NEWS: Sign of the Chimes as chic trumps cheap

Having just won a court case against the last hold-out in the collective sale of the soon-to-be former Chimes development in Potts Point, Sydney, James Packer now finds himself up against local residents invoking the ghost of Juanita Nielsen in the battle against the luxury apartment block that will replace the current low-rent building.

Meanwhile the Nimbys of Mosman and Woollahra are disgusted at their local councils’ decisions not to take on the state government over medium to high rise blocks invading their suburbs.

And if you want to get away from all of that, a new tower block on the Gold Coast will have a floor dedicated to wellness – somewhere to go and relax when you discover the developers have sold the management rights to your home for the next 10 or maybe even 25 years.

That’s all in this week’s feed of apartment stories from Leftfield Communications.

The Australian Financial Review

9 October

NIMBYs, YIMBYs unite against $100m Packer-backed Potts Point project
Residents on both sides of Sydney’s housing debate have found a common enemy: a $100 million James Packer-backed development proposal in Potts Point that seeks to demolish an old residential tower and replace it with new luxury apartments. Lucy Slade

Sydney’s Cyprus club site set for $900 million transformation
Property developer Conquest has lodged plans to build a $900 million retail and residential development in Sydney’s inner west, once home to one of the city’s oldest cultural clubs. Sarah Petty

8 October

‘Fiddling while Mosman burns’: Residents’ fury erupts at council
A Sydney North Shore council has decided against joining a landmark court case that challenges the NSW government’s plans to get more apartment blocks built to improve housing supply, after a sometimes fiery meeting where residents lobbied hard for councillors to take the government on. Lucy Slade

First-home buyer scheme is a ‘cruel’ illusion, say economists
The government’s expanded first-home buyer scheme has been slammed by economists, who say it’s likely to increase property prices in an already overheated market while failing to address the underlying housing shortage. Cecile Lefort

7 October

The US rentals giant with a plan for 10,000 student beds
US funds giant Greystar plans to more than double its newly acquired student accommodation holdings in Australia within two years, after taking over a $1.6 billion, 4084-bed portfolio. Nick Lenaghan

‘Right-sized’ $900m Gold Coast tower has entire floor for wellness
Saunas, sound healing and a steam room are among the features of a $900 million Gold Coast development that has an entire floor devoted to wellness activities and about a third of the apartments that were initially approved. Sarah Petty

How Labor’s Woollahra wedge helped NSW turn the NIMBY tide
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Tuesday declared at a housing conference that the state Liberals are “unashamedly YIMBY” (Yes in My Backyard) and would support the Minns Labor government’s plan to increase density in Sydney’s east around Edgecliff and a revived Woollahra train station. Paul Karp

The Australian

9 October

Sydney developers win approval for the $1bn redevelopment landmark InterContinental Hotel
Sydney’s landmark InterContinental Hotel will be demolished to pave the way for a $1bn mixed-used redevelopment in the heart of Double Bay. Eleven months after lodging a development application, a consortium involving developers Allen Linz and Eduard Litver this week won approval to redevelop the 33 Cross Street, Double Bay site. Lisa Allen

Sydney Morning Herald

9 October

Labor’s housing agenda in crisis amid complaints, resignations
Resignations and bullying accusations have plagued the executive ranks of Housing Australia, with a senior whistleblower writing to Housing Minister Clare O’Neil to say the agency’s ability to deliver Labor’s multibillion-dollar home-building agenda had been seriously compromised. Paul Sakkal

‘Terrible effect’: Sydney unit rents hit a record high $750 a week
The cost to rent the typical Sydney property is at a record high, and unit rents are rising while house rents flatline as some tenants seek more economical options. Alice Uribe

The Age

9 October

Mid-rise developments could loom over suburbs, secret documents reveal
Mid-rise apartment developments could loom closer to heritage homes and overshadow solar panels, under confidential Victorian draft planning guidelines. Lachlan Abbott

8 October

Developer accused of demolition by neglect could build 16-storey high-rise at historic site
A developer with a history of non-compliance could be allowed to build a 16-storey high-rise on Brunswick’s historic brickworks site under new planning rules, and drive up the land value, which residents say is rewarding bad behaviour. Rachael Dexter

7 October

This prime inner-city site could house 6000 families, but it’s a toxic mess
Michael Clarke vividly remembers when, as mayor of Maribyrnong in 2009, he visited Canberra to be told the federal government would hand over a sprawling, historic Defence site to create a new suburb in Melbourne’s inner west. Sophie Aubrey

