Boutique development and construction firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hsn-property-group">HSN Property Group</a> is the latest to seek a new apartment development through the NSW Government's&nbsp;Housing Delivery Authority.

They've filed a State Significant Development Application for a nine-storey building across nine consolidated lots on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-16-spencer-street-rose-bay-nsw-2029">Rose Bay's Spencer Street</a>, just 400m from the centre of the affluent suburb.

“The site’s location and context make it well suited to support a more diverse and sustainable residential offering in the area,” the developer stated in community consultation materials.

&nbsp;

The plans are for 54 apartments, 14 of which will be dedicated to affordable housing. There will be a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments.

The proposal aims to contribute to housing diversity in the Woollahra Local Government Area while taking advantage of recent Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms introduced under the NSW Housing SEPP, according to the Scoping Report prepared by Urbis.

The architecture, led by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mhn-design-union">MHNDU</a>, reflects a "contemporary design approach sensitive to the character of Rose Bay." Communal amenities will include a wellness area with a pool and sauna, a gym, a wine lounge, and landscaped spaces with barbecue facilities.&nbsp;

“The proposed development will offer a suite of premium communal amenities designed to enhance resident wellbeing, foster social connection, and promote a healthy lifestyle,” the project team notes in its public materials.

Three levels of basement parking are planned, and EV charging facilities will be included, aligning with sustainability and transport objectives. A comprehensive traffic study is underway to assess and manage local impacts.

With 54 apartments, the proposal by HSN will be one of the largest developments in Rose Bay for decades. It tops the 50 apartments soon to launch by Orosi on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-avenue-rose-bay-1-the-avenue-nsw-2029">The Avenue</a>, near the Royal Sydney Golf Club.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

First look: HSN plans Spencer St, Rose Bay apartment project

Lendlease’s Barangaroo South precinct is officially complete, marking the culmination of a 15-year urban regeneration project that has revitalised Sydney’s harbourfront.&nbsp;

In 2009, the NSW Government’s Barangaroo Delivery Authority appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lendlease-development">Lendlease</a> as developer to transform what was once an inaccessible container port on the western edge &nbsp;of Sydney’s CBD into one of the city’s most thriving mixed-use destinations. Today, Barangaroo South is home to more than 1,800 residents, 23,000 workers, 95 retailers and welcomes 33,000 visitors each day. The precinct stands as an international benchmark for large-scale urban regeneration.&nbsp;

International Towers Sydney, the three flagship commercial buildings at the centre of &nbsp;Barangaroo South, together with engineered timber buildings Daramu House and &nbsp;International House, attracted major corporate tenants from the outset, including Westpac, &nbsp;PwC and KPMG, who are still there today. These workplaces remain some of the most &nbsp;sought after in Sydney’s CBD with over 95 per cent occupancy– a testament to the appeal of world-class, modern infrastructure alongside the precinct’s dining and entertainment that &nbsp;are a drawcard for businesses.&nbsp;

One Sydney Harbour, the three luxury residential towers designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, has achieved more than $4 billion in sales since its launch in 2019, while setting new Australia property price records. This includes the three-level penthouse that crowns Residences One which sold for more than $141 million in 2019 – the most expensive individual residential property ever sold in Australia. &nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139801 project_image_fid=349150]

Barangaroo South is also Australia’s first mixed-use carbon-neutral development, an accolade achieved through energy-efficient and innovative infrastructure, including a district cooling plant with a harbour water heat rejection system, a recycled water &nbsp;treatment plant, onsite solar and an embedded electricity network.

The precinct has maintained its Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification since 2019, affirming its &nbsp;reputation as the gold standard in large scale, sustainable urban renewal. Additionally, its &nbsp;world leadership status has been validated by the Green Building Council of Australia’s &nbsp;6 Star Green Star Communities recertification (Pilot v.2).

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139801 project_image_fid=349157]

First Nations cultural values were embedded throughout the planning and delivery of the project. The precinct honours Barangaroo, a prominent First Nations woman, through its &nbsp;name. Public art, street names, and design elements across the precinct reflect and &nbsp;celebrate First Nations cultures and connections to Country.&nbsp;

The project's completion positions Barangaroo South as a legacy urban transformation delivered through long-term partnerships and world-leading urban regeneration and placemaking capabilities. &nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139801 project_image_fid=349154]

Tony Lombardo, Group CEO Lendlease, said&nbsp;Barangaroo South represents one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in Australia.

