<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Western Australia

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Three people were arrested in Johannesburg earlier this week, following a five months investigation by the Major Fraud Squad of the Western Australia Police.
Working with the Australian Federal Police and South African authorities, the Major Fraud Squad have arrested and charged Asanda Zimkhitha, 28, of South Africa and Magnus Ikechukwu Kama, 38, and Nbubusi Sunday Okeke, 34, both of Nigeria with fraud, forgery and uttering.
The trio allegedly emailed a <a href="/news">Mandurah</a> real estate agency, which was managing a property owned by a South African person, pretending to be the owner.
After convincing the agency to change the owner’s contact details to their own, the three individuals allegedly asked to sell the property, communicating electronically and signing the agreements with forged signatures.
The property was put on the market and an offer accepted by the group, still pretending to be the owner. Hard copy documents were sent to the real owner’s real address in South Africa by post and the true owner contacted the agent, telling them the sale was unauthorised. The police were then contacted.
Last year, a separate fraud attempt occurred when Ntuen Promise Ekenmini collected documents regarding a fraudulent Falcon home sale (near Mandurah), also owned by a South African. Ekenmeni allegedly collected the document at a Lagos courier office, using a fake driver’s licence.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dom Blackshaw of the Major Fraud Squad of the West Australian police acknowledged the work of South African authorities and the Australian Federal Police.
“This successful outcome could not have been made possible without the excellent support and cooperation of the AFP and local authorities in South Africa,” said Blackshaw.
“This spirit of cooperation means that offenders who attempt these frauds can’t hide behind international borders, and we will be working effectively and cooperatively to make sure they are identified and caught.”
He also told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the trio won’t be extradited from South Africa.
"We won't prosecute for the attempt here because they will be adequately dealt with in that country and obviously save that large cost and the time spent trying to bring people into our country to try and prosecute,” Blackshaw told the ABC.
"We're hoping that these three, that are now going to be interviewed by the South African authorities, will even throw more light on how they are operating and the extent of the group,” he continued.
West Australian Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll said real estate and settlement agents must be wary of fraud attempts.
 “Unfortunately these fraud attempts will undoubtedly continue so all agents need to be vigilant at all times and have the processes in place to detect these fraud attempts at an early stage,” said Driscoll.
“It is an essential part of the identity verification procedures for any change of contact details by an owner to be confirmed by the real estate agency by sending a notification to the original addresses, both physical and electronic, that are on file. This will alert the real owners at an early stage if their details are being changed fraudulently,” she said.
“This confirmation should occur before any documents are sent which could give criminals even more information about the real owners and the property they are trying to sell. Requests to change details by owners of WA property living in Africa should raise a red flag and warrant special attention to property managers.
“There have been two successful and now six attempted real estate frauds reported to us in the past six years and all except for one of those cases have involved owners in South Africa. The other owner resided in Nigeria. Property managers who receive change of contact details and agents who receive sale requests from South African and Nigerian owners should apply intense scrutiny,” said Driscoll.
Under the Codes of Conduct, real estate and settlement agents have an obligation to make sure they carry out sufficient identity checks and compare all signatures against originals. If they fail to comply, they may be subject to disciplinary action.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Three arrested in South Africa after WA home sale scam

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Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting is buying a 50% share in Liveringa and Nerrima stations in the West Kimberley.
The joint venture with Graham Laitt and his family, the owners of the Milne AgriGroup, involves expanding their prime beef production.
The venture will re-open the mothballed Waroona abattoir previously known as Clover Meats, which was once one of the biggest meat processing facilities in WA.
Rinehart told The West Australian her family had a long and continuing links to the WA pastoral industry, with the investment aimed at helping to meet booming food demand in Asia.
Hancock Prospecting and Mr Laitt have been working on the deal for about a year in a well planned move into beef production.
The ABC estimated the price was about $40 million.
"It intends to provide capital and commercial knowledge to support the industry as it targets expansion into global markets," the Hancock Prospecting statement said.
"We are well placed to meet the growing needs of our Asian neighbours," she said.
Established in 1910, Milne's businesses include Milne Feeds animal nutrition, Mt Barker Free Range Chicken and Plantagenet Free Range Pork.
After taking equity in 1987, it was 2002 when the former lawyer Graham Laitt assumed control of Milne, adding it into his existing farming holdings.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Gina Rinehart buys into Kimberley cattle stations

