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Almost six years after the deadly Grenfell tower fire in London—and nine years since the Lacrosse building fire in Melbourne—hundreds of residential buildings in NSW remain at risk from potentially combustible cladding.Project Remediate, a state government scheme to replace the unsafe materials, has been under way since March 2021 but some industry insiders say the ball is not rolling fast enough.Despite a purpose-built and state-funded taskforce unearthing almost 230 buildings deemed dangerous, just two properties have had their cladding removed and replaced with a safer alternative.Sydney’s Strata Embassy director Ben Cabello says the speed of uptake appears to be impeded by a communication problem.“The biggest issue is the two tiers of government really don’t seem to talk to each other. Councils don’t talk to the NSW government and vice versa.&nbsp;“Councils are usually all about fire safety, so if there is a risk then they’re going to apply pressure to do works within a certain timeframe, regardless of any assistance from Project Remediate,” he says.A voluntary program, Project Remediate’s ultimate goal is to assess and replace flammable cladding for eligible residential buildings and offer owners corporations a 10-year interest-free loan.According to the latest data from Project Remediate, 227 buildings in NSW were originally flagged as “high risk” after the establishment of the Combustible Cladding Register.&nbsp;Along with the two completed projects, 123 buildings have undergone comprehensive investigations—35 are undergoing preliminary design development, 50 are in the design completion phase and 19 have designs fully completed with tenders for construction work either under way or completed.&nbsp;A number of other buildings are being assessed for retrospective assistance.Cabello says the delays are causing challenges for strata plans and individual owners.“We’ve just had a client join the scheme and Project Remediate had its preferred builder do a building inspection in the first week of February—and there’s been no word since,” he says.<div id="5rLLbehDMfJmiMaAhWnry1"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4vmzvtwbwjZ8qEroBE7PZh/1485e44a9861c6e09ca4bda17537a248/1.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4vmzvtwbwjZ8qEroBE7PZh/1485e44a9861c6e09ca4bda17537a248/1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The Lacrosse building fire in Melbourne in 2014. </div></div>“The owners’ corporation want to know what the findings were, and if they’re going to get an interest free loan or any government assistance.”He says that hold-ups could create problems with insurance premiums and home values.“There are units for sale in the building and we’ve also got insurance coming up, so everybody’s asking if the building has been accepted into the program or not,” Cabello says.&nbsp;“A month’s gone past without even seeing the report. It’s very slow moving.”Despite the promise of a decade-long loan, Cabello says a building with an outstanding debt loses some of its shine.“It’s not just the cost of the actual work and product, there are a lot of consultants getting paid along the way.&nbsp;“And without any certainty around whether you’re going to get a government loan at no interest or a subsidy, the cost is very much unknown.”&nbsp;So vendors and purchasers really have to negotiate some sort of discount to accommodate any special levy.“It’s a bit of a fire sale. People don’t want to pay a huge special levy so they sell, but their property’s going to be discounted anyway.”Strata Community Association (NSW) president Stephen Brell agrees it is uncharted territory for all parties.“It’s difficult to say what impact this will have on purchase prices because it’s still relatively early days,” he says.&nbsp;“Buyers need to enter into a strata scheme with their eyes wide open and ask about any existing problems with the building.&nbsp;<div id="2dqCGdk80rBkE81ZtmK1fe"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/18lWm9WAmFskyPwWsdVshw/6cf63910e858a7fc00bab4c35dc3bb9e/3.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/18lWm9WAmFskyPwWsdVshw/6cf63910e858a7fc00bab4c35dc3bb9e/3.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Buyers in NSW have been warned to keep their eyes wide open. </div></div>“At least if you buy into a building that’s gone through Project Remediate you have some sense of security.”Despite the slow pace, Brell says Project Remediate is getting results.“I’m actually pleasantly surprised with the numbers coming back from the Building Commissioner’s Office.&nbsp;“I know out in the marketplace the sentiment is that is is moving very slowly, and it is, but it’s not an easy fix.”An Office of the NSW Building Commissioner spokesperson says there are a number of complexities to the process.“Scoping remediation work accurately is challenging and owners’ corporations should be wary of any remediation quotes prepared without a detailed investigation of the underlying condition of the building,” the spokesperson says.&nbsp;“The building design, existing condition and site constraints can substantially alter the difficulty and cost of remediation.“Construction costs continue to rise in response to reduced availability of materials and contractors due to global factors.&nbsp;“Project Remediate has assembled leading construction, engineering and fire safety experts to design a program that addresses all of these issues.”As well as these cost blowouts, Cabello says individual buildings can also prove more costly.“We’ve had larger buildings where the cladding in question is just a decorative trim so work will be minimal, but then there are smaller buildings where whole exteriors need to be replaced,” he says.&nbsp;“It’s not really the product that’s costly, because it’s cheap as chips, it’s the access.