"[It] demonstrates what can be achieved through an ambitious vision, innovative placemaking, long-term commitment and strong partnerships. The precinct has changed the face of Sydney's waterfront, established new benchmarks &nbsp;for sustainable development, and provided a model for urban regeneration that continues &nbsp;to inform our approach to creating places that deliver long-lasting value.”&nbsp;

Tom Mackellar, CEO Development Lendlease, said&nbsp;Barangaroo South has reconnected the city to its harbour in a way that seemed unimaginable 15 years ago and turned it into a thriving precinct where people can live, work and gather on the harbour’s edge.&nbsp;

“This precinct is the result of countless contributions, led by the NSW Government who set the ambition, supported by investment partners who believed in Lendlease’s vision, imagined by architects and designers, shaped by consultants and artists, and brought to &nbsp;life by our dedicated construction teams. &nbsp;

“What we’ve created here is more than buildings – it’s the best of placemaking, sustainability, arts and culture and quality design. Barangaroo South has become an integral part of Sydney that will serve our city and economy for generations.”

Staff Writer

Barangaroo South’s 15-year transformation of  Sydney’s waterfront officially complete

CBE Asia Pacific has lodged plans for a prominent corner site in Fitzroy North, with a proposal that integrates state-significant affordable housing alongside heritage adaptation and new retail.

The application covers a consolidated 2,024 sqm parcel at 201–215 Queens Parade and 6–12 Dummett Crescent. The site includes the heritage-listed Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, fronting Queens Parade, and vacant land to the rear abutting Dummett Crescent.

According to planning documents prepared by proUrban, the proposal seeks approval for a 12-storey residential building comprising 98 apartments, including a component of affordable housing, over a ground floor retail podium integrated within the heritage structure. Approximately 780 sqm of retail space will occupy the ground floor, while residents will have access to over 850 sqm of communal amenity.

The built form presents as two connected volumes: a 12-storey tower addressing Dummett Crescent and a five-storey volume fronting Queens Parade, the latter consistent with a separate Heritage Victoria permit granted in 2023. The tower reaches a maximum height of 38.26 metres, with upper-level setbacks of 14 metres from the western boundary to reduce visual bulk. A 1.5-metre footpath widening is proposed to Dummett Crescent Lane.

Parking is provided across four basement levels, accessed via Dummett Crescent, with a total of 142 car spaces and 143 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cht-architects">CHT Architects</a> is framed by a need to reconcile new density with a sensitive heritage overlay. The Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, identified as a place of State heritage significance, will retain its key façades, with demolition and reconstruction limited to approved elements.

As noted in the Heritage Impact Assessment, the proposal remains consistent with the Heritage Victoria permit, which allows "partial demolition, reconstruction and new works, involving the construction of a five-storey multi-use development and three basement levels".

Affordable housing has been embedded into the proposal under Clause 53.23, with specific apartment allocations aimed at enhancing housing diversity within the Queens Parade Activity Centre.

"The proposal is generally consistent with the relevant policy objectives and the intent of the Yarra Planning Scheme," proUrban states in its planning assessment, citing its alignment with strategic documents including Plan Melbourne and Victoria’s Housing Statement.

CHT Architects' plans emphasise a tiered design that acknowledges the site's varied interfaces—from the elevated Heidelberg Road ramp reserve to the recently built Clifton Views aged care facility to the north-east.

CBE Asia Pacific has not been previously active in this precinct, but the project joins a wave of higher-density residential proposals along the Queens Parade corridor, spurred by Melbourne’s broader push to increase affordable housing in well-connected inner-urban areas.

The site benefits from direct access to the Queens Parade tram corridor and proximity to Clifton Hill Station (approximately 200 metres), as well as green open spaces including Mayors Park and Raines Reserve. Clifton Hill Primary School and the Queens Parade retail village lie within walking distance.

First look: CBE Asia Pacific plans 100-apartment Jenkin House on Queens Parade, Fitzroy North

ALT Pasta, one of Melbourne’s most beloved inner-city pasta bars, has been confirmed as one of the first tenancies for the highly anticipated <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/comme-prahran-182-194-commercial-road-prahran-vic-3181">Comme Prahran</a> development, marking an exciting next chapter for the cult favourite as it prepares to expand into the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/prahran-vic-3181">Prahran</a>.

