<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Trust Fund

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Alice Gunning, the wife of former Real Estate Institute of NSW president Malcolm Gunning, has been sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order.
She has also been fined $1,150 after being convicted of four breaches of the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002.
The NSW Fair Trading investigated the former director of Guncom Pty Ltd after it was discovered a Guncom employee had misappropriated rental bond money.
Gunning pleaded guilty to three offences: failing to have her business’ trust account audited, failing to properly supervise staff, and breaching the rules of conduct under the Act. 
She pleaded not guilty to a fourth alleged offence of being knowingly concerned as a director of a company that fraudulently converted $98,800 of trust money. 
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After a two day hearing before Magistrate Hockey at Parramatta Local Court, Gunning was found guilty of the fourth offence. 
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Magistrate Hockey convicted Ms Gunning of each offence and sentenced her to an intensive correction order with conditions, including supervision by Sydney Community Corrections and 150 hours of community service work. 
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Valerie Griswold, NSW Fair Trading executive director, investigations and enforcement, said managing a trust is a serious responsibility and today’s decision sends a strong message to real estate agents. 
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“Monies held in trust are working funds that underpin every real estate business and must be handled in accordance with the applicable legislation,” Griswold said. 
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“A trust is there to protect each party involved in a transaction and the integrity of your business depends on how well you manage your trust.” 
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Ms Gunning’s real estate licence was previously cancelled in February 2018 for a period of four years. 
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In September 2019, Guncom Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to three offences and was subject to a conditional release order for a period of two years. 
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Ms Gunning has the right to appeal. 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Malcolm Gunning's wife Alice convicted after rental money misappropriation

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A former Gold Coast real estate agent has been fined $10,000 and sentenced to a suspended nine months’ imprisonment by the Southport Magistrates Court after charges were brought by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
Helen Elizabeth White, owner of My Realty Gold Coast, was found guilty of 13 charges relating to unauthorised use, withdrawal and misappropriation of trust monies.
Helen White was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, and fined $10,000.
Ms White’s husband Graham John White, also a real estate agent who worked at My Realty Gold Coast, was found guilty of two charges of failing to conduct and lodge trust account audits for the business.
Ms White and Mr White were permanently disqualified from obtaining a real estate agent licence or certificate.
The court heard from July 2015 to November 2016, Ms White wrongly converted and mismanaged trust account monies to a total sum of $316,895.70.
The former agent used the money for a range of business and personal expenses, including to purchase a rent roll of fourteen properties.
As part of the investigation, the OFT froze the trust account operated by Ms White on 9 November 2016. However, Ms White continued to operate the business and signed and issued five cheques from the account totalling $16,874.
The OFT served Ms White with a notice of licence suspension in December 2016, prohibiting her from trading as a real estate agent.
In spite of this, Ms White continued to act as a property agent, using Mr White’s licence, until Mr White’s licence was suspended on 4 January 2017.
In sentencing, Magistrate Howden said Ms White had shown disrespect for the law by the significant misuse of trust monies and breach of trust.
Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said there was no place in the industry for real estate professionals who misappropriated trust money.
“This obvious disregard for consumers and for the law made it clear that Ms White is not fit to retain her licence,” Mr Bauer said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Helen White of My Realty Gold Coast found guilty of trust fund misappropriation 

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A former Wiseberry Penrith real estate agent, Christopher Black, has been convicted of trust account fraud.
He misused more than $124,000 after the sale of two homes.
Black also pleaded guilty to failing to keep deposits for the two properties, worth more than $158,000, in a trust account.
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Black misused the money for personal use. 
“Black had no authority to withdraw money out of the company trust account.” 
Black was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, to be served by intensive correction order, with a condition that he completes 400 hours of community service and undertakes mental health treatment.
He has the right to lodge an appeal.
Wiseberry Penrith has been under new management since March 2017.
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Former Wiseberry Penrith estate agent convicted of trust fund misappropriation

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A former Brisbane real estate agent has been disqualified from the property industry by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), following an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation.
Patricia Margaret Harper, former director of residential letting and management business Lonrae Pty Ltd operating ‘The Parc Apartments’ in Brisbane, was found to have misappropriated money received in trust, breaching her obligations as a property agent.
Ms Harper was fined $8,000 and disqualified from working in the property industry for 10 years.
The tribunal heard Lonrae went into receivership in December 2013.
In January 2014, the OFT initiated an investigation into the business after a suspected shortfall in the trust account was reported. The investigation subsequently revealed $49,869 was missing.
From November 2011, Ms Harper falsely receipted rental amounts into trust records for rent purportedly paid, for a unit Lonrae was renting, in effect using other trust money to pay her rent. She had also accepted bond payments in cash from tenants and had failed to deposit the cash into the trust account, as well as failing to pay the bond money to the Residential Tenancies Authority as required.
In its investigation, the OFT noted the trust account records (both electronic and physical) were not kept in an appropriate manner, which contributed to the business’s final state of affairs.
Fair Trading Acting Executive Director Craig Turner said under no circumstances was it proper conduct for a property agent to misuse trust money.
“Agents are held to a high standard and must deal with trust money, including bond money properly. They must only transfer it to the rightfully entitled persons and they must accurately record transactions,” Mr Turner said.
“Anyone in the industry who treats trust money as their personal moneybox will be dealt with by the OFT to the full extent of the law.”
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Brisbane letting agent disqualified after trust fund misappropriation  

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Newport, Sydney real estate agent Michael Raoul Edwards has been sentenced to three years jail for trust fund fraud.
It is the longest term given for the crime in NSW.
He was sentenced in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday to three years in jail with a non-parole period of two years.
Edwards, a former director of real estate agency Pittwater Property Management, Barrenjoey Road, Newport, had pleaded guilty to misappropriating about $400,000 in trust funds.
He ran the business for a decade.
Under the Property, Stock &amp; Business Agents Act 2002, real estate licensees must hold clients' funds in a trust account.
NSW Fair Trading's investigations started in 2013.
He has also been disqualification as a director under the act for eight years.
"Dodgy agents are on notice - I'm putting consumers first," Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
NSW Fair Trading said no trust fund records were found at Pittwater Property Management, trading as Edwards &amp; Orr, but through the reconstruction of the company's business and co-operation from former clients, they established the fraud.
According to his live LinkedIn account, Edwards was an agent with LJ Hooker for eight years from 1996.
He recently founded a real estate agency community online platform called<a href="https://localagentsites.com.au/" target="_blank"> Local Agent Sites</a> last month.
His application for bail was denied with his appeal will be be heard later this year.
The next biggest jail term for trust fund fraud in NSW after Edwards' sentence was a two year jail term for a Pyrmont agent who defrauded more than $800,000 last year, according to NSW Fair Trading.
The next highest was when former agents Phillip Chau, Roger and Gordana Ocvirk and Mark Kolodynski were jailed for 18 month terms after frauds of between $330,000 to $1.4 million.
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