Rockdale has long been characterized as a suburb on the cusp. Well-located, well-connected, but historically underserved by modern apartment offerings.

It has everything going for it: outstanding connectivity to the Sydney CBD, just four train stops to Central Station, strong local amenity anchored by Roc​kdale Plaza and a growing main-street dining scene, and enviable proximity to Brighton-Le-Sands. The six-kilometre beachfront is lined with bayside restaurants, cafés, and walking paths, giving residents a lifestyle typically associated with much more expensive coastal suburbs.

What Rock​dale has lacked is high-quality contemporary apartments. Most existing developments date back several decades, with floorplans that no longer support modern living needs, and buildings constructed long before today’s standards in engineering, efficiency, and sustainability.

Lender, fund manager and apartment developer Princeton identified the gap early. Seeing all the right ingredients in Rockd​ale, transport, lifestyle, retail, and affordability, they set out to deliver what the suburb was missing. Their answer is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a>, a collection of 58 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments now nearing completion just a short walk from Ro​ckdale Plaza, home to over 50 specialist retailers and anchored by&nbsp;Woolworths, Big W and Aldi.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136442 project_image_fid=355216]

Understanding they would be resetting the benchmark for the area, Princeton focused on ensuring buyers received best-in-class quality, longevity, and protection.

A major step was securing the sought-after Latent Defects Insurance policy from Resilience Insurance. This policy protects apartment buyers from structural or waterproofing defects for the first 10 years of the building’s lifecycle. Crucially, it is first-response insurance, meaning that if an issue arises, the insurer pays immediately for remediation—rather than waiting for lengthy investigations to determine fault before work can begin. For purchasers, it offers an unprecedented layer of security rarely seen in Sydney apartment projects.

During construction, independent building inspection firm SDSS has been providing Technical Inspection Services, bringing highly specialised construction experts on-site at key stages to ensure workmanship meets the highest standards. The project is being built by Coplex, an iCIRT-rated construction company, and throughout the build SDSS has frequently referred to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a> as one of the best projects currently on their books.

Princeton also doubled down on comfort, acoustics, and livability.&nbsp;As well as being the only building along Princes Highway with a landscaped buffer between the building and the road, Princeton has purposefully included double-glazed windows in all apartments to reduce noise.

Apartments feature double-glazed, noise-reducing windows and ducted air conditioning in every residence.&nbsp;In addition to the project’s transport convenience, Princeton has partnered with GoGet Car Share to provide a dedicated GoGet vehicle housed permanently within the building. Residents will receive a free annual GoGet membership, paying only usage fees, offering a flexible alternative to owning a second car and enhancing the project’s sustainability credentials.

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Residents will enjoy an exclusive rooftop oasis, purpose-designed as an extension of their living space. The communal rooftop includes BBQ facilities and outdoor entertaining areas, a&nbsp;pergola-shaded dining zone, a dedicated children’s play space, and a landscaped herb garden.

Princeton and Coplex is approaching completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marque-rockdale-602-608-princes-highway-rockdale-nsw-2216">Marque Rockdale</a>, and are expecting residents to move in early in the new year. The mix of apartment configurations and price points have been a hit with young professionals, those who need to commute to the CBD, and families who appreciate doorstep amenity.

“Marque is a place where residents will be proud to call it home," Princeton Head of Development George Young says.

"We’ve worked really hard with Coplex and our design team to deliver an incredible building for the future home owners to make their own. The homes are all designed to allow the residents to make it their own, a place to belong and live a stylish urban life."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136442]

Joel Robinson

Marque Rockdale sets a new standard of apartment living in Sydney's south

Plans to revitalize the&nbsp;long-established Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre into a mixed-use community combining living, shopping, dining, health and wellbeing facilities, have been proposed to the Gold Coast City Council.

The Benowa Gardens Urban Village proposal by Benowa Gardens Holdings seeks to transform the 17,660 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/203-ashmore-road-benowa-qld-4217">203 Ashmore Road</a> into a contemporary, sustainable destination that reflects global trends in modern community design while retaining the familiar local character residents value.

The site is bordered by Ashmore and Benowa Roads and Carrara, with ready access to Pindara private hospital, four schools, TAFE, sports fields and the nearby Botanic Gardens.