Fresh off being named National Best Italian Restaurant at the 2025 Restaurant &amp; Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, ALT continues to solidify its reputation as a quietly confident leader in Melbourne’s dining scene. Lauded for its reinterpretation of Italian pasta through a Korean and Japanese lens, the restaurant has grown into a staple since opening three years ago, and its new Prahran outpost will only deepen its local impact.

“From the very beginning, ALT has been about respect - for tradition, for ingredients, and for the process,” shares Mino Han, ALT’s founder, a Korean-Australian chef whose vision is shaped by cultural duality and craftsmanship.&nbsp;

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, just make something beautifully familiar, feel quietly special,” added Han.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108413 project_image_fid=353585]

Positioned at the entrance to Comme Prahran and directly opposite the iconic Prahran Market, the new venue will celebrate the interplay between casual comfort and elevated detail. Designed in collaboration with Rooftop Architecture, the same team behind ALT’s flagship city location, the space will mirror the neighbourhood’s laid-back energy while staying true to the brand’s understated refinement.

Diners can expect a frequently changing menu that takes advantage of the market’s daily produce, along with set menu offerings exclusive to this location. A distinctive chef’s table and open kitchen format are also in the works, allowing guests to experience ALT’s signature intimacy and transparency in a new light.

ALT Prahran won’t replace the original venue; rather, it complements it.

“Our city site is like our heritage bottle; it’ll age gracefully. Prahran is where we’ll play, explore new ingredients, and bring something special to the community,” Mino notes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108413 project_image_fid=353584]

For Comme Prahran, a boutique development by Leeka that blends heritage with multi-dimensional wellness, ALT Pasta’s arrival signals a meaningful addition to its vision of cultural connection, food-first living, and local engagement.

“Being part of Comme is more than just opening a second venue. It’s about contributing to a neighbourhood with character, history, and a strong sense of community. That’s something we deeply relate to,” says Mino.

Sustainability and cultural identity are deeply embedded in the ethos of ALT. From ingredient sourcing to interior design, the new location will reflect both environmental mindfulness and a spirit of inclusion, embodying the values of Melbourne’s diverse, forward-thinking culinary scene.

Comme Prahran is scheduled for completion in late 2027, with ALT Pasta expected to be among the first tenancies to open its doors shortly after.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108413]

National best Italian restaurant ALT Pasta to open at Comme Prahran, bringing refined familiarity to Melbourne’s culinary heart

National BEST Italian restaurant ALT Pasta to open at Comme Prahran

&nbsp;Boutique development and construction firm Ryser has filed plans for its debut apartment building.

Ryser, founded by Jonthan Ryan and Wil Prosser, has sought to develop <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sorelle-4a-fern-place-woollahra-nsw-2025">Sorelle</a>, 28 new apartments at 4a Fern Place, Woollahra.

The&nbsp;750 sqm site on the edge of Bondi Junction falls within the Grafton Precinct Heritage Conservation Area, though it is currently vacant and not identified as a contributory item.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> has been commissioned to design Sorelle, creating an eight and a nine-storey building with six apartments dedicated to affordable housing to support essential workers&nbsp;under the NSW Government’s low and mid-rise housing policy.

The dwelling mix includes 12 one-bedroom units, six one-bedroom affordable units, six two-bedroom units, and four three-bedroom residences.<img alt="4A Fern Place, Woollahra." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86626941-772d-49c5-8d31-a8e42f44cdcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Fern%20bldg%20st.png?VersionId=tWIzXYX9gD60nP1L3..Z0BFbY5mafb36" />

According to the planning documents submitted to the Woollahra Council, the development responds to the complex interface of heritage fabric and urban infrastructure with two mid-rise residential buildings oriented to the north and designed to capitalise on sweeping views over Sydney Harbour and Bellevue Hill.&nbsp;

“The proposal aims to hero some of the brick detailing of Woollahra, celebrating the existing datums of Fern Place, whilst embracing the strong verticals of the Holy Cross Church and Bondi Junction with a nod to the historic iron works and iron rich soils of the area,” Woods Bagot noted in their Design Report.

&nbsp;

Only three car parking spaces are proposed, alongside 33 bicycle bays, in a move that leverages the site's proximity to Bondi Junction train station, just 400 metres away.

Architecturally, the material palette incorporates Corten steel and face brickwork to reference the site’s industrial past and local geological character. Landscaping features include a communal garden bridging the two buildings at ground level, landscaped setbacks to protect visual privacy, and a small corner park intended to soften the public interface.

