<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

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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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.
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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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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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