Benowa Gardens Holdings is seeking a preliminary Council approval only for its proposed masterplan and variations to the site’s Neighbourhood Centre zoning.&nbsp; 
Formal Public Exhibition commenced Friday and also marks the start of comprehensive community consultation with surroundings residents, schools, P&amp;Cs, existing retailers, nearby sporting clubs, arts groups and Botanic Gardens volunteers.

Designed by Neylan Architecture, the masterplan envisions around 413 new apartments, complemented by upgraded retail, dining, and wellness amenities as part of 10,000 sqm of retail, and 9,630 sqm of office space/medical suites.

The development will feature green open spaces, shaded promenades, landscaped terraces, pedestrian walkways, and expanded healthcare and lifestyle services in synergy with the neighbouring Pindara Private Hospital and local schools.

<img alt="Benowa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="244f4d54-2e67-4141-92b8-78d5735f47c2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-26%20at%2012.47.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=FmF5lzhpwVZc7POsdB770TJ_Bf2c0od8" />

“This concept embraces the way people increasingly want to live - safely, conveniently, and within strong local communities,” said Patrick Lu, Director of Benowa Gardens Holding.

“Benowa Gardens will set a new benchmark for integrated living on the Gold Coast. It’s a thoughtful, community-minded evolution that brings global best practice in urban design to one of the city’s most established areas.”

Lu said this isn’t just a redevelopment, it’s a renewal with purpose.

“Benowa Gardens has served the community for decades. Our goal is to ensure it continues to do so for generations to come, as a lively, connected Urban Village where people can truly live, work and thrive. We’re already talking to school leaders and the community to seek their feedback on our proposal, and have taken on board their ideas to improve student safety with additional “traffic calming” measures on Carrara Street. We’re conducting meaningful and sincere consultations and want to play our role in preserving and enhancing the local community."

The proposed redevelopment aims to deliver tangible benefits across the Benowa and wider Gold Coast community, including:

<ul>
	<li>Improvement of retail amenity, to capture the under-served local market demand and keep the local business at their local shopping centre.</li>
	<li>Housing diversity; offering a range of apartment types for key workers, downsizers, and local families who wish to remain in the area.</li>
	<li>Enhanced shopping and dining; revitalised retail spaces designed to support local businesses and attract more visitors.</li>
	<li>Health and wellbeing access; additional medical and wellness amenities to complement existing local facilities.</li>
	<li>Improved traffic flow and access; two new access points, upgraded intersections, upgrade pedestrian pathway’s signal and proposed upgrade of pedestrian and cycle connections/space to improve safety and convenience, especially for school children.</li>
	<li>Environmental sustainability; energy-efficient design, green rooftops, and water-sensitive landscaping to reduce emissions and enhance comfort.</li>
	<li>Local jobs and investment; supporting hundreds of construction and long-term roles while stimulating local economic growth.</li>
</ul>

The group behind the project boasts extensive experience in the property development industry, both in Australia and international markets. Over the past 23 years, the group has been involved in the development and management of a diverse portfolio of assets including residential dwellings, shopping centres, bulky-goods stores, community and medical facilities, childcare centres, offices, hotels, and taverns, across Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast.

Benowa Gardens to become new mixed-use urban village

Demand for townhouses in Melbourne’s inner west has surged as buyers seek the elusive combination of space, affordability, and location.&nbsp;

With family-first apartments increasingly rare and standalone homes often out of reach, townhouses have emerged as the new sweet spot, delivering generous living areas with lower maintenance needs within close proximity to the Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/kings-lane-south-kingsville-50-58-new-street-south-kingsville-vic-3015">Kings Lane</a>, the new under-construction townhouse development by the family-owned developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/blue-run">Blue Run</a>&nbsp;in South Kingsville, responds directly to this trend. Comprising just 25 residences designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project offers a compelling alternative to both apartment downsizers and family upsizers. With three-bedroom homes priced under $1 million, it presents one of the area’s rare attainable pathways to townhouse living less than eight kilometres from the CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145042 project_image_fid=355147]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-kingsville-vic-3015">South Kingsville</a> itself is quietly becoming one of Melbourne’s most dynamic pockets of urban renewal. Flanked by the established appeal of Yarraville, Newport and Williamstown, the suburb balances quiet, village-like streetscapes with major infrastructure upgrades and a growing slate of retail, dining and lifestyle amenity.&nbsp;

Kings Lane occupies a well-connected site at 50–58 New Street, just off Blackshaws Road and within walking distance of the emerging Union Quarter precinct, a major retail destination anchored by Woolworths, specialty food outlets and wellness services.