<img alt="4A Fern Place, Woollahra." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f71766d6-aa14-44df-9bc5-42f91890fd4a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Fern%20bldg%20rear.png?VersionId=uh7u1rJ6NJF5OqyRs9iNJcy6R9ssgaXU" />

Ryser said Sorelle "brings together the best of both worlds, the intimacy of village life with the amenity and luxury of modern design."

The developer said the project marks the first of three developments they will be announcing shortly, a key step in their&nbsp;evolution as a builder-developer delivering meaningful, high quality urban outcomes across Sydney.

The expectation is the Woollahra LGA will become popular for developers with the signal from the NSW Government they will deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw" target="">Sydney</a>’s first new heavy rail station in more than a decade – enabling up to 10,000 new homes by rezoning land around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025" target="">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/edgecliff-nsw-2027" target="">Edgecliff</a>&nbsp;stations.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/next-stop-woollahra-train-station-delivering-up-to-10-000-new-homes-in-the-heart-of-sydney">Next stop Woollahra train station - delivering up to 10,000 new homes in the heart of Sydney&nbsp;</a>

First look: Ryser plans two apartment buildings on Woollahra, Bondi Junction border

State Government

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The NSW Government has announced it would fund the increase in the emergency services levy for NSW councils this financial year to meet the cost of new workers’ compensation for firefighters.
Acting Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and the Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the State’s 128 councils would not have to pay the additional $13.6 million this financial year.
They said the NSW Government was doing this primarily to take the strain off of regional and rural areas badly affected by the drought.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said firefighters risk their lives to keep the people of NSW safe every day and it’s important they receive the full support of the communities they serve.
“The new laws enable eligible firefighters diagnosed with one of 12 cancers to automatically be presumed to have acquired that cancer because of their firefighting work,” Mr Elliott said.
“These changes will ensure current and former firefighters – both volunteer and paid – who need care and support receive their entitlements immediately.”
Mrs Hancock said the Government will continue to support local councils to deliver for their local communities.
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NSW Government to increase funding for council emergency services levy

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA WA) has congratulated the WA state government on a return to surplus in this year’s budget, however expressed a level of disappointment that this has not led to more significant stimulus measures for the struggling property market.  The Treasurer should be commended for his careful management of the state’s finances to get us to the point of a surplus in 2019/20 and progress toward his 150,000 new jobs target. While we welcome the temporary increases to Keystart thresholds that are the result of this stronger financial position, we do think that there is more the McGowan government could do to support people purchasing homes. The property industry has a significant impact on the WA economy contributing approximately $21 billion to Gross State Product in 2017/18, therefore measures to support households can also significantly boost our economy and local jobs.  The state government’s revenue, via property taxes in particular, would be boosted considerably if the property market recovery was further supported  The budget papers on one hand, recognise the decreased revenues that have resulted from ongoing weaker property market conditions and on the other hand, make predictions in the forward estimates about projected increases in revenue that are expected to come from sources such as transfer duty. Unless we see more support for the recovery, the government will not see an increase in revenue from these sources. FOREIGN BUYERS SURCHARGE:
UDIA also believes that the Foreign Buyers Surcharge (the surcharge) is not providing the government with as much revenue as was initially predicted in last year’s budget papers.  Last year the Treasurer was very enthusiastic about the prospect of about $120 million in expected revenue over four years resulting from the surcharge.  This year, the surcharge revenue figures are hard to judge given they are buried in the broader Transfer Duty line items. Last year the surcharge was listed as a separate line item with clear forward estimates related to revenue.   I just don’t see how that target will be reached given the decline in foreign investment we are experiencing,  when attracting foreign investment free of surcharges could have been a unique selling proposition and drive further investment for Perth. MARKET STIMULUS:
In terms of further market stimulus, UDIA wants to see a stamp duty concession introduced for seniors looking to downsize into more liveable homes.  As well as ensuring that seniors live in homes suitable to their needs, broader government revenues would benefit from a concession on stamp duty given the greater market activity it would generate.  Not to mention that it will free up more homes for younger families to access,. I hope that the Treasurer is true to the advice he gave to us today and considers a seniors stamp duty concession as the state finances continue to improve. INFRASTRUCTURE:
UDIA has also welcomed expenditure on METRONET, redevelopment plans for the East Perth Power Station and other major road infrastructure.  It is very encouraging to see that construction will start on the Thornlie-Cockburn and Yanchep rail lines this year.
The precincts around the new stations will create important opportunities to provide a diversity of more affordable, connected housing to the people of WA.
Infrastructure costs have fallen significantly in recent years, and given the surplus achieved and forecast, there is no better time for the government to invest in infrastructure. We are still keen to find out what the government’s value capture policy will be so that industry has more clarity regarding how that will impact development in those precincts. Details on Value Capture have not been listed in the budget papers.   Overall, UDIA is pleased to see that the state is in a more stable financial position than it has been in recent years and we trust that the state government will build on the Keystart initiative and continue to support the property market recovery moving forward.
TANYA STEINBECK is the UDIA WA CEO
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WA government must build on initial housing stimulus measures: UDIA WA's Tanya Steinbeck

