 levels overlooking the Brisbane River.

Cottee Parker principal Dee Passenger said preserving the original tannery building had been central to the project's design.

"The easy option would have been to maximise the site's development potential with additional apartments. Instead, McNab has chosen to preserve the original tannery as a shared wellness retreat, ensuring this important piece of Brisbane's history remains at the heart of the community."

Passenger said sustainability also played a key role in the design, with materials from the original industrial site salvaged and repurposed throughout the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374761]

Motiv CEO Carly Cottam said buyers had responded strongly to the combination of larger apartments, wellness facilities and the West End lifestyle.

"We are seeing more buyers looking for homes in the sky that provide the space and functionality of a traditional home, while benefiting from the convenience and lifestyle that apartment living brings," Cottam said.

She said purchasers included both owner occupiers and investors, with demand coming from local buyers as well as interstate purchasers.

Coinciding with the public launch, McNab also announced a partnership with Queensland Ballet, whose neighbouring Thomas Dixon Centre shares historical ties with the original Dixon family.

Located on a 4,465 sqm site at 439 Montague Road, The Tannery overlooks the Brisbane River and is around 10 minutes from the CBD.

Construction is underway, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143337]

More than half of residences sold before public sales as McNab announces significant partnership with Queensland Ballet

McNab's The Tannery nears 60 per cent sold before public release, sets two-bedroom West End record

Iwan Sunito's vision for a landmark mixed-use precinct in Sydney's Inner West has taken a major step forward, with approval granted for the $1.9 billion Five Dock development first unveiled earlier this year.

The approved scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a> will deliver an 80,500 sqm mixed-use precinct comprising 840 apartments, integrated hotel accommodation, commercial and retail space, alongside publicly accessible open space designed to create a new destination for the growing suburb.

"This is a significant milestone for One Global Capital and for the future of housing delivery in Sydney," Sunito said.

"The Housing Delivery Authority was established to identify major housing projects capable of delivering meaningful supply more efficiently, and we are delighted that Spencer Street has been recognised as one of those projects.”

He said the declaration reflected the rapid progress achieved since acquiring control of the site.

"In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW Government's most important planning pathways. It reflects the experience of our team, the strength of our consultant group led by Urbis, and our long-term commitment to delivering transformational projects that contribute to Sydney's future."

When the project was revealed earlier this year, Sunito described the opportunity as one of the strongest development sites he had worked on.

"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito said.

"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."

The development has evolved since its initial announcement, with the approved plans increasing the residential component from the originally proposed 750 apartments to 840 homes while retaining the project's focus on creating an integrated neighbourhood rather than a standalone residential development.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/a-city-within-a-city-iwan-sunito-flags-1-5-billion-mixed-use-precinct-in-five-dock">"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock</a>

The precinct will combine apartments with hotel accommodation, commercial workplaces, retail offerings and public spaces, creating a mixed-use environment intended to serve both residents and the broader Five Dock community. The proposal also continues the collaboration between One Global Capital and internationally recognised architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, whose previous work with Sunito includes Infinity, Arc and Skye North Sydney.

Takada previously said the design was driven by a philosophy of integrating nature into the built environment.

"The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Takada said.

"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."

Sunito has consistently described the project as a "city within a city", with a strong emphasis on creating a destination that extends beyond housing.

"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community," he said.

The approval comes as Five Dock continues its transformation ahead of the opening of the Sydney Metro West line, with the new Five Dock station set to significantly improve connections between the Inner West, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

The precinct will also benefit from its proximity to the Parramatta Road corridor, nearby waterfront parklands and established retail and dining offerings that have made Five Dock one of Sydney's most tightly held Inner West suburbs.