A 400-metre stroll brings residents to the Vernon Street shops, a local favourite known for its mix of independent grocers, cafes and family-run eateries. For broader shopping options, Altona Gate Shopping Centre and Yarraville Square are both within a short drive. Spotswood IGA and the Williamstown retail strip further broaden the convenience of daily essentials.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145042 project_image_fid=355139]

Dining options in the area lean toward eclectic and community-driven, with standouts like Rocco’s Deli, Dad and Dave’s, and Pizza d’ASPORTO offering a range of casual and elevated menus. Cafés such as Hudson Road Wine &amp; Beer and Blacksheep Coffee add to the lively yet local feel of the neighbourhood.

Green space is another hallmark of life at Kings Lane. Edwards Reserve is close enough for morning walks or casual sport, while larger parks like Newport Lakes, Yarraville Gardens, and Cruickshank Park are all a few minutes’ drive away. More than half of the nine-hectares of new green space or parkland being created as part of the West Gate tunnel works is located just at the end of New Street, the same street as Kings Lane.

&nbsp;

For those with school-age children, South Kingsville is home to a range of quality childcare centres and schools, including Kingsville Primary, Spotswood Primary, and Williamstown North Primary. Community Children’s childcare and South Kingsville Preschool are nearby, making the suburb particularly attractive to young families.

Transport links continue to improve, with Spotswood Station and the West Gate Freeway both within a five-minute radius. Future upgrades, including the proposed sky rail for Newport and Spotswood, and the delivery of the West Gate Tunnel project, promise even better access to the CBD and Melbourne Airport in the years to come.

Kings Lane's 25 all-electric townhouses are currently under construction, and will complete in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145042]

Staff Writer

Kings Lane townhouses offers rare value in Melbourne's thriving inner west

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia</a> has set a new apartment price record for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/rhodes-nsw-2138">Rhodes</a>, a suburb the company has been instrumental in transforming over the past two decades.

The milestone follows the delivery of thousands of apartments across the harbourside peninsula, culminating in the $4.5 million sale of a 220 sqm penthouse in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/rhodes-central-oasis-39-marquet-street-rhodes-nsw-2138">Rhodes Central Oasis</a> building, which Billbergia completed earlier this year. It is the first apartment in Rhodes to surpass not only the $4 million mark for settled sales, but also the $3 million mark, eclipsing the previous $2.75 million record set in 2021.

The purchaser had originally secured several apartments in the 40-storey tower off the plan as investments. During settlement, she spent more time in the Rhodes area and was so impressed with the building that she decided to downsize from her Northbridge home into the four-bedroom plus MPR penthouse.

The sale underscores the long-term work Billbergia has undertaken in Rhodes since the early 2000s. The company, rated 4.5 Gold Stars under the NSW iCIRT system, identifying it as one of the state’s most trustworthy and financially secure developers, was a pioneer of the area’s urban renewal. What was once a heavily industrial waterfront has become one of Sydney’s most successful examples of transit-oriented development.

<img alt="Billbergia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56093d7f-db18-42f4-bf9b-115bdf76f5f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-26%20at%2011.10.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pca77Mr.H83nwXbJexmaLUAqBewtQ7d9" />

Billbergia is now driving the peninsula’s next major evolution: the most ambitious project in its nearly four-decade history. They are planning the Rhodes Bay Masterplan, an eight-tower, mixed-use precinct on Leeds Street. Currently with the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority which is now championing large-scale projects across the state, the Rhodes Bay Masterplan lays the groundwork for a generational reshaping of this important pocket of Sydney’s Inner West.

The masterplan spans more than 31,000 sqm of amalgamated industrial land along the foreshore, land that has been privately held and inaccessible to the community for more than a century. According to Billbergia’s Development Director, Saul Moran, reclaiming this land for public use is central to the company’s vision. 
 
“What’s so exciting is that we have over 300 metres of privately-held industrialised waterfront, land that’s been locked away for more than 100 years, which we’re bringing back to the community,” he says. “It’s taken many years to assemble sites like these, and the goal now is to transform them into meaningful public space where new homes can be built in an integrated, amenity-rich setting.”

At full completion, the Rhodes Bay Masterplan is expected to deliver over 2000 apartments, with the first 1000 to be completed by 2029. Billbergia’s design focused on nine slender towers, so they could give back more to the ground plane. There will be more than 16,000sq m of new parkland and recreation space, including sports fields, a foreshore play area and waterfront green links. Around 14,600 sqm of retail is also proposed, extending the precinct’s role as a true mixed-use hub.