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The former Labor state government minister Carl Scully has been appointed among the community and business leaders to chair the Sydney Planning Panels that make decisions on major development proposals.
The appointments were announced by the Department of Planning and Environment’s executive director of regions, Steve Murray, who said the new chairs bring a high level of expertise to the panels.
“The decisions made by the Sydney Planning Panels will be independent and based on the merits of the proposals that are put before them.”
The four new Planning Panel Chairs are:
<ul>
<li>The Hon. Carl Scully — Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel</li>
<li>Mr Justin Doyle — Sydney Western City Planning Panel</li>
<li>Professor Helen Lochhead — Sydney South Planning Panel</li>
<li>Mr Peter Debnam — Sydney North Planning Panel</li>
</ul>
The new chair of the Sydney Central Planning Panel is expected to be determined in the coming weeks. 
The new chairs have been appointed because the roles of Sydney Planning Panel Chair and District Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission have been separated. 
The appointments followed consideration of 70 applications by a selection panel. 
Currently, the projects they assess are valued over $20 million but from the 1st March that threshold will be increased to $30 million.
The panels also act as the relevant planning authority in some decisions when directed by the Minister for Planning or the Greater Sydney Commission, undertake rezoning reviews, and provide advice on planning and development matters when requested.
Carl Scully — Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel
A former minister of the NSW parliament, Mr Scully’s career spans more than 30 years in the public and private sectors. He practised law for seven years before embarking on a 17-year political career. For almost 12 of those years he served in ministerial positions involved in the delivery of major infrastructure projects including the portfolios of public works and services, roads and transport, and housing. He returned to the private sector in 2007 where he has worked for WorleyParsons, most recently as director of International Business Development. In 2015, he was appointed as Chair of the NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council.
Justin Doyle — Sydney Western City Planning Panel
Mr Doyle is a lawyer focused on planning and environment law, with 11 years’ experience as a practicing barrister, and 10 years before that as a solicitor. He has been the lead counsel for a team of barristers acting for the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure in cases on the land at Badgerys Creek to allow for the development of Western Sydney Airport. His work also includes land contamination issues and the redevelopment of the former James Hardie asbestos plant which includes negotiations with the Department of Lands and Parramatta Council.
<h4>Professor Helen Lochhead — Sydney South Planning Panel</h4>
For more than 20 years Prof Lochhead has combined university teaching with her practice as an architect specialising in complex large-scale projects. She is currently Dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of NSW. Prior to that her career focused on the planning and delivery of major projects ranging from a five-year city improvements program for the City of Sydney to major urban regeneration projects. Prof Lochhead has extensive experience on university, government and industry committees, panels and boards, most notably as the National Board of the Australian Institute of Architects, Central Sydney Planning Committee, Sydney Harbour Design Review Panel and the NSW Heritage Council.
Peter Debnam — Sydney North Planning Panel
Mr Debnam served as leader of the opposition of the NSW parliament as well as holding several shadow ministerial positions including shadow minister for planning and urban affairs and housing from 1997 to 1999. Before politics Mr Debnam had broad management experience starting with his military service followed by business development and general management in the aerospace and rural service industries. He completed an MBA in 1993. Since leaving politics in 2011, Mr Debnam has contributed to charities and not for profit organisations including as the Chair of NSW Kids in Need Foundation Limited, The Muscular Dystrophy Association of NSW, and the Advisory Board of Our Big Kitchen Limited.
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Carl Scully gets eastern Sydney planning posting from State Government