Domain

9 October

Live at the heart of Northbourne Village: New Lyneham homes designed for today and tomorrow
The last piece of the Northbourne Village puzzle is quickly taking shape, and it’s going to fit perfectly. De Burgh, the third and final residential stage of the ambitious and immensely popular Inner North precinct, adds 350 apartments across two buildings to the sold-out Embark and The Sullivan buildings. Danielle Meddemmen

7 October

Hotelier and race car driver sells iconic Sydney penthouse for $30m
Hotelier, property developer and amateur racer Rod Salmon has sold his penthouse atop the iconic Harry Seidler-designed Cove development in The Rocks for circa $30 million. Tawar Razaghi

Couple outbid first home buyers for $1.8m Bondi unit at auction
A local couple has beaten first home buyers to win the keys to a $1.8 million Bondi apartment, minutes from the beach, at auction on Saturday. Alice Uribe

Time to change lanes: Where cosmopolitan living meets village warmth
Finding the sweet spot of convenience and community is no easy feat, but Danby Lane is setting out to achieve it. The new development by Gardner Vaughan Group is nestled in Nundah — an emerging Brisbane suburb just nine kilometres from the CBD and seven kilometres from the airport, offering exceptional convenience. Gemma Kaczerepa

The Melbourne address where time and nature shape every day
Many developments are imposed on a landscape. A privileged few are designed in harmony with nature and their neighbourhoods. One such place is The Woodburn, in Hawthorn’s exclusive Scotch Hill precinct. The development consists of only 76 residences and is set to sit comfortably within well-established green surroundings. Larissa Dubecki

ABC Online

9 October

Victorian charity linked to proposed Greensborough tower controlled by for-profit Melbourne firm Tetris Capital
New details have emerged about a charity linked to a proposed 17-storey community and affordable housing tower planned for suburban Melbourne. Together Housing (Victoria), which won $206 million in federal government funding tied to the development in Greensborough, is controlled by investment firm Tetris Capital. Kate Ashton

7 October

Will Labor’s housing fund recover from its rocky start and fix decades of decline?
It sounded easy enough. Labor would set up a $10 billion fund to build homes for people in need — people like a young Anthony Albanese, whose own story began in public housing. Tom Crowley

The Daily Telegraph

8 October

The Five Ways Crows Nest: Developer seeks to add 100-room hotel to $640m ‘Five Ways’ tower
A landmark $640m development at one of Sydney’s busiest intersections faces another battle as developers push to add a boutique hotel to the contested site. Jim O’Rourke

14-16 Marshall Ave, 5-9 Holdsworth Ave & 2-10 Berry Road, St Leonards: Developer aims to build over 250 apartments
A suburb on Sydney’s north shore has been pinned for more than 250 apartments across three residential buildings. Tileah Dobson

7 October

Huskisson residents lose fight against luxury Sydney St hotel and apartment complex
Despite a fierce fight from NIMBYS, plans to bulldoze four small single-storey homes and replace them with a luxury apartment and hotel complex in a South Coast tourist town have been given the green light. Tom McGann

Realestate.com.au

9 October

Housing crisis ‘hidden in plain sight’
A new report from Ray White Commercial Western Sydney has revealed a staggering gap between residential development approvals and construction rollout. The Western Sydney Residential Development Overview report revealed that despite approximately 80,000 dwellings sitting in the pipeline for development, only 5,369 homes are currently under construction across the region. Kaylee Cranley

8 October

What to check in strata reports before buying an apartment
With more buyers turning to apartments as affordability constraints hit home, strata reports have become an essential part of the homebuying process. However, when you are looking at multiple properties, the cost of legal fees can quickly add up. So it’s helpful to know what to look for yourself before deciding whether or not to continue with the potential purchase by getting the report reviewed by a solicitor. Kate McIntyre

Revealed: Shocking number of Aussies at risk in looming mould crisis
Australia is on the precipice of a mould epidemic, and if you’re like the vast majority of your fellow Aussies, you’re dangerously unprepared. Lydia Kellner

‘Too expensive: pressure on to roll back ‘Opal Tower’ laws
The NSW government is under pressure from the construction industry to wind back some of the tough legislative requirements that came in the wake of the Opal Tower and Mascot Towers calamities. Jonathan Chancellor

7 October

Melbourne deposit hell: Why singles can’t buy homes
Melbourne singles need more than 15 years to save a deposit for their first home, shock new analysis has revealed. David Bonaddio

Luxury Ocean Grove penthouse makes waves with 200-degree views
Nothing screams luxury quite like floating around in a rooftop pool while watching ships sail through the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Nicole Mayne

Buyers targeting Geelong property splurge on CBD unit blocks
Two entire blocks of flats next to Geelong’s main hospitals have generated more than $5m in sales as investors’ appetite for Victoria’s second city grows. Peter Farago