&nbsp;“If your building is landlocked you might need a crane or to block off streets.”<div id="2SN4nNYHfxJTRJpajvJ1H"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/ZCdEhWiHz2CxoPnwtDWdi/8632988cd7acd160df3e96747958139f/4.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/ZCdEhWiHz2CxoPnwtDWdi/8632988cd7acd160df3e96747958139f/4.jpg"></picture><div>▲ No two remediation projects are the same, which means no standard costs or timelines. </div></div>Another hurdle in the process is rulings on which products are on the high risk list, based on the percentage of polyethylene used.“We’ve an interesting situation where the cladding on one building, which was installed by a very good developer, was compliant at the time it was built. But a year later that product is on the banned list,” Cabello says.&nbsp;“The developer is saying, ‘It’s not our fault, it was compliant at the time’. However the legislation says the developer is still responsible in retrospect.&nbsp;“The strata plan got legal advice and the opinion was the developer was still on the hook.“However, because they choose to fund it themselves, now they’re having to make a claim from the developer and lodge proceedings in court to recover the money.”<h2>Innovation upside</h2> The silver lining, however, has been the amount of innovation taking place in the cladding space.Engineers at RMIT have developed fire-safe cladding using recycled glass to not only produce a safer building material but also address a major waste problem. The non-combustible cladding uses 83 per cent recycled glass as well as relatively low amounts of plastic binders and fire-retardant additives.“Experiments have proven our claddings are fire-safe, water-resistant, cheap, and meet structural and environmentally sustainable requirements,” lead researcher associate Professor Dilan Robert says.He says the technology also met key compliance requirements of cladding for non-combustibility set by Standards Australia.“Claddings play a key role in preventing the spread of fire, particularly in high-rise buildings.“Building fires can happen anywhere at any time and cannot be predicted, therefore fire safety requirements should be embedded in the design of buildings.” <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

It is two years since the launch of NSW’s Project Remediate to identify and remove combustible cladding. But with just two buildings have had cladding removed, is the scheme doing all it could?

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Sydney family-owned developer and construction business Level 33 has filed plans for a 19-storey, two-tower shoptop development in the heart of New South Wales’ third biggest city.Level 33’s plans before the Wollongong City Council call for 262 apartments above 1200sq m of retail space with seven separate tenancies.The development—with construction costs estimated around $73 million—will rise above four individual lots at 357 and 363-373 Crown Street, as well as 2 and 4 Gladstone Avenue, in Wollongong. The irregular-shaped parcel totals 6514 square metres.Online documents show Wollongong Investments No. 5 Pty Ltd paid $7 million for 357-359 Crown Street in December 2021. On the same date Wollongong Investments paid between $191,000 and $625,000 for each of the 20 units that make up the strata-titled building at 363 Crown Street.The sole office holder of Wollongong Investments is Eddy Haddad, who is also the director of Level 33.Town planners Planning Ingenuity, which filed the documents, said the two towers—one of 18 levels and the other 19—would sit above a five-storey podium housing retail and commercial tenants as well as parking at ground and lower-ground levels for 318 vehicles.The bulk of the residential element will be made up of 191 two-bedroom apartments. Another 63 will be one-bedroom, with eight of three bedrooms. Ten per cent will be adaptable.BKA Architecture is behind the design.<div id="3N5qhqoMVTE9F47tKPCea0"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6slChIPeY5gPbaGDvuJ1GL/d8ec77a321414ee33557c6b7d28aeabe/Wollongong_Shoptop_Mid.jpg" alt="Online documents show Eddy Haddad's family-owned business Level 33 is behind the development." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6slChIPeY5gPbaGDvuJ1GL/d8ec77a321414ee33557c6b7d28aeabe/Wollongong_Shoptop_Mid.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Online documents show Eddy Haddad's family-owned business, Level 33, is behind the development.</div><div> </div></div>All current buildings, including two federation-style houses, will be demolished to make way for the development.In pre-lodgement meetings, Wollongong council officers pointed to a large, heritage-listed Moreton Bay fig tree, which they wanted retained and incorporated into the development. Earliest records show the fig visible in an aerial photo from 1938.An arboriculture impact assessment report said fig trees were known to be tolerant of change, including less sunlight.“Ultimately, all ground works as proposed will improve the growing conditions through the removal of hard surfacing and installation of (permeable) garden and turf beds, significantly increasing water infiltration rates and opening up air and gaseous exchange rates, all which will improve the health of the tree long term,” the report said.Planning Ingenuity said the construction works would have some short-term positive the economic impacts through employment generation in the construction industry, and associated sectors.&nbsp;“In the longer-term, high-amenity living will be provided for the future residents and employment will be generated in the retail sectors,” the town planners said.“Furthermore, the development will significantly increase the number of residents living in close proximity to Wollongong commercial core and this will translate into additional consumers for local businesses and services.”