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The Sydney Harbour foreshore is set for infrastructure upgrades after the NSW Government announced plans to sell the revenue streams to the ground lease rental income at four government-owned properties.
The government plans to sell the ground lease rental income for the Novotel Rockford at Darling Harbour, the Holiday Inn Old Sydney in The Rocks, the Quay West car park and the Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks.
Property NSW CEO Brett Newman said the transactions will provide much needed funding.
"These transactions will enable us to unlock much needed funding to preserve and enhance our iconic foreshore, ensuring the millions of locals and tourists who visit these precincts each year enjoy a world-class experience," he said.
By selling the ground lease rental income for the properties, the government will receive an upfront payment to help fund important infrastructure work, while ensuring the properties remain in government hands.
The plan to divest the ground lease rental income follows the announcement in 2015 that certain non-core commercial assets held by the government would be considered for divestment.
The government has previously entered into long-term lease arrangements with existing tenants at the four properties and the proposed divestment strategy will have no impact on existing lessees.
On expiry of the term to receive ground lease rental income by the successful purchaser(s), the rights to the ground lease rental income at the four properties will revert back to the government.
Property NSW is managing the divestment, with Deloitte Real Estate engaged to provide due diligence, advisory and transaction services.
In December 2016, the Government announced the divestment of the ground lease rental income at Darling Quarter for $191 million to help fund the new Circular Quay ferry wharves.
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

State Government divestments at The Rocks to fund Harbour infrastructure work

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/79581/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The Victorian government’s 2017 housing policy contains a bulk transfer of public housing to housing associations. Housing Minister Martin Foley’s explanation is that “the state is a terrible housing manager”. 
A similar rationale underlies the handing of public housing estates to private developers to build private housing, the sales of which fund some new public dwellings with the added justification of increasing social mix.
Our soon-to-be-published research examines the rollout of this program. In inner Melbourne, following redevelopment of the Kensington, Carlton and Prahran estates, nine more estates have been targeted. The tenants of buildings to be demolished will be relocated from mid-2018, according to a government briefing paper.
The federal Greens MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, has criticised the program as selling public land to private developers “for a bagful of cash and a smattering of new social housing”. He adds that Melbourne needs “a large-scale build of new public housing on a 1960s scale”. 
Foley’s defence of the rollout, in an odd non sequitur, is that Labor:
… can’t condemn another generation of Victorians to live in housing poverty.
A flawed idea that began with Thatcher
Public housing stock transfer and estate redevelopments in public-private mix are part of a trend that began in Thatcher’s Britain. The Blair government continued the approach, which has become neoliberal policy orthodoxy in the UK and Australia. 
This allows governments to wriggle out of providing housing for people on low incomes by transferring responsibility to non-government and private sectors. 
The thing is, housing associations are not necessarily secure or better managers, especially as they become institutions in their own right. Furthermore, privatisation of public land to fund upgrades to public housing not only fails to deliver good value for taxpayers, but is unsustainable. At some point there will be further upgrades needed and no land left to sell.
The argument that the state should not be in the business of managing or building housing is one we’re hearing more often. It’s connected to the small-government case more broadly: should the state be involved in health care, education, the media?
As the ABC and BBC demonstrate, however, state-owned enterprises can operate perfectly efficiently. And, ironically, they provide a rare source of ideological independence from both government and big business.
Why shouldn’t the state fund an ongoing program of upgrading, replacing and building public housing? Why shouldn’t it establish a regional organisational structure which is locally responsive? There is no case for assuming that, simply because the state is involved, construction and management must be inferior and people will be consigned to “housing poverty”. 
The major determinant is a matter of finance. And the state will always have better and cheaper access to finance than the non-government and private sectors. 
If finance were really as impossible a problem as governments like to make out, and if it were deemed reasonable that privatisating public land could help fund this process – and these are big ifs, which should be publicly debated – then the government should be the developer, to retain control of the profits. These should go back into public housing instead of disappearing with a private developer. 
Lessons from Carlton and Kensington
The Victorian government’s call for tenders for its Public Housing Renewal Program does indicate some learning from the experiences at Kensington and Carlton.
The sale price for the public land “will reflect the land value and must meet a minimum threshold based on a market value mechanism agreed by the Valuer General Victoria [VGV]”. This is an important concession, though VGV valuation is no guarantee of market price. 
The tender document notes that “where the return achieved by the development proceeds exceeds a benchmark, it is anticipated that there will be an agreed sharing of the excess”. The government will need to keep a close eye, though, on the costs and profits declared by the developer. 
The specification for the number of social housing dwellings on the redeveloped estates to “exceed the current number of public housing dwellings by 10%” is a definite improvement on the Kensington project. But replacing three-bedroom family dwellings with studio apartments, as is the case at Carlton, doesn’t constitute an increase in tenants. 
Even if tenant numbers do increase, 10% seems a disappointingly modest aim.
It is the social mix objective that really brings this approach unstuck, however, especially when the favoured model of private developers is to separate public and private residents by buildings, if not entire precincts. 
The minister reacts with horror to the suggestion that inner-city public land should start from the presumption of 100 percent public housing and work back from there according to the development economics. It seems a manufactured horror. Gentrified inner Melbourne is not Brixton or Baltimore – these estates are surrounded by private housing and excellent public services and community facilities where opportunities for interaction are plentiful.
Let’s dismiss the fig leaf of increasing social mix on estates in privileged inner cities. We should concentrate instead on providing as much low-income housing as we possibly can for people who desperately need somewhere decent to live.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-shaw-39629" target="_blank">Kate Shaw</a> is Future Fellow, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Why should the state wriggle out of providing public housing? Kate Shaw