<img alt="Rhodes Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="240ffc41-4f26-421a-9606-5c56f6fc2d93" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-26%20at%2011.05.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=BkBxZr7S8CAt1vgNa8AF3zjdc3YuVh0L" />

“Density only works when it’s paired with amenity, transport and open space, and that’s what’s made Rhodes such an amazing success story,” Moran says, adding that the demographic shift Billbergia has seen over the last two decades has informed their future development pipeline in the suburb.

“Rhodes has moved from being largely an investor market to a strong owner-occupier community,” Moran says. “There’s real demand for three-bedroom homes, flexible intergenerational layouts, and apartments people can grow into.”

&nbsp;“We’re designing taller, more slender towers to free up the ground level for sport, recreation and green space. High-density communities thrive when people have the best backyards in Australia, and that’s what we want to create here.”

Demand remains robust, evidenced by Billbergia’s recent results. “We achieved a record sale across the entirety of Rhodes Central just last week,” Moran says. “It shows the depth of confidence buyers have in what’s being built here.”

Billbergia’s vertically integrated model allows them to overcome the recent cost escalation and challenges in the build environment. “Having an in-house construction team lets us control feasibility, value management and quality from day one,” Moran says. “It’s critical in the current market, where construction escalation is at the forefront of every project’s viability.”

The company is also leveraging the NSW Government’s new Housing Delivery Authority process, which Moran describes as a more efficient pathway without compromising design standards. 
 
“We’re really applauding the NSW Government for its efforts to increase housing supply. There’s been a remarkable improvement in how they’re helping deliver more homes, more quickly.”

Billbergia has already commenced construction of Stage One of the Rhodes Bay masterplan. They will be lodging the State Significant Development Application before Christmas.

“We’re moving quickly, but with due care,” Moran says. “This is a generational precinct, and it needs to be done right.”

Billbergia smashes suburb record as Rhodes transformation continues

The sheer scale of the two skyscrapers at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/victoria-albert-broadbeach-20-albert-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Victoria &amp; Albert</a>, soaring 40 and 64 storeys above the heart of Broadbeach, was always destined to deliver some of the highest and most luxurious apartments ever built in the suburb.

Now, builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/iris-capital">Iris Capital</a> has unveiled the Horizon Collection, a selection of residences with the largest floorplans and most commanding views in the towers. The three-bedroom apartments, starting from $4.64 million, include butler’s pantries, multi-purpose rooms, and, in some layouts, master retreats with private sitting areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=3944]

The most prestigious apartments in the Horizon Collection are the sub-penthouses and penthouses. The two sub-penthouses on the 38th level of the Albert Tower are priced at $8.85 million.

Each features three bedrooms, a study, and a flexible multi-purpose room with a sliding partition that allows half the space to function as a games room.

The open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area, complete with a butler’s kitchen and private wine cellar, flows onto a full-width balcony framing panoramic coastal views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=3943]

There is now just one sub-penthouse for sale on the 62nd level of the Victoria Tower, with one already secured by an expat owner-occupier. The remaining sub-penthouse, priced at $8.95 million, offers four bedrooms and a wraparound balcony that captures panoramic views up and down the Coast. vistas from every angle.

Crowning each tower is a full-floor penthouse offering multiple expansive indoor and outdoor living and entertaining spaces. Atop the Victoria building is Oceania, which measures over 735 sqm of living space, and Kurrara atop the Albert Tower, which is almost 800 sqm. They each have four bedrooms, including a master and guest suites, a full 360-degree panorama of the Gold Coast, and all the bells and whistles expected of a luxury penthouse. They are priced from a little over $18 million.

“Every detail, every finish has been thoughtfully considered to imbue the penthouses with the ultimate sense of luxury,” says Susan Rossi, Director of Interior Design at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, who led both the architecture and interiors for V&amp;A. “We shaped these skyhomes to embody the spirit of Gold Coast luxury.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=234091]

Victoria &amp; Albert, colloquially known as V&amp;A, is the flagship Gold Coast development by the Sydney-based Iris Capital. Led by developer and hotelier Sam Arnaout, Iris Capital acquired the landmark Niecon Plaza site in 2021. At the time, Arnaout described the company’s expansion into Queensland as a strategic move to capitalise on one of Australia’s strongest growth markets.

