Long Slog to Southport Skinny Tower Approval

An anxious three-year wait for an architect and a builder-developer has finally paid off after Gold Coast City Council last week gave its blessing to a 30-storey skinny tower, rising 110m above Southport Spit.

Granton Constructions and designers Place Studio won development approval for 60 apartments and eight levels of commercial space on just 774sq m, just a stone’s throw from the water.

The developer first filed plans for the two tiny lots at 4 and 4A in Railway Street in December of 2020.

Even getting to the point of lodging documents for such a feat of engineering has had its challenges.

At a pre-lodgement meeting with Gold Coast, council officers questioned the 50-storey height, the nine-storey podium and boundary setbacks only slightly bigger than an AFL tall forward.

The development team agreed to lower the building height by 20 storeys, the podium reduced to four storeys and the western boundary setback increased from 2.5m to 4.1 metres.

Place Studio designed the tower and ironed out the problems.

Managing director James Alexander-Hatziplis said the biggest issue was always yield considerations around structural requirements for tall skinny towers.

“Tall skinny towers are very under-resourced in terms of what structural requirements are needed,” he told The Urban Developer.

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▲ At a meeting with council officers the development team agreed to lower the building height from 50 to 30 storeys.

“So really, designs on these towers start with a considered structural system. And then the uses are infilled to maximise efficiencies.

“It’s a much more thought-out arrangement for what goes in the tower, so that fundamentally the cost of building such a tall tower is not prohibitive. That’s the big issue.”

To add to design headaches, the rectangular-shaped site has three street frontages—one to Railway Street and two others to Fig Tree Lane.

Seventeen levels are given over to residential units and eight levels to 2285sq m of commercial floor space. A double-storey lobby is spread over the ground and first floors.

The plans call for 29 single-bedroom units, another 29 of two bedrooms, and single three and five-bedroom apartments.

The commercial space is earmarked for a range of possible businesses, including offices, education facilities and healthcare services.

Seventy carparking spaces will be squeezed into three basement levels, with two car lifts.

About 450sq m of communal space will include a pool and deck terrace, gymnasium and gardens.

In securing final approval, Zone Town Planning pointed out Gold Coast council in May of 2018 had approved a 41-storey, mixed-use residential tower with 349 short-stay apartments, food and drink outlets and some retail elements on a neighbouring block at 3 Railway Street.

“It took a long time to get this approved because we were really squeezing a lot in, trying to get that site to do a lot,” Alexander-Hatziplis said.

“And it’s quite a complex building in its consideration.

“When you look at it, and now it’s all completed it seems like a simple kind of solution,” he said.

“But that building’s doing a lot to get everything in such a tight little footprint.”

Article source: Queensland Property Investor

The top ten most popular homes for sale in Australia right now

The ten most popular properties for sale in Australia right now are idyllic retreats for space to escape the rat race.

The number one, most in-demand Aussie listing on Domain right now is a Noosa North Shore home, pavilion style, with a deep jetty mooring for parking a big boat.

Four of the top ten are in Queensland, which has been a boom market due to southern state migration, chasing lifestyle and better bang for buck, and Chris Hemsworth’s personal trainer’s estate and a house with a shark tank next to the kitchen also ranked.

The top ten most viewed homes this week on Domain…

Number 1
16 Wygani Drive, Noosa North Shore, Queensland

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Walk from here to Noosa’s beautiful and secluded Teewah Beach. (Domain)

The property has a jetty and lawn that kisses the shore, effectively giving the buyer their own private slice of the Noosa River. Multiple decks and pavilions look over the water.

Number 2
11 Hampton View Court, Hampton, Queensland

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The pool seems to touch the horizon. (Domain)

The home takes in views of the Great Dividing Range escarpment from its lofty position. To linger and enjoy the views, the outdoor area a kitchen with built-in BBQ, sink and drinks fridge.

Number 3
72 Donaldsons Road, Red Hill, Victoria

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Enjoy lunch and a Peninsula pinot in the elegant garden. (Domain)

The estate comprises a romantic farmhouse and a “boutique vineyard”. Everyone will want to visit and stay after a beverage or three, given you are in Mornington Peninsula wine country, so it is a good thing the house has seven bedrooms.

Number 4
91 Commodore Drive, Paradise Waters, Queensland

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The property is akin to one of the great hotels of the world. (Domain)

Known as North Point, the waterfront mansion – on the Gold Coast canals – has “resort-style gardens”, a glistening pool and grand design features, reminiscent of a six=star hotel.