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A 2.37 hectare development site in Western Australia’s Onslow, the LNG hub of the state, is up for sale, according to Raine &amp; Horne Commercial WA.
The Lot 381 Third Street site is at the highest point in the town, with an expected sales result in the seven or eight figure bracket.
Raine &amp; Horne Commercial WA director Anthony Vulinovich said that one of the potential uses for the site is employee accommodation, that he says is particularly suitable due to its proximity to the centre of Onslow and the views over Beadon Bay. This would be allowed under the Shire of Ashburton’s tourism zoning for the site that allows for workforce accommodation.
Discretionary approval is in place for grouped and multiple dwellings, workforce accommodation and commercial uses.
He also noted that there are other land blocks available.
“There is more strategically placed land for industrial subdivision near the airport that will allow for town-based workforce growth among the LNG and associated industry providers,” said Vulinovich.
“Close to the town centre, there is a lack of land zoned for industrial accommodation. When this becomes available, we believe worker accommodation will also be in demand, and our site can cater for a single or multi-stage accommodation development.
“Australia-wide and in particular for WA, this property represents a very rare investment opportunity, being a 23,700 sqm site incorporating elevation, size, access, and viability to develop product with a market that could simply be massive now, while the future scope is unlimited.”
The vendor is a private syndicate.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Onslow development site looks to attract mining companies’ interest

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Organising bills and responsibilities with a tenant or with your landlord can be a headache, however Western Australia has a solution that allows property owners to prepay for the entire year and to set up a “tenant bill”.
The “tenant bill” allows Western Australian property owners to issue separate water use accounts to tenants and allows both owners and tenants to direct debit to pay service water use charges – this will cause no fee to be charged via the My Water website.
This comes as the Water Corporation looks to make it easier for property managers, investment property owners and tenants to manage their accounts and is the result of feedback from its customers, explains Water Minister Mia Davies. 
“Customers can now choose to prepay their service charges for the financial year, without applying a credit to future accounts. This will reduce the number of service charge bills received from the Water Corporation to one per property, making it easier for customers with multiple accounts to manage their bills,” Davies said.
“Investment property owners and property managers simply need to inform the Water Corporation there is a tenant on site which then gives the Water Corporation permission to issue a separate water use account every two months directly to tenants.”
Owners and tenants, as of yesterday, can choose to set up these separate direct debit arrangements. PDF copies of bills can now also be sent to individual email addresses. 
“This gives property owners and tenants the ability to set-and-forget their payments every two months,” she said. 
Two-monthly billing has apparently been popular with investors as it quickly shines a light on unusual water usage, allowing them to detect leaks and other activity earlier.
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Investment property owners given simple service charge option in WA

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Mortgages can now be electronically processed in all major banks in Western Australia.
Land transaction documents can now be registered online through <a href="https://www.pexa.com.au/" target="_blank">Property Exchange Australia </a>(PEXA), the first national electronic lodgement platform. Western Australia has now joined the National Electronic Conveyancing System, which is expected to save $580 million from 2011 to 2028 nationally, with the state receiving a benefit of about $80 million.
The major banks can now electronically lodge mortgages, discharges and refinances. The state’s first online transaction was submitted by Westpac on Wednesday.
Lands Minister Terry Redman said the online technology will make the property transaction process more efficiency.
“The ability to electronically register land transaction documents through an online platform will revolutionise the WA property and conveyancing industry,” said Redman.
“The days of having to provide large amounts of paperwork to banks for a property transaction are now gone - electronic conveyancing will reduce timeframes, improve efficiencies and productivity and provide sound financial benefits to the State and industry.”
For now, e-conveyancing is only available to the major banks. Settlement agents and lawyers will have access to PEXA in May 2015, when full transfer and financial settlement functionality will be offered in the state.
“This will allow property lawyers to transact with banks and other financial institutions to perform lodgements and settlements online, including the payment of stamp duty and other third party disbursements,” said Redman.
Landgate will continue to provide current processing services for paper-based conveyancing.
Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland can all lodge mortgages through PEXA. The first stage of the system will be released in South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory in 2015.
PEXA’s second release was launched in Victoria earlier this week. Full transfer and financial settlement functionality will be rolled out in New South Wales and Victoria in late October, with PEXA supporting new mortgages, mortgage discharges, refinances, notices, caveats and transfers including online lodgement and financial settlement.
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Electronic property transactions now available in Western Australia