“We were initially looking to expand into Victoria, but the massive migration to the regions that followed the pandemic created a new dynamic across the Australian market,” Arnaout said.

“From a strategic point of view, Queensland — and the Gold Coast in particular — is the perfect fit for our business. The fundamentals here are strong: genuine employment growth, high net migration, and an undersupply of apartments driven by strong demand. The Gold Coast has matured into a thriving, progressive regional city with a fantastic future.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107928 project_image_fid=234097]

Across its two towers, V&amp;A will deliver 425 luxury apartments, supported by a suite of resort-style resident amenities. These include a subtropical podium featuring a 25-metre lap pool, gym, yoga deck, residents’ lounge, kids’ play area, zen garden, and barbecue terraces with outdoor dining spaces.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Queensland Director David Higgins, who has managed sales at V&amp;A since its 2021 launch, says the project has set a new benchmark for Broadbeach’s luxury apartment market. Colliers Queensland Director David Higgins, who has managed sales at V&amp;A since its 2021 launch, says the project has set a new benchmark for Broadbeach’s luxury apartment market.

“The premium market has definitely spoken, with V&amp;A having now reached over half a billion dollars in presales since our launch,” Higgins says, adding that over 65 per cent of V&amp;A is now sold.

“Our buyers continue to validate the success of the Victoria &amp; Albert development vision and the luxury amenity that comes along with their apartment purchase. Of course, Broadbeach’s most walkable location, just 100m from the Broadbeach surfing beach, makes this luxury apartment a compelling addition to your real estate portfolio.”

Last year, Iris Capital brought construction in-house through its new arm, Iris Built. Completion of the 40-level Albert Tower is scheduled for late 2027, with the 64-level Victoria Tower, the taller of the two, expected to follow in mid-2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107928]

Victoria & Albert’s Horizon Collection takes Broadbeach living to new heights

Unsw

Homophobia, bullying and harassment continues in the construction industry despite improving attitudes towards LGBTQ+ employees, according to new research from the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW released Tuesday.

The report, which looked into the experiences of LGBTQ+ people working in construction and the effectiveness of current diversity and inclusion strategies, was undertaken in conjunction with InterBuild&rsquo;s People Engagement working group and sponsored by the Lendlease Foundation.

Researchers Dr Natalie Galea and Dr Melissa Jardine found that while LGBTQ+ inclusion has improved, there is a &ldquo;significant variation across the industry&rdquo; and many people still don&rsquo;t feel safe bringing their authentic selves to work.

<img alt="" height="667" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/shutterstock_1396952330.jpg" width="1000" />

Participants in the study ranged from tradespeople to senior executives of multinational companies, and gave detailed accounts about coming out at work, the experience of transitioning gender in the workplace, and the effectiveness of existing diversity and inclusion strategies.

Another study published by <a href="https://www.pwc.com.au/publications/pdf/pwc-workplace-inclusion-report-sep17.pdf" target="_blank">PwC&rsquo;s GLEE team</a> showed that homophobia was more present within the construction industry than on average.

75 per cent of respondents from the construction sector, Australia&rsquo;s most male-dominated industry and the third-largest national employer, indicated&nbsp;they had observed homophobia, compared to 56 per cent in other sectors.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3459 project_image_fid=147569]

Lead author of the UNSW report Dr Galea said that while most participants felt there was a positive trajectory in workplace attitudes, many noted the sector was coming off a very low base.

&ldquo;The research found it was particularly challenging for those in junior positions, apprentices and FIFO workers to navigate the construction sector as an LGBTQ+ worker due to a lack of power and a desire to &lsquo;fit in&rsquo; to avoid anticipated negative responses,&rdquo; Dr Galea said.

One of the participants, who is in their 40s and identifies as queer, said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to wait until I finish my apprenticeship and get a permanent position [before being more open about my identity] even though my role is considered permanent... I feel like I need people to see that I do a good job and I&rsquo;m an okay person.&rdquo;

<img alt="" height="423" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/lgbtq_construction_thumb_0.jpeg" width="740" />

Co-author Dr Jardine said the research found that industry leaders often lacked awareness of inclusive LGBT+ practices and in some cases failed to act on homophobic or discriminatory behaviours.

&ldquo;Despite many examples of good leadership, participants expressed frustration that some leaders turned a blind eye and failed to act or challenge homophobic behaviour and attitudes, especially from &lsquo;old school&rsquo; men,&rdquo; Dr Jardine said.