Number 5
63 Kangaroo Point Road, Kangaroo Point, New South Wales

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Sharks circle the large tank in the NSW home. (Domain)

This listing has bite. An enormous shark tank next to the kitchen will astonish at the open for the inspections. The 20,000-litre aquarium is the largest private residential set-up in Australia.

Number 6
225 Broken Head Road, Newrybar, New South Wales

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The house has a connection to Thor himself. (Domain)

The glamorous home near Byron Bay belongs to personal trainer to the stars James Duigan – Aussie film star Chris Hemsworth is one of his clients – and still for sale after passing in at auction on a bid of $14.8 million.

Number 7
54 Treadwells Road, Inverloch, Victoria

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Step from the lawn onto the sand and enjoy a private dip. (Ray White Inverloch)

You could idle away the days on your own private beach and house your guests in a chic converted bus with lounge area. The unique home promises the buyer “both land and sea”.

Number 8
12 Dudley Street Brighton, Victoria

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The mansion is glamour, glamour, glamour, in Brighton’s so-called Golden Mile. (Domain)

This is what the elite end of the market call a “trophy home”. The estate includes a cinema and a library, in gardens by renowned landscape designer, Paul Bangay.

Number 9
128 Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba, Queensland

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Everything a family could need spread across substantial acreage. (Domain)

The large cedar homestead – with a tennis court, pool, spa, gym and sauna – has six bedrooms and “playful platypus” which live in the waterways the property.

Number 10
57 Parker Crescent, Berry, New South Wales

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The property is chic, modern and the white pops against the verdant vistas. (Domain)

Article source: Queensland Property Investor

Auchenflower ‘Vertical Aged Care Village’ Greenlit

Healthcare giant Australian Unity has been given the green light to deliver a $100-million retirement and aged care village in Brisbane’s suburban inner-west.

It will comprise a trio of buildings rising three, seven and 10 storeys on a 6897sq m Catholic Church-owned site at 9-17 Harriett Street, Auchenflower.

The existing Holy Spirit Catholic Church will be retained as part of the development.

Previously approved for a vertical retirement village and residential aged care precinct, the site was part of the Greengate portfolio acquired by Australian Unity in 2021 for $65 million.

The design has been subsequently tweaked by Fender Katsalidis with a development focus on the facilitation of social connection and community.

According to the amended plans, the overall number of homes has been slightly reduced compared to the existing approval. The 18,242sq m development now includes 87 independent living apartments (a reduction of one unit) and 108 residential aged care units (a reduction of two suites).

But the changes also include a significant increase in the amount of communal space within the retirement and aged care village, almost doubling from 570sq m to 1139sq m.

As well, the redesign has maximised northern light and taken more advantage of the site’s viewlines. An internal courtyard is aimed at enhancing the village typology, providing residents with amenities including a small cafe, hairdresser, consultation room for medical practitioners and a rehabilitation gym.

Fender Katsalidis principal Jessica Lee said the project highlighted the firm’s commitment to providing human-centric design that holistically enhances the well-being of its residents.

“Addressing our ageing population means addressing the infrastructure,” Lee said.

“It is crucial that the way we design retirement living is conducive to positive, healthy outcomes for residents, and that each design is contextualised within its local neighbourhood, which is what our amended plans at Auchenflower have set out to achieve.”

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Fender Katsiladis opted for a high-quality mineral paint finish on the concrete facade, which will be articulated by the use of metal cladding at upper levels to create the illusion of a recessive shadow line. On lower levels, including around the internal courtyard, a tactile hand-cut brick will be used to promote fine-grain materiality.

The architect has previously worked with Australian Unity on its award-winning retirement living project The Grace Albert Lake retirement community in Melbourne.

“Creating a continuum of care allows older people living in the community to access a choice of accommodation and care services that provides the peace of mind a low-change environment, and the quality design outcomes that Australian Unity is committed to,” Australian Unity general manager of places Lorraine Calder said.

“In providing a choice of quality accommodation that promotes wellbeing, belonging and community, we are looking to improve the standard of Australian aged care, and ultimately, change the stigmas about ageing and older people more broadly.”

Queensland’s ageing population is driving increased demand for retirement and aged care development throughout the state. The number of Queensland residents aged 85 years and over is projected to more than double between 2019 and 2049.

Article source: Queensland Property Investor

New owners of championship golf course committed to high standards

A championship golf site on the Sunshine Coast has new owners, who say they will “continue to maintain the quality condition of the course”.

The Peregian Golf Course was sold by Peregian Springs Golf Holdings to Chateraise Lakelands Golf Club Pty Ltd (Lakelands).

It was put on the market in November and its sale five months later followed a lively national expression of interest campaign, which attracted a number of offers from prospective buyers.