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There's not going to be much news for the first home buyers within Tuesday's NSW state government budget.
That's because the Premier Gladys Berejiklian has already announced her housing affordability package which officially starts July 1.
It was a valiant effort, but one I felt without convincing reasoning for the major policy of relief for the first home buyer.
It had the impression of the state government being seen to do something under the weight of all the recent unaffordability headlines.
The NSW Government’s solution for housing affordability sees stamp duty abolished on all houses and apartments up to $650,000 and reduced stamp duty relief for homes up to $800,000.
The valid fear is the government's well intentioned measures could prove counter-productive and lead to an increase in prices if first home buyers who hold off during June, then rush into the market in July.
Indeed the Starr Partners agency quickly noted vendors seeking to prise more of of their offerings by asking their estate agents to list their homes for slightly more, given that first home buyers will soon have more to spend. 
"When first home buyer grants were introduced a few years ago, we saw the same thing," Douglas Driscoll, the Starr Partners chief noted.
Though it's unlikely to impact too deeply in Sydney’s inner and middle-ring suburbs as just 20 per cent of detached housing stock and 33 per cent of unit stock fall within the $650,000 price threshold for stamp duty exemptions.
No suburbs within a 25km radius of the CBD have a median house price under $650,000, while just 38 have median unit prices under the figure which has not been indexed.
CoreLogic noted across in the entire Sydney metropolitan area just 25 per cent of dwelling sales over the past year were at a price of $650,000 or less.
The measure will encourage higher update of apartments given their pricing.
As Driscoll said the affordability crisis is a Sydney issue, not a state wide issue so regional NSW first home buyers are set to benefit the most from the measure.
It will take a big rise in first time buyer demand to prop up the overall housing market, filling any gap by fewer investors should they exit in the market.
There was an historic four percent low of NSW housing finance commitments to owner occupier first home buyers in recent calculations compared to 46 percent of lending to investors. 
Young first home buyers who don't wish to rush the market after July 1 will no doubt seek out the Federal Budget's simple superannuation top-up scheme that offers generous tax breaks.
The Federal Government's headline housing measure also kicks in from July 1 when the first-home buyer can start to salary sacrifice into their super account.
Withdrawals for home purchasing, taxed at marginal tax rates less a 30 percent offset, will be allowed from 1 July 2018.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
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Not much not already announced for first home buyers in NSW budget 

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GUEST OBSERVER
The REIQ welcomes the State Government’s extension of the First Home Buyer Grant boost until December 2017, however is disappointed that the Government has refused to broaden the grant to include established homes in regional Queensland.
Regional Queensland property markets continued to struggle, with the housing oversupply one of the region’s biggest problems.
We welcome the goal behind the First Home Buyer Grant, which is to stimulate jobs and this measure has been successful in the southeast corner, with the added benefit of additional supply moderating price growth where demand is strong.
However, additional supply in regional Queensland is going to further slow these markets and make any price recovery much longer to come into effect.
The REIQ also welcomes those measures designed to stimulate jobs in regional Queensland, where climbing unemployment is impacting on the community in devastating ways. 
Unemployment destabilises housing tenure and this uncertainty is damaging to the fabric of the community.
The government’s $200 million jobs program, Works for Queensland, delivered over the next two years into regional Queensland, will tackle the need for infrastructure in regional communities and also the unemployment issue head on and we applaud these efforts.
The REIQ was disappointed this government has chosen to ignore advice from a range of experts on abolishing stamp duty.
Stamp duty is an onerous fiscal burden that stifles housing mobility and many experts are in agreement, including the Henry Tax Review, that stamp duty should be replaced.
When the cost of selling your house comes with an additional price tag of tens of thousands of dollars it gives many people pause.
Empty nesters wait longer to downsize and young families wait longer to upsize and this creates inefficiencies in the housing market that are undesirable.
The real estate sector provided a significant revenue stream for the government and employed around 50,000 Queenslanders.
The government should heed the advice of the experts when it comes to the health and well-being of this vital sector in the Queensland economy.
The key pillars that underpin the real estate profession are fragile – jobs figures are soft, wages growth is flat and investors are facing tightened lending criteria.
Real estate is facing considerable head winds and the Government needs to acknowledge these challenges and devise appropriate policy responses to ensure its continued growth,” she said. 
Antonia Mercorella is chief executive officer, REIQ, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.reiq.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Key pillars underpinning real estate profession are fragile: Antonia Mercorella 