The report, which included recommendations for government and businesses, noted that this&nbsp;risks entrenching current behaviours and may lead to the loss of new talent.

Other recommendations to recalibrate industry behaviours and value the engagement of all workers included sexism, homophobia and transphobia education, publicly available inclusion policies, and a mental health service for LGBTQ+ tradies with qualified counsellors who understand the construction sector.

The full report, titled Building an LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace: A blueprint for Australia&rsquo;s construction industry is available to read <a href="https://www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/lgbtq-workers-australian-construction-sector" target="_blank">here</a>.

Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW released a new report, 'Building an LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace: A blueprint for Australia’s construction industry', on Tuesday

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New UNSW research reveals barriers to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the construction industry

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Reducing the emphasis on cars and making more room for people to walk and cycle are just some of the ways streets could change for the better in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 
According to UNSW Built Environment lecturer Dr Mike Harris, the coronavirus is exposing problems with our vehicle-dominated street designs that existed long before the pandemic. 
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“It’s showing the disproportionate amount of street space dedicated to cars, because all that space set aside for cars is now sitting idle, while our footpaths aren’t wide enough for people walking, especially under social distancing guidelines,” the landscape architect and urban designer says.
“People are also using their local streets more because they’re working from home. So we’re living more locally, and recognising more the need for better quality streets for our quality of life.”
The need for wider footpaths
The pandemic is highlighting the importance of immediately accessible open space and walking and cycling facilities that many parts of Sydney lack. 
One of the arguments behind widening footpaths is so you can have space to pass people more easily, and with social distancing, it's really shown just how narrow common footpath widths are. Even in our densest areas, many are about one and half metres wide, next to an expanse of asphalt for cars. 
Footpaths should arguably be at least double that width, and that's before we add planting, trees, seating and bike lanes. 
There is so much that streets can do but are often so limited from all the space excised to move and store cars. It's remarkably short-sighted when you think about it. 
In addition to widening footpaths, separated bicycle lanes and closing streets to cars are some of the other short-term streetscape measures cities around the world have taken to adjust to increased street activity. 
Most cities were already installing separated bicycle lanes, better pedestrian amenity. Like many trends, COVID-19 is increasing the speed of how these things get implemented. 
Everyone is getting a forced test run to trial these pop-up things, so it means that all of a sudden, everyone's getting exposed to what our streets could be like. 
Cities around the world are readily adopting temporary measures, with local councils in Sydney like to follow suit. 
I'm surprised though that we haven't been as quick, there is such a clear demand, although Centennial Park has closed to cars on the weekend because it is much busier than usual. 
This 'forced experiment' could be the catalyst for transitioning towards pedestrian-friendly streets on a more permanent basis. 
I think people are showing that they're super keen to get out there and experience the public space in a much stronger way than what they did previously, so the public is ready to go. 
More cycleways, fewer cars 
Bike sales have also increased dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. While overall transport usage in the City of Sydney is down to 13 per cent cycling is only down to 60 to 90 per cent of prior rates. 
Surveys are showing that the majority of people think things are better with fewer cars; less pollution, quieter and safer streets, for example. 
In the travel behaviour shifts too during the pandemic, most car commuters do not miss commuting at all, but the vast amount of walking and cycling commuters miss their commuting time. 
There will likely be a trend of more people using private forms of transportation in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. But whether that leans towards the car or the bike is up to policymakers. 
A message that has explicitly come from governments in bigger cities overseas is that if you can do anything right now, ride a bike. If all those people who would usually take the New York or London subway decide to drive when they go back to work, the city will be gridlocked, similarly with Sydney. 
It’s an opportunity for a lot of people to consider riding a bike, at least for some trips or part of their trip, and a portion of them will want to keep doing it ... but as is the case now most of those people will claim they want to, but can’t because there are not enough facilities.
We should invest in a greater number of smaller, easily delivered projects like cycleways, which have more local job creation and less financial and environmental costs. 
It’s definitely time, as the Committee for Sydney is now urging. Less than $10 per person, per year, is spent on cycling infrastructure in Sydney, compared to $41 in London and $50 for Vancouver.
Investing for the next crisis
While reverting back to the vehicle-dominated streets would be easy, the rare opportunity to make our streets more liveable shouldn't be squandered. 
Just a few weeks ago, Beijing and Shenzhen reported heavier peak-hour congestion than the same period last year, and the images of blue skies without air pollution may become a memory. 
What will need to happen is for the government to take the opportunity, while it's there, to make some real changes. If nothing much happens, with the passing of time, and if structural changes haven't occurred in our streets, then slowly things will probably just go back to normal. 
In doing so will have lasting impacts that could better prepare the built environment to endure a future crisis. 
There's a long history of open space being used and transformed in response to public health crises. Planning for New York's Central Park began in the immediate aftermath of New York's second Cholera outbreak in the mid-1800s, along with wider urban boulevards. 
One of the reasons cities in the Netherlands or Denmark are so pedestrian-friendly, cycling-friendly cities today is because the government made concerted decisions to rely less on cars after the 1970s oil crisis. They recognised it was a vulnerable and costly transport mode and made a series of policy decisions and planning changes, that a couple of decades later, you see these profound results of very health, engaging, prosperous, people-friendly cities. 
What smart cities will do is make use of this opportunity and enact intelligent decisions that in 20 years will make their cities better-quality places to live and work. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