The property, which is zoned sport and rec, was sold for an undisclosed sum and will remain as a golf course.

A spokesperson for Peregian Springs Golf Holdings, of which developer Aveo is a major shareholder, said PSGH shareholders voted “overwhelmingly” to approve the sale last month.

“From the outset of the expressions of interest campaign we made it clear that a key consideration was the ability and intention for the purchaser to continue operating the golf course for the benefit of the local community,” the spokesperson said via a press release.

“Lakelands is an established owner and operator of golf courses in Japan and Australia and has shown a genuine commitment to maintaining the golf course operations.

“They have extensive experience owning and operating 18-hole golf courses, including the Jack Nicklaus-designed Lakelands Golf Club in Merrimac on the Gold Coast.

“This experience provides a great foundation for the ongoing operation of the Peregian Golf Course into the future.”

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The Peregian Golf Clubhouse.

Chateraise Holdings is a renowned Japanese dessert company, which creates and distributes sweets across Asia and Europe. It also owns more than a dozen golf courses, along with ski resorts and wineries.

Chateraise Lakelands Golf Club head of finance Yoko Bitar said the Peregian Golf Course was a “well-manicured and beautiful course”.

She said golf on the Sunshine Coast had enhanced the region as a “great holiday destination, for interstate and international tourists”.

Ms Bitar said the owners were intent on providing a great golfing experience at Peregian.

“We will continue to maintain the quality condition of the course and would like to keep the good relationship with members and residents,” she said.

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The Peregian Golf Course is within Peregian Springs.

The par-70 course is highly regarded. It has hosted several significant events during its 20-year existence.

The layout meanders its way through Peregian Springs and is surrounded by lakes, trees and housing.

It was designed by Phil Scott, the father of Masters champion Adam, and its build was completed in 2003.

The then-operator, Peregian Springs Golf Club Limited, defaulted on its lease and the course was closed in 2016, casting doubts about the venue’s future.

However, Golf Services Management stepped in and took over the running of it.

“Since that time, they have successfully overseen the club’s operations and course maintenance,” a Golf Holdings spokesperson has said.

GSM’s current lease is being transferred as part of the sale.

Ms Bitar said there were no current plans alter the course or clubhouse.

“We trust GSM will continue providing excellent operations,” she said.

Article source: Queensland Property Investor

How builder-developer couple put their heart and soul into this property

Having spent nearly two decades raising their family in Buderim, a pocket within Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland, Melissa and Wojtek Stainwald wanted to be able to share their slice of paradise.

“Vista Monti” is the culmination of the couple’s years-long desire to take on a special project once their three boys were older. The white, tree-lined home is the first the builder-developers have completed as they sought a distraction having become so-called empty nesters.

While they had never intended to live in the five-bedroom home, they poured as much heart and soul into the property as if they were to move in.

“The design has been my labour of love,” Melissa said

“I’ve lost count how many times trades or suppliers have in frustration that I won’t let go of an idea, said to me, ‘Meli, you’re not going to be living in it.’

“No, but a beautiful family will be and they deserve the best, would always be my reply.”

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The couple wanted the home to feel like a resort. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The Agency’s Sunshine Coast property partner, Dan Smith, is marketing 96 Lindsay Rd, which will be auctioned on-site on Sunday, May 7 at 10am.

Melissa, who was hands-on in her role as project manager, described the style as raw minimal with a sprinkle of Mediterranean.

“The last few years everything has been grey, grey, grey on grey and very monotone,” she said. “I really set out with this house to change and steer it differently.”

Arches and curves were used throughout from the staircase to the showers, with orange and pink tones used in the bathrooms to bring colour and warmth into the otherwise muted, natural palette with materials including Tasmanian Oak and limestone.

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Palm trees create the feeling of a tropical getaway in the hinterland. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The foyer is one of the couple’s favourite parts of the home, setting the resort-style vibe with hand-plastered curved stairs and seagrass baskets overhead, which create a coastal welcoming. The cocktail bar was a must have to complete the feeling of escape.

While the design is grand, Melissa knew it was ultimately going to be a family home. Plenty of living space was created so parents and children have their own areas to retreat and ample storage. A study was included for busy parents working from home, as was a media room.

Given the home’s location among the trees and a short drive from the beach, the couple wanted the home to be like a tropical escape.

Wojtek, who had a career in construction, was mindful that the top level should feel like becoming “lost” within the tree canopies. Expansive balconies for entertaining capture views and strategically placed windows beside the bath allow you to relax as though one were outside.

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The bath has full views of the treetops. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“The view is pretty magical,” Melissa said. “It’s an ideal location, with private and public schools just up the road, the beach an easy 10-minute drive down the mountain, mountain views to feed the soul.”