Iwan Sunito secures approval for $1.9 billion Five Dock mixed-use precinct

Safety

<html><body>
Australia's privatised building certifiers are worried over insurers’ moves to exclude liability for non-compliant cladding in the wake of the London building fire tragedy.
The Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, the peak body for Australia's privatised building certifiers, has written to members that some professional indemnity insurers were imposing 'onerous exclusions' to policies around non-compliant cladding, The Australian Financial Review reported.
"Some clauses exclude claims arising out of 'non-compliant' aluminium composite cladding whereas others exclude "non-compliant" and "non-conforming" cladding or building materials generally," the emailed letter said. 
"The exclusions that we have seen are broadly worded, removing all cover when non-compliant products exist irrespective of whether the insured practitioner caused or contributed to the issue."
Melbourne-based insurance broker BRIC, which advised the institute to send the email, noticed its first policy with an exclusion clause in February. 
Since June, it has had to find alternative insurers for 12 clients whose existing insurers had refused to remove exclusion clauses.
The exclusion clauses pose a major risk for professionals such as building surveyors and engineers, BRIC broking manager Darren Pavic was cited by the AFR as saying.
"If a policy does not respond to a claim, the firm and the individual practitioner will be left to defend the matter using their own resources," Pavic said.
Flammable cladding has been a major issue since London's Grenfell Tower tragedy. 
The Victorian government has set up a the taskforce to speed up the investigation into the use of flammable cladding on high-rise buildings in the state.
It has also prompted a revision of Australia's National Construction Code. 
The move by insurers has also been prompted by the fire at Melbourne’s Lacrosse building in the Docklands.
Moves by state governments, such as in NSW, and by developers and owners themselves to determine the safety of their cladding are likely to lead to a raft of claims over rectification costs, said Scott Higgins, a partner with law firm Mills Oakley. 
With developers likely to have confidential dispute resolution mechanisms that would have them resolve problems privately, bodies corporate were more likely to take certifiers to court, Higgins said.
"I'd be very surprised if we didn't start to see them in the next six months," he said.
Erik Adriaantse, the interim chief executive of industry body Strata Community Australia, said news of the exclusions was a "positive" development.
"It's likely to put pressure on certifiers to get it right," he said.
Higgins added that the move by insurers could influence the appetite of building owners to rectify them.
"If you have to rectify the issue and seek to recover the costs – which could be in the millions – by reclaiming those under insurance, if that certifying authority doesn't have an insurer standing behind them there's less comfort there that you're going to be able to recover the costs," he said.
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Certifiers, building owners at risk from insurer cladding exclusion rules

<html><body>
London’s Grenfell Tower fire has prompted the Victorian government to set up a the taskforce to speed up the investigation into how widely flammable cladding has been used on high-rise buildings in the state.
The Victorian Cladding Taskforce will be jointly chaired by former premier Ted Baillieu, who is also an architect, and former deputy premier and minister for planning, John Thwaites, according to the Real Estate Conversation.
The taskforce will comprise of representatives from Worksafe Victoria, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the Victorian Building Authority, the Municipal Association of Victoria and Emergency Management Victoria.
Leading strata management body Strata Community Australia (Vic) has welcomed the government move.
But it said in a media release that flammable aluminium cladding was just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and the taskforce’s terms of reference must be widened to address unsafe glass panels, and other materials risking lives. 
The Grenfell Tower fire in June killed more than 80 people, and stoked up the fire safety issue around high-rises, both in England and in Australia. 
British audits have revealed 120 high-rise buildings use cladding and insulation similar to that installed at the Grenfell Tower.
In 2014, aluminium composite cladding, similar to that used on the Grenfell tower, was found to have contributed to the spread of a fire at the Lacrosse building in Melbourne's Docklands.
Strata Community Australia had earlier expressed concerns that hundreds of apartment and unit complexes in Victoria may be underinsured.
“The underinsurance of apartments and units could be catastrophic, potentially resulting in millions lost for property owners,” it said.
Commenting on the taskforce, Victorian Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said: "We’re bringing together the key agencies to better detect and address the issue of materials used in a non-compliant way.”
A separate stakeholder reference group, including the building unions, the Master Builders Association of Victoria, and the Housing Industry Association, will also be created, the Real Estate Conversation reported.
The taskforce will be set the mandate of inspecting thousands of apartment blocks built in the last 12 years, but instead of inspections focusing on just one material, Strata Community Australia (Vic) is pushing for the taskforce to make these visits a ‘done once, done right’ experience. 
“The news of thousands of buildings receiving government funded inspections and testing in Victoria is excellent progress, but the building defects crisis unfortunately is not isolated to one material alone,” its general manager Rob Beck said. 
With the growing popularity of glass panel facades and cladding, the threat of substandard products of this variety coming into the market rise too and should prompt quick action, added Beck.
“Similar to the recent Grenfell fire regarding flammable aluminium cladding, we must not wait until a glass panel explodes on a couple sitting on their balcony, or falls to the street below crashing down onto pedestrians.
“There is ample information to suggest this is a problem right now, and we are eager to see these high risk materials dealt with at the same time as flammable cladding, not after.” 
He also said it was not desirable to expect Victorian property owners to bear the expense for remediation “while those causing the issues escape any penalties”.
Though there were no deaths in the Lacrosse Apartments blaze, the owners last year served a $16 million dollar bill to rectify the building, roughly sitting at $40,000 per owner, he said.
</body></html>