How streets could become more liveable post-coronavirus: UNSW

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GUEST OBSERVATION
A total of 6718 electric vehicles were sold in Australia in 2019. That’s <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sharp-jump-in-electric-vehicle-sales-underscores-untapped-potential-20200202-p53wx3" target="_blank">three times</a> as many as in 2018, but it’s still small beer. More than <a href="/news">a million</a> fossil-fueled light vehicles (including SUVs and utes) were sold in the same period.
The sales figures were published in the wake of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51366123" target="_blank">announcement</a> that sales of petrol or diesel cars will be banned in the UK by 2035. The UK’s isn’t the only right-of-centre government to see the benefits of going electric — in 2016, New Zealand’s Conservative party introduced a wide-ranging program to encourage drivers to get off fossil fuels.
If Australia wants to head in the same direction, we can learn from what others have done.
Why should we go electric? And why don’t we?
The main argument for electric vehicles is often about cutting greenhouse gas emissions. But even leaving those aside, there are plenty of reasons to move away from oil as an energy source for transport, among them energy security, better health outcomes, and spending less money on petrol imports.
Australians have been slow to adopt electric cars, however. Our <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-electric-car-revolution-wont-happen-automatically-90442" target="_blank">previous research</a> indicates the top two reasons are the fear of not being able to find a fast recharger on long trips (“range anxiety”), and the higher purchase price of electric cars.
Obstacles are clearing
Range anxiety should be on the decline. Fast rechargers are <a href="https://myelectriccar.com.au/charge-stations-in-australia/" target="_blank">beginning to be installed</a> on major routes and higher capacity batteries are increasing vehicle range. In any case, the average distance travelled by Australians is just <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/9208.0" target="_blank">34.5km per day</a>.
Prices for electric vehicles are also on the way down. Bloomberg has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-04-12/electric-vehicle-battery-shrinks-and-so-does-the-total-cost" target="_blank">predicted</a> that larger electric and fossil-fueled cars will cost about the same in Europe as soon as 2022.
Even when upfront costs for electric vehicles are higher, ongoing costs are generally much lower. An average Australian car travels 12,600 kilometres in a year, consuming <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/9208.0" target="_blank">1360.8 litres of fuel</a> at a cost of about A$2,000 (assuming fuel costs $1.50 per litre). For a typical electric car, the same amount of travel would cost $250 if recharging using off-peak electricity (assuming it costs 11 cents per kilowatt hour), or $567 if recharging with more expensive electricity (at 25 cents per kilowatt hour).
Lessons from New Zealand
In 2016, New Zealand’s Conservative transport minister Simon Bridges introduced a <a href="https://www.transport.govt.nz/multi-modal/climatechange/electric-vehicles/" target="_blank">suite of policies</a> to encourage electric, especially for passenger vehicles. Since then, electric vehicle sales have been doubling every 12 months.
In 2019, <a href="https://www.transport.govt.nz/mot-resources/vehicle-fleet-statistics/monthly-electric-and-hybrid-light-vehicle-registrations/" target="_blank">6545 light electric vehicles</a> were brought into New Zealand and registered for the first time. That’s not far off Australia’s tally, but in a population of 5 million compared to Australia’s 25 million.
So what did the Conservatives do to encourage motorists to go electric? They took advice from the experts and introduced a <a href="https://www.transport.govt.nz/multi-modal/climatechange/electric-vehicles/" target="_blank">multi-faceted group of measures</a>.
These included: exemption from the Road User Charge, worth about $600 per year; government procurement programs; installing a public recharging network; investment in a five-year promotional campaign including TV ads, online information and “ride and drive” events. They also established a leadership group across business and government and a funding scheme to encourage organisations to go electric.
In NZ they have just about thought of everything, even ensuring there is a facility to <a href="https://www.transport.govt.nz/multi-modal/climatechange/electric-vehicles/" target="_blank">recycle old batteries</a>.
But possibly the most important factor has been that the government has enabled imports of high-quality secondhand electric cars from Japan. In 2019 they accounted for more than half of electric vehicle sales (4155 used compared to 2390 new).
This measure enables motorists with lower budgets to buy electric vehicles. Our unpublished research shows electric vehicles have been especially popular with multicar families who use their EVs as much as possible as it’s so much cheaper than using petrol or diesel. When those happy customers tell their friends and family about how much better it is to drive electric, it’s an important feedback loop that helps people overcome their fear of change.
Maybe it’s time Australia took a “Leaf” out of the Kiwi book and got on board with some sensible policies and legislation to speed up the transition to electric cars.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131372/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gail-broadbent-421704" target="_blank">Gail Broadbent</a>, PhD candidate Faculty of Science UNSW, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/graciela-metternicht-159393" target="_blank">Graciela Metternicht</a>, Professor of Environmental Geography, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/electric-car-sales-tripled-last-year-heres-what-we-can-do-to-keep-them-growing-131372" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Electric car sales tripled last year. Here's what we can do to keep them growing