Landscaping around the home on the near 900 sqm block captures the lush, tropical feeling, complemented by a private in-ground pool and fire pit.

“It’s got a good amount of yard space and flat lawn, so it will cater for all age groups of kids,” Wojtek said.

Having now completed their first project, they are excited to move on to their next, which will be Palm Springs inspired.

“We’ve got our next project ready to go, another one in Buderim because its our passion,” Melissa said.

“Our dream is to be able to do one of these every 12, 18 months if I’m super organised.”

The couple will continue to live locally.

Article source: Queensland Property Investor

Essential workers go casual, hunt for second jobs as Gold, Sunshine coast rents rise

The price of rent in two of Queensland’s most sought-after holiday spots has become so high that essential workers are being forced to find multiple jobs to keep a roof over their heads.

A report from housing affordability campaign Everybody’s Home this week found critical workers on the Sunshine and Gold coasts were spending a higher proportion of their income on rent than anywhere else in the state, including Brisbane.

The findings compared the award wages for full-time qualified roles, with the average rental price of units in different regions.

On the Gold Coast, it found dispatchers, hospitality workers, and aged care workers on the award would have to spend more than their entire income on rent if they lived alone.

On the Sunshine Coast, it was more than 80 per cent.

Staffing struggles

St Vincent Care Services runs a major aged care centre in Maroochydore, on the Sunshine Coast, that has 130 residents being looked after by 200 staff.

But chief executive Lincoln Hopper said that was not enough, with 100 shifts a fortnight — and up to 20 full time roles — going unfilled.

People can’t work in the region if they can’t afford a place to live there,” he said.

“That issue just multiplies the issues that affect aged care at the moment.

People don’t think about that aspect of how the housing crisis, and the multiple effects that has on people, and particularly their working lives.

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St Vincent’s Aged Care centre on the Sunshine Coast is just minutes from the beach.(ABC Sunshine Coast: Owen Jacques)

He said vacant shifts were filled by agency or fill-in staff, so residents still received the same amount of support.

But Mr Hopper said some staff were asking for fewer hours so they could fit in their second job, or remain as casuals for the higher pay, simply so they could afford their rent.

“That’s because people are working multiple jobs, to try to maximise their income.

“All of those things conspire against having a permanent, solid, consistent workforce.”

Mr Hopper said his not-for-profit had considered how federal debate over the award for aged care workers could help would-be staff.

“I think we would argue in the case of the Sunshine Coast, that people are so priced out because of the property prices there, I’m not sure many organisations like mine could actually afford to bridge that gap,” he said.

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A report compares award wages of essential workers with the average unit rent across the country.(Supplied: Everybody’s Home)

‘Least affordable’ regions

Everybody’s Home spokeswoman and report author, Maiy Azize, said the figures were startling, despite already knowing that essential workers were likely struggling.

“The Gold Coast is the least affordable city of any that we looked at, it’s less affordable than Sydney,” she said.

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The Sunshine and Gold coasts are the most expensive places for essential workers to rent in Queensland.(ABC Gold Coast: Kimberley Bernard)

“It’s going to be difficult for anyone who is an essential worker to live on the Gold Coast.

“What that means is that we’re going to see huge workforce shortages in some of these places that are really expensive to live in.”

She said the figures suggested some would be left with just $20 a day for bills, transport, and food after they had paid rent.

“It’s no way to live hand-to-mouth for some of these workers who we all really rely on to keep our communities going,” she said.

“What we’re seeing is that people can’t afford to do some of these jobs, like aged care, like childcare, and live in the communities where they work.”

Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins said the government’s $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, if it passes the Senate, would create 30,000 social and affordable homes in the first five years.

The idea is that the government will invest those billions, and the earnings from that investment — which it says will amount to $500 million a year — will go to housing.

The answer to rental stress is all levels of government working together to have a sustained boost to the supply of homes to rent, and a substantial investment in new social and affordable houses,” Ms Collins said.

She said housing projects were already being funded with up to $575 million from the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

But Ms Azize said funding was not enough, the government needed to take action.

She said there was a period of time after World War II during which the federal and state governments built tens of thousands of homes.

In 1944, the Commonwealth Housing Commission wrote “We consider that a dwelling of good standard and equipment is not only the need but the right of every citizen — whether the dwelling is to be rented or purchased, no tenant or purchaser should be exploited for excessive profit”.

Ms Azize said there was a myth that more housing supply would ease prices, but it was more government spending that was needed.

“The simple answer is they don’t want to spend the money,” she said.

“The real reason why we can’t scale this up is because we just don’t have the investment that we need from the federal government.