Former Victoria premier to head taskforce on flammable cladding probe

<html><body>
The use of cheap building materials imported from China could be compromising people's safety, according to construction materials company Boral Limited chief executive Mike Kane.
Concerns about cladding on buildings have been raised in the aftermath of the fire at London's  Grenfell Tower last week in which at least 79 people are feared killed.
The fire has led to speculation about the causal factors and raised questions about the role of building products. 
Kane, who saw several of his products boycotted by unions in Australia due to industrial action, said he was concerned about cheaper materials flooding into the country and being used for the apartment boom, The Australian Financial Review reported.
"The lure of cheap Chinese products that don't meet western standards is part of what has happened in England and Melbourne," Kane told the AFR.
"They do tend to be cheaper and that can be an incentive [for developers]."
The increased use of environment-efficient materials over safety standards could also pose a risk, added Kane.
"There are people who are so focused on climate change that they are forgetting safety. We have multiple obligations when building but the first is structural - the building shouldn't collapse and fire safety is fundamental of all."
Cladding on buildings may not comply with the Building Code of Australia either because of incorrect labelling - an issue industry bodies such as Ai Group have campaigned over - or because builders or subcontractors incorrectly use a product in a role other than that for which it is suited.
Melbourne's Lacrosse building, which caught fire in 2014, is a case in point. Aluminium composite panels of the sort used in Lacrosse are up to standard when used the right way internally but not when put on the outside of the building, as they are not strong enough to withstand fire. 
Last year, the Victorian Building Authority regulator referred building surveyor Anastasios Galanos for disciplinary action by the Building Practitioners Board, alleging he breached the Building Act and regulations when he certified the Lacrosse tower as compliant. 
Last July, imported roofing panels in Perth's newly built Children's Hospital were discovered to contain asbestos. A week later Australian Border Force suspended all imports by materials supplier Yuanda Australia. 
Private construction group Built chief executive Brett Mason also questioned some of the quality of Chinese products in the market.
"There was a flood of products that came in with the right stamps but some of the fittings and cladding were poorer quality and in some cases it looked as though it may not have been given genuine approval," Mason said.
"We now go and test everything ourselves even if it has a stamp of approval on it."
 
</body></html>

Cheap Chinese building materials pose safety risk, says Boral's Mike Kane

<html><body>
An average of 58 Australians are killed in house fires each year, according to the Public Health Association of Australia.
With a view to prevent such disasters, Direct Connect and Smoke Alarm Testing Services (SATS) have announced a service that promises to dramatically increase the number of smoke alarm checks across Australia.
SATS’ annual maintenance programme will now be offered to a further 800,000 homes nationally through 3,200 real estate agents, helping agents, landlords, house buyers and tenants comply with smoke alarm requirements.
It will form part of Direct Connect’s free end-to-end moving service available to the 3,200 agents that have partnered with Direct Connect for properties under their management.
Direct Connect has been endorsed by national industry bodies REIA, REIV, REINSW, REISA, REIQ, REIACT, REINT and REIWA.
“Research shows that a working smoke alarm can save lives, but most people don’t realise these alarms need regular maintenance,” Direct Connect CEO Paul Docherty said.
“This service by Direct Connect will give agents access to a best-practice testing and maintenance program to roll out across thousands of properties, potentially saving lives.”
Direct Connect manages all aspects of a person’s move, from connecting electricity and gas to organising insurance, removalists and cleaners and anything else required to make moving day easier.
It has helped more than one million people move so far.
</body></html>

Safety

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Safety

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News