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National Storage REIT (NSR) intends on expanding its Perth, Western Australia property portfolio.
The portfolio will be expanded following the purchase of a self-storage facility at Wangara featuring 579 units across 5,300 square metres of net lettable area. The purchase price for Wangara is $10.9 million at a projected year one passing income yield of 9% (excluding transaction costs).
There will also be a development site at Kardinya, 7 kilometres east of Fremantle, covering 5,700 square metres with planned construction for 417 units over approximately 4,400 square metres of net lettable area. 
Kardinya will be purchased for $8 million and is forecast to generate a passing income yield of over 10% once occupancy stabilises.
The group also announced a development expansion of an existing NSR operated leasehold site at Cockburn. 
The development cost for Cockburn will be borne by the vendor with additional rent to be incurred by NSR, as its existing lease is expanded to cover the new building.
National Storage is one of the largest self-storage providers in Australia, with 65 centres providing tailored storage solutions to over 23,000 residential and commercial customers.
NSR is the first independent, internally managed and fully integrated owner and operator of self-storage centres to be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). 
In April, NSR <a href="/expert-insights/investing/national-storage-reit-buys-townsville-self-storage-property-for-17-million">bought a Townsville self-storage facility for $17 million</a>.
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National Storage expands portfolio with Perth purchases and developments

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Expecting interest from resort chains, owner-operators and syndicates, Western Australia's Coral Bay Ningaloo Reef Resort is on the market.
In a campaign to be conducted by CBRE and Colliers International, the <a href="https://www.ningalooreefresort.com.au/pages/1564/home" target="_blank">34-room, three-star resort</a> comes with two separate manager's residences, a cafe, bar and alfresco dining area. It also includes a swimming pool inside landscaped tropical gardens.
It has been the project of owner-managers Aspen Parks and Resorts since 2007.
It sits on 1.8407 hectares, and there may just be the potential for future developments with the zoning.
Wayne Lawrence, Colliers International director investment services, said that it is a "once in a blue mood" opportunity in a tightly-held market.
“This is a resort sitting on the doorstep of a World Heritage Precinct, and a very major tourism draw – it enjoys very strong occupancy, particularly during the peak periods of April to July, and is a highly-profitable business with diverse revenue streams derived from food, beverage and accommodation,” he said.
While Ryan McGinnity, associate director CBRE, said that Coral Bay is the gateway to Ningaloo Reef, a place where diving with the whale sharks is an offered experience. The area is a World Heritage precinct.
“This is the only true resort property in Coral Bay, and a unique asset that we expect will be the subject of very strong enquiry from a range of buyers,” said McGinnity.
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Want to buy a resort? An opportunity just opened up in WA