What more than $2 million will get you for a riverfront home in the city
Brisbane’s riverside is seeing a limited supply of boutique units up for sale, with a new luxury development along the city’s river. Nicholas Finch

Marella by Mosaic lights up Broadbeach strip
Marella by Mosaic is a 30-storey luxury residential tower at Broadbeach developed and constructed by Mosaic Property Group and designed in partnership with Plus Studio. Stephen Nadin

The Gold Coast Bulletin

9 October

Plans revealed: 18 luxury townhouses to replace Surfers Paradise hostel
A vacant beachfront block that has seen countless failed developments will finally be transformed into luxury housing, as developers reveal why grand plans kept collapsing. Andrew Potts

7 October

Revealed: $3bn development boom hits Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach
A critical shortage of apartments has sparked an unprecedented $3bn development surge along the Gold Coast’s emerging ‘golden mile’ between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach. Andrew Potts

Revealed: Major tower development coming to Tweed marina
A landmark 72-unit development is set to transform southern waterfront skyline after developers secured approval for the precinct’s first major residential tower. Andrew Potts

The Spit: New $100m luxury residential and marina development revealed for Gold Coast location
A $100m residential project featuring waterfront apartments and a commercial marina will become the latest addition to The Spit’s $1.5b transformation. Andrew Potts

The West Australian

9 October

Desperate lack of homes in Perth has renters locked in landlord’s market as 22 suburbs top $1k a week
A desperate lack of homes in Perth has left the city’s long-suffering renters locked in a landlord’s market, with average rents now closing in on $750-a-week. A new report shows house rents have jumped by nearly $7-a-week in the past three months alone, with some renters forking out nearly double the average weekly rents — of up to $1438. Kim Macdonald

7 October

House That! Van Der Wielen living the higher life in Applecross penthouse
Blue-chip businessman John Van Der Wielen and wife Robin have traded the high life in an Attadale mansion for the higher life . . . on the 25th floor. The pair recently bought a $5.5 million top-floor penthouse in Applecross, set 80 metres high and with sweeping views over the city and river. Kim Macdonald

The Herald Sun

8 October

Melbourne construction company Infinity Building Group collapses owing millions
The Mulgrave-based construction company has plunged into liquidation owing millions to creditors, amid legal action over alleged unpaid debts. Sarah Perillo

Urban Developer

9 October

Landmark InterContinental Redevelopment Greenlit
Just shy of 12 months after the “once-in-a-generation” $1-billion plans for the redevelopment of the InterContinental Hotel at Double Bay were revealed, the project has been approved. Taryn Paris

MA Financial, Keppel Pay $525m for Top Ryde City
MA Financial has acquired a Sydney megamall from Blackstone in a blockbuster deal worth $525 million. Top Ryde City Shopping Centre, 14km north-west of the Sydney CBD, is a major retail hub for the area with 77,488sq m of lettable area on a 34,240sq m footprint. Patrick Lau

Landcom Plots 1500-Home Lower North Shore Masterplan
Landcom is pushing ahead with a masterplan comprising build-to-rent, key worker and market homes for a Sydney development hotspot. Clare Burnett

Spyre Moves Ahead with Bulimba Luxury Apartments
Queensland developer Spyre Group has taken the next step with its apartment project in a Brisbane inner-city riverside suburb. The developer has launched Watts & Wright, which comprises 15 homes on one of Bulimba’s last remaining riverfront blocks, about 4km north-east of the CBD. Lindsay Saunders

Hines Wins Approval for 36-Storey Adelaide PBSA Highrise
Adelaide’s reputation as an epicentre of student living in Australia has been strengthened with the approval of a 36-storey tower in the city’s Twin Street precinct. The proposal by developer Hines Property this week won planning approval for the tower to rise at 29 Twin Street. Leon Della Bosca

8 October

Pellicano Files 570-Apartment Brisbane BtR Tower Plans
The inner-city skyline of South Brisbane has already experienced significant growth–and it is far from over. Melbourne-based builder and developer Pellicano has lodged plans for a 41-storey tower comprising 570 build-to-rent apartments. Phil Bartsch

Billbergia Six-Tower Rhodes Scheme Wins Approval
Plans by Billbergia for a six-tower precinct west of the Sydney CBD along the Parramatta River has been waved ahead as the evolution of the former industrial area continues. Clare Burnett

State Adds 270 Geelong Units to Fast-Track Approvals
Almost 300 apartments have been fast-tracked for Geelong as the Victorian Government works to accelerate residential project delivery. Leon Della Bosca