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UNIVERSITY of NSW economics professors Bill Schworm and Denise Doiron sold their Annandale at weekend auction with price expectations of $1.85 million.
The result ended up at $2.1 million after flying past the $1.9 million reserve.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-annandale-127998578" target="_blank">three-bedroom, one-bathroom Pritchard St house</a> on 252sqm was renovated in 2003. They had paid $325,000 in 1993. The couple are selling the two-level house to downsize with plans to live offshore for part of the year.
Belle Property Annandale agents Robert Clarke and Michael Hallit had the listing, which was pitched just above the suburb’s $1.76 million median price for three-bedroom houses.
The March quarter Annandale auction clearance rate was 74 per cent from 28 auctions, which was higher than the inner west’s 65 per cent success rate, according to CoreLogic.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

University of NSW economics professors sell in Annandale

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The global contractor Multiplex has completed the University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) new $125 million Bioscience Building.
Located at the Kensington campus in Botany Street, Randwick, the project comprises a total of 21,339 square metres.
It includes the new nine level Bioscience Building designed by Woods Bagot.
It represents the third stage of the regeneration and expansion of the Biomedical Precinct at UNSW, addressing the long-term accommodation needs of the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences.
<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/2017/06/08/b.jpg" width="700" height="450">
The new Bioscience Building was completed on time and on budget.
David Ghannoum, New South Wales Regional Managing Director at Multiplex said the firm had delivered several new facilities at UNSW in recent years, including the University Terraces student accommodation, the Materials Science and Engineering Building (now known as the Hilmer Building) and the Tyree Energy Technologies Building.
The new Bioscience Building provides students and researchers with a contemporary research and teaching environment including new mixed use wet and dry laboratories.
<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/2017/06/08/c.jpg" width="700" height="450">
UNSW Faculty of Science research projects set to benefit from the new facility include understanding the origin and evolution of life on Earth; determining the effects of microplastics on the marine environment; tracing past environmental change using limestone deposits in caves and Antarctic ice cores; protecting Australian ecosystems that support our iconic wildlife; examining the evolutionary costs and benefits of sex; discovering the secrets of life at a molecular level; and using molecular biosciences to understand cancer, infectious, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.
Teaching areas are provided on the Ground floor and Level 1 of the new building, with rooms fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass windows to enable viewing into labs and ‘Science On Display’ opportunities. Upper floors are dedicated to Generic Open Lab and workplace facilities designed to maximise collaboration between researchers.
<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/2017/06/08/d.jpg" width="700" height="450">
Challenges faced during construction include the footprint of the building being wedged between three operating buildings, with minimal storage areas and difficult access for deliveries. The team also carried out extensive enabling works including diversion of inground services, construction of a new electrical substation and decommissioning of two substations.
Works commenced in September 2015 and spanned an 18 month period.
Construction saw some 9,350 cubic metres of concrete poured with 120 tonnes of posttensioning used as well as 980 tonnes of reinforcing steel.
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