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Pilbara has had a remarkable boom in recent years, but with the current slowdown comes questions about its long-term future. The need to diversify the local economy is obvious, but how do you do this? In our report, <a href="https://www.pilbara2050.net" target="_blank">Pilbara 2050</a>, we have explored how networked infrastructure could help in this transition.
The Pilbara’s energy generation, transmission and rail systems are operated separately by mining, petroleum and energy companies on a combination of gas and diesel with very little grid present. The result is high costs and carbon emissions. Connecting the existing power infrastructure into a grid would not only make a more resilient system, but it would enable electrifying of the railroads and mining pits which would reduce everybody’s operating costs and massively reduce carbon emissions.
Agriculture is emerging as a viable alternative to the region’s mineral resources, now that much more water has been found. But the fundamental question remains: where will power come from and how will bulk goods be transported? Renewable energy has a big future in the Pilbara as the area has the highest concentration of solar radiation on earth. Diesel could be replaced with renewable energy at a much lower cost. It would also create the pre-conditions for other more energy intensive industries to establish themselves. Without it, they will likely choose other regions to set up shop.
Attracting new businesses requires a lower cost base
A study by Regional Development Australia found the cost of doing business in the Pilbara is <a href="https://www.rdapilbara.org.au/resources/site1/General/Publication%20Reports/RDA%20Business%20in%20Pilbara_SinglePages.pdf">40% more expensive</a> than Perth and even higher when compared against other parts of Australia. Much of this cost is due to a premium placed on the price per kilowatt hour of electricity from more expensive inputs. It would seem sensible to try and find mutually beneficial solutions like the completion of power grids and shared rail systems to lower the costs of operating in the region.
These ideas are not new, but historically mining and petroleum companies prefer to just look after their own power and rail systems. This week, former Western Australian Labor MP <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/comment/larry-graham-whos-responsible-for-the-pilbaras-future-20140524-zrn60">Larry Graham</a> said “private companies that built and own the railways will not, and should not, put their vital lifelines under someone else’s control”.
This raises important philosophical questions: do governments have the requisite capabilities to manage the infrastructure issue? And to what extent is competition affected by creating integrated networks?
For answers, we have looked at other international locations that have faced a similar predicament and either through government intervention or market-based decision making, have worked to link common networks to the benefit of all.
Network options
<ul>
<li>State sharing</li>
</ul>
The <a href="https://www.mosi.org.uk/media/33871840/electricityinbritain.pdf">Central Electricity Board</a> was established in 1926 in the UK to standardise the nation’s electricity supply. Until then, the industry consisted of more than 600 electricity supply companies and different areas operated at different voltages and frequencies. The Board established the UK’s first synchronised AC grid, which by 1933 covered most of England. In 1938, this started operating as a national system called the National Grid. The Board was dismantled when the grid was nationalised in 1947.
<ul>
<li>Private integrated</li>
</ul>
In the airline industry, a <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Codeshare_agreement">codeshare agreement</a> is an arrangement where two or more airlines which compete for the same markets, form a strategic alliance to share the same network routes. A ticket can be purchased from either carrier, but the flight itself is actually operated and managed by only one of the participating airlines. Under such agreements, costs are shared between the carriers who might otherwise struggle to make the flight route economically viable on their own.
<ul>
<li>Private and government integrated</li>
</ul>
The London Underground <a href="https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/culture-and-heritage/londons-transport-a-history/london-underground?intcmp=2777">opened in 1863</a> and was the world’s first networked train passenger system. It was originally built by private enterprise but nationalised in 1948 and since then has been run under a combination of private and public partnerships.
In the UK, various aspects of the mobile networks are shared, including with the government. In Australia, for example <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/business/companies/vodafone_forces_re_jig_of_mobile_GMUpTHI0VUgg4KpluxTLfK">Optus and Vodafone</a> share mobile towers and network coverage to provide better services at a lower cost to customers. Since 1991, cash ATMs are another example of privately shared networks.
<ul>
<li>Shared value approach</li>
</ul>
In Canada, the oil sands industry has historically operated with separate parallel entities, ignoring the cumulative environmental impacts of their activities, resisting further environmental legislation and the need to talk to one another. But an approach called <a href="https://hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value">Shared Value</a> developed by Harvard professors Mark Kramer and Michael Porter, resulted in <a href="https://www.cosia.ca/">Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance</a> being established, in which major companies have <a href="https://business.financialpost.com/2014/03/07/a-joint-venture-with-capp-canadas-oil-sands-innovation-alliance-collaboration-for-the-environment/?__lsa=e6a8-390d">shared</a> more than 560 technologies worth a total of US$900 million.
This article continues on next page. Please click below.
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Getting the public/private balance right
The argument that private companies would - and should not - cede control over access to critical infrastructure is not borne out in these case studies. Despite often cited business concerns around the loss of control and risks to business continuity, evidence suggests that in fact integrated public planning can be extremely cost effective and everybody is a winner.
There can be big benefits for all when you get a proper network going. In the Pilbara, the private sector hasn’t been good at that. Until now, there has been a reluctance to push ahead with utilising the existing electricity transmission infrastructure to create an interconnected grid. The <a href="https://www.allens.com.au/pubs/comp/focomp21sep12.htm">outcome of legal attempts</a> for greater rail sharing has often seen the requirement for sharing lessened.
Graham also argues that governments have an “inability to operate effectively”. The Pilbara Development Commission and <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/was-17-billion-question-can-pilbara-cities-become-reality/story-fnhocxo3-1226857364273">Pilbara Cities</a> has shown government has plugged a great deal of the infrastructure deficit in the Pilbara created from the commodities boom.
At the heart of this debate is whether the private or public sector can deliver best. Governments and business can and do work together well. The biggest functioning networks are always built by an integrated state.
With the right philosophical basis, West Australian problems could be addressed holistically. In the Pilbara, without the creation of mutual networks and benefits of scale, the economic diversification prize will remain illusive.
Jemma Green is senior research fellow at Curtin University.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/27076/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> Peter Newman is professor of sustainability at Curtin University.
Peter Newman and Jemma Green received funding from Dampier Port Authority for the Pilbara 2050 Report
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.
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jake-cSmGT7VXVf