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McGrath sold the latest tranche of government-owned Millers Point properties last night for a total of $12,765,000.
The four properties sold under the hammer included two terrace homes, two side-by-side terraces sold in one line, and a landmark seven-bedroom residence which was originally built as the “Hit &amp; Miss” hotel.  
McGrath Edgecliff agent, Lorraine Crawford, said the Millers Point market "continues to show strength."
It saw healthy bidding on all properties with the buyers a mix of owner occupiers and investors.  
“We have maintained McGrath’s 100 percent auction clearance rate with the stand out result the sale of the iconic “Hit &amp; Miss” hotel which sold under the hammer for $4,805,000,” said Ms Crawford. 
The "Hit &amp; Miss" hotel was licensed from 1852 until 1923.
It later operated as a migrant hostel, before it was remodelled into five residential apartments in the 1930s.
The heritage building is a rare offering with exquisite features ready to be restored to a grand home. 
The properties were sold by Lorraine Crawford, Peter Starr and Andrew Stewart of McGrath Edgecliff.
69 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/sydney-cbd/millers-point/331237" target="_blank">Windmill Street,  Millers Point</a>, NSW (above)
Sale price: $4,805,000
<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/2017/04/6/700_trinity.jpg" alt="">
14-16 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/sydney-cbd/millers-point/331236" target="_blank">Trinity Avenue,  Millers Point</a>, NSW (above)
Sale price: $3,000,000
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/04/6/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-06%20at%2010.32.47%20AM.png" alt="">
52 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/sydney-cbd/millers-point/331240" target="_blank">Kent Street,  Millers Point</a>, NSW (above)
Sale price: $2,600,000
 
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/04/6/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-06%20at%2010.33.50%20AM.png" alt="">
1 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/sydney-cbd/millers-point/331351" target="_blank">Windmill Street,  Millers Point</a>, NSW (above)
Sale price: $2,360,000
 
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More Millers Point property sold by NSW Government including Hit & Miss hotel premises 

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Pittwater MP Rob Stokes's planning portfolio will be taken over by Lane Cove MP and former energy minister Anthony Roberts (above) in the new NSW State Government cabinet.
Stokes takes on education in the ministry reshuffle announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Her Deputy Liberal leader Dominic Perrottet will move from finance to become treasurer, as was his entitlement.
There will be a minister for the $16.8 billion WestConnex motorway, the Penrith MP Stuart Ayres.
Cronulla MP Mark Speakman moves from environment to attorney-general, replacing Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton who takes on environment and the challenging local government portfolio.
Ryde MP Victor Dominello moves from innovation and better regulation to finance.
Andrew Constance remains Transport and Infrastructure Minister.
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Rob Stokes hands planning ministry in NSW Cabinet to Anthony Roberts

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The architect Eugene Marchese has emerged as one of the buyers in the State Government's Miller Point terrace selloff.
He's secured a 1875 Victorian Italianate terrace <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-millers+point-122044050" target="_blank">for $3.2 million</a> with wife Joanne.
Part of the Winsbury Terrace row, the property was advertised as requiring a complete restoration when offered by McGrath selling agents Peter Starr and Lorraine Crawford.
The three storey, four bedroom home is a 5.7 metre wide terrace on a 154 sqm Kent Street block with views over the Harbour Bridge and Observatory Hill.
So far the government has sold 91 properties ranging from $1.55 million to $7.7 million.
This article was first published in the Daily Telegraph.
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