“That’s the key thing we’re asking them to change.”

Article source: Queensland Property Investor

These are the properties that buyers are competing for the most

Wondering whether you should sell or sit tight?

Join the club.

So far in 2023, the number of homes coming onto the market has been tracking well below 2022 levels in all capitals, with new Domain data showing new listings are down by at least 20 per cent in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast compared to the same time last year.

On the flip side, buyer demand has increased in Melbourne and Sydney week on week since mid-January and remains stable in Brisbane, indicating buyers are more actively searching for a new home.

So, with the supply of homes for sale down, and demand up, what kind of properties are generating the most competition among active buyers?

1. Turn-key properties

Whether newly built or newly renovated, the most popular dwellings along Australia’s east coast right now are those where all the buyer has to do is turn the key and move right in.

“Buyers don’t have an appetite for renovating or building due to increased building costs and the difficulty of taking on such projects,” says Jayne Robbins, Brisbane buyer’s agent and founder of The Informed Buyer. “Buyers are not keen to navigate through the building process and are looking for completed options where they can just move in and not have any work to do or additional expense to outlay.”

McGrath Inner West agent Alexandra Stamatiou-Buda also reports strong competition for renovated and new builds.

“Good properties are performing really well, especially turn-key propositions because buyers were affected the last couple of years with the rise in building costs,” she says. “So, what we’re seeing is that they’re paying a premium to buy a property where they don’t have to do anything.”

Andrew Date, founder and buyers’ agent at Industry Insider Property Advocates, says top of the list for Melbourne buyers are renovated, free-standing or semi-detached homes.

“The majority of our current clients are wanting to avoid major renovations due to the cost and time associated,” he says.

Kay & Burton partner Grant Samuel says buyers at the premium end of the Melbourne market are equally concerned about what a property will cost to build or renovate.

“Anything that’s a turn-key solution, properties that people can move into and not have to engage builders or worry about any construction costs or reno costs, they’re in high demand,” he says.

2. Homes in the inner-city ring

In Victoria, Date reports a shift away from regional centres, which enjoyed increased popularity during the pandemic.

“During COVID one of our main buyer briefs was lifestyle and Mornington Peninsula,” he says. “Currently, this trend has reversed and we are helping significantly more clients wanting to be closer to the inner 10 to 20-kilometre ring of the Melbourne CBD.”

Samuel is fielding strong enquiry from international buyers looking to purchase in the local government area of Stonnington, with good competition for listings in Toorak.

In Brisbane, blue-chip suburbs located five to seven kilometres from the CBD are in demand, says Robbins, including Ashgrove, Bardon, Paddington, Toowong, Grange and New Farm.

There are a handful of suburbs in Sydney where prices are rising as buyers compete for limited stock, says Shore Financial chief executive and mortgage broker Theo Chambers, including Petersham, Alexandria, Willoughby, Five Dock and Wareemba.

3. Properties with home offices and access to public transport

There are still plenty of people working from home, which means homes with quiet zones that can accommodate a good-sized desk are in demand.

“We are still noticing a trend for buyers wanting dedicated home offices or a work-from-home space,” says Robbins.

Stamatiou-Buda says a home office is high on the list for professionals house hunting in the inner west, but adds that properties located within walking distance of public transport are back in the spotlight as people return to offices in the CBD and commercial centres. 

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With hybrid working the norm in many industries, properties that have both a home office and good public transport access see strong competition. Photo: McGrath Lindfield

“Through COVID, people said it doesn’t really matter how far I am from the train station,” she says. “Now people are asking ‘how long do you think it will take me to walk there?’ ”

“A lot of buyers are going back to work, and uni students are back on campus and therefore they need that public transport option.”

4. High-yield investment properties

After 10 consecutive interest rate rises, it’s not surprising to hear that investors are keen to find property with strong yields to provide cash-flow safety.

Darren Venter, director at The Investors Agency, says interest has been strong in affordable locations with good economic growth.

“[For example] in Queensland, we’re seeing that Yeppoon’s population is supported by affordability, amenity and tourism, resulting in a population increase that is driving demand and therefore property prices,” he says.

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Investors facing rising mortgage repayments have been hunting for cashflow positive high-yield assets, experts say. Photo: iStock

For those investors who will list in the coming months, Venter says the easiest thing landlords can do to maximise their sale price is to list for sale one to two months before the lease runs out.

“Generally speaking, about 70 per cent of buyers are home owners and 30 per cent are investors,” he explains. “By having a long lease in play at the time of sale, it means you’ll be missing out on 70 per cent of the potential buyers.”

Article source: Queensland Property Investor