7 October

Dexus Reveals Apartment Tower for St Kilda Office Site
St Kilda Road, once Melbourne’s premier corporate strip, is entering a time of transition as plans to turn ageing office towers into apartments begin to grow. Leon Della Bosca

North Sydney Gas Works Plan Repitched at 38 Storeys
Plans to redevelop a historic gas works on the Lower North Shore have been turned up as the developer seeks to more than triple the height of the project. Clare Burnett

Buxton Family Plots Heritage Fitzroy Apartments
A 1889 Acme Shirt Factory facade would become the centrepiece of a 60-home development under new heritage-focused plans for Fitzroy. Leon Della Bosca

Apartments.com.au

8 October

The Carlyle in Enfield launches to undersupplied Inner West market
Enfield may be home to fewer than 3,000 residents, but its prime location between Strathfield and Burwood has cemented its status as one of the Inner West’s hidden gems. Joel Robinson

Nature and connection define life at Waterstone in emerging St Leonards South precinct
A new Metro stop, a thriving café scene, and proximity to village-style retail have cemented St Leonards as one of the Lower North Shore’s most sought-after suburbs for new development. Urban Editorial

Second release at SOL by Walker expands residential offering in Maroochydore City Centre
A new collection of residences is now available at SOL by Walker, the residential development that continues to take shape within the Maroochydore City Centre. Joel Robinson

Prince & Parade tops out in Brunswick as Mirvac marks dual Melbourne milestones
Mirvac has marked the topping out of Prince & Parade in Brunswick, celebrating the completion of the building’s highest point and a major step forward for one of the developer’s landmark Melbourne communities. Joel Robinson

The Albertine reaches its highest point on Melbourne’s city fringe
Mirvac has celebrated the topping out of The Albertine, marking the completion of the 14-storey structure on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD and signalling strong progress across the developer’s Victorian pipeline. Joel Robinson

Mirvac unveils sky-high, ultra-luxury apartments at Harbourside
Mirvac has announced the highly anticipated next release of ultra prestige residences at Harbourside in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, unlocking the upper levels of the 48-storey tower. Joel Robinson

First look: Landmark Group tries again with Edgecliff tower plans
Landmark Group is the latest developer to take its Edgecliff development to the NSW Government, following the refusal by the local Woollahra Council last year. Joel Robinson

7 October

Kokoda’s Teneriffe Banks introduces Queensland’s largest residential wellness offering
Brisbane’s riverfront is about to welcome Queensland’s most ambitious wellness living precinct, with Kokoda Property Group unveiling nearly 12,000 sqm of dedicated health, fitness and social amenity within its $1.5 billion Teneriffe Banks development, the largest of its kind in the state. Joel Robinson

Paddington’s Verona Cinema set for luxury apartment transformation and new Golden Age Cinema
A new Golden Age Cinema with multiple screens and creative performance spaces. 53 apartments, including 15 affordable housing apartments. Joel Robinson

NSW Gov, Landcom plan 1,500 new apartments in Chatswood CBD
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said essential workers are the backbone of not only Sydney but all of NSW and they deserve to have an affordable place to live near their job and community. Joel Robinson

First look: Dexus joins St Kilda Road apartment ranks with gateway tower proposal
Dexus’ push into the residential development space is moving down to Melbourne, with the real estate asset giant taking on a site at the southern end of St Kilda Road. Dexus, who has recently starting developing luxury apartments in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is planning a 27-storey tower with over 400 new apartments at the intersection of St Kilda Road and Queens Road. Joel Robinson

The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader

9 October

Seven sites fined in Georges River Council blitz on building sites
George River Council issued seven penalty notices, totalling $31,500 in fines after inspecting local building sites for non-compliance in erosion and sediment control. Jim Gainsford

High expectations: Developer’s view of Woolooware station precinct future
Sutherland Shire Council planning staff fought in vain to block a proposed eight-storey apartment block next to Woolooware station. The developer submitted the building would fit in with the state government’s new Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, which allows six-storey apartment blocks within 400 metres of the station and four-storey blocks within 800 metres. Murray Trembath

The Illawarra Mercury

9 October

Revealed: Illawarra rental prices rising at a faster pace than Sydney
Rental values across the Illawarra are rising at a faster pace relative to Sydney and most other parts of regional NSW, new figures have revealed. Cotality’s Rental Value Index saw national dwelling rents post a 1.4 per cent rise in the third-quarter of the year. Brendan Crabb

8 October

Landmark Wollongong one-bedroom penthouse apartment changes hands
A one-bedroom penthouse in a recognisable Wollongong complex that enjoys eye-catching 360-degree views has changed hands. Brendan Crabb

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