As slowdown looms, Pilbara will need networks to thrive

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Local Port Hedland property developer Megara, along with the local council, are undertaking a cashless joint venture project to help build property for staff of the town. It is a first for Western Australia.
Limited capital infrastructure funds in Port Hedland had Megara proposing the build of eight apartments in exchange for the right to sell house and land packages on single residential lots in South Hedland’s Catamore Court.
The sales behind the residential lots should be enough to fund the construction. There will be six two bedroom and two three bedroom apartments.
Since the commencement of sales in October 2013, 80% of the house and land packages have been sold, explained Megara’s director Matt Pickford. They are also responsible for constructing on this land – owning a separate building company that will build the houses.
“We expect to sell all 11 lots in the next few weeks which means we will then commence construction of the Town of Port Hedland apartment complex,” said Pickford.
“The business model is particularly positive as it directly helps the town retain staff through providing housing for them, therefore benefitting the Port Hedland community as a whole,” he said.
The mayor of the Town of Port Hedland, Kelly Howlett, said that they’re pleased to have come to this solution to provide affordable housing for staff.
“The project will also contribute to the normalisation of the local housing market which is one of the town’s strategic goals,” Howlett said.
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Cashless property developer transaction a first for Port Hedland

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A proposal to deregulate fees charged by settlement agents and land valuers in Western Australia has Consumer Protection calling for comment.
This would be a move to bring Western Australia back in line with all the other states in Australia, as they are currently the only state to fix a maximum amount that these experts can charge for their services.
With 660 licensed settlement agents, and 840 land valuers, across the state it could help competition and red tape reduction if the fee schedule is removed, according to Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Gary Newcombe.
The other states, where there is not this level of regulation, competition is what keeps charges low. Newcombe said that, as a result, having a mandated maximum is unnecessary.
“In fact, discounting by settlement agents and land valuers in WA’s competitive market often means that fees well below the maximum allowed are being charged, demonstrating that there is little benefit to consumers and further cementing the case for deregulation,” he said.
“If fees were to be deregulated, there would be a provision for consumers to be provided with information about the fees being charged that would help them assess the services being offered and make an informed choice about service providers.”
The deregulation of fees for real estate and business agents, which occurred in 1998, will be the modelling for this legislation. At the time, there were no adverse effects recorded.
“Consumers would continue to be protected by the Australian Consumer Law and industry professional standards would be maintained by the licensing and codes of conduct obligations placed on settlement agents and land valuers which will remain firmly in place, regardless of any fee deregulation,” he said.
Comments can be made until 31 July 2014.
{module Do you think settlement agents and land valuers' fees should be deregulated?}
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