Sydney family-owned developer and construction business Level 33 has filed plans for a 19-storey, two-tower shoptop development in the heart of New South Wales’ third biggest city.

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Two Sydney councils have teamed up to launch a major precinct masterplan for Leppington Town Centre with the aim of developing a “30-minute city”.&nbsp;The Liverpool and Camden councils have collaborated on the ambitious masterplan for the town centre, which aims to deliver 10,500 homes by 2041.The precinct is now under assessment with the NSW Department for Planning and Environment.&nbsp;The 440ha site within the South West Growth Area of Sydney spans the two local government authorities but has “been slow to develop to date”.&nbsp;This was due to fragmented land ownership and a perceived “lack of a lead developer to establish a town centre”, reports by the councils said.The Leppington Town Centre Review Planning Proposal was endorsed by Liverpool Council in October before being discussed at Camden in November ahead of being filed with the department this year.Leppington is largely an employment-zoned area, focusing on business and industrial parks, with pockets of medium-density residential.The rezoning masterplan will turn it into a highly integrated mixed-use Strategic Centre Core, according to the councils, helping to facilitate the growth of residential living and the provision of cultural and recreational facilities.&nbsp;In addition to the residential component, 156,000sq m of retail space, and 142,000sq m of commercial, health, community and education floor space are included in the plans.The area’s employment focus will be retained with 160,000sq m of commercial and industrial enterprise floor space included in the masterplan.&nbsp;The councils want to adopt a “density pyramid” approach with the highest densities, of up to 28-stroreys, concentrated around the core at Leppington Station.&nbsp;Medium to high densities are allocated for the 800m walking catchment at the periphery, and medium densities towards the edges.<div id="1eQtwQjExvA3YaYMkSQpkA"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/51MUiKcAtlkp0jD2PBhWSC/776f60ffdfba80b8ed2e13a3c1a4efe8/Leppington_Town_Plaza_in-article.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/51MUiKcAtlkp0jD2PBhWSC/776f60ffdfba80b8ed2e13a3c1a4efe8/Leppington_Town_Plaza_in-article.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Camden and Liverpool Councils are centring the town around a plaza in a “density pyramid” approach. </div></div>There are already developments on the way in the area, including a two-stage subdivision which will create 235 residential lots between Camden Valley Way, George Road and Hulls Road.&nbsp;A five-tower project by Salvo Property Group was <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/leppington-aerotropolis-five-tower-precinct" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/leppington-aerotropolis-five-tower-precinct" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced for the area</a> last year and a <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/greenfield-sale-opens-up-western-sydney-airport-market" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/greenfield-sale-opens-up-western-sydney-airport-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenfield sale in Leppington North</a> will create further development next to the new town centre.The councils want Leppington to become a new strategic centre “growing into a regionally significant transit-oriented centre providing major civic, cultural, recreational, retail and business service functions”.&nbsp;As part of the Western Parkland City area, it will complement the Aerotropolis, another precinct plan which was under assessment at the end of last year anchored by the growth of Western Sydney Airport and nvestment in road and train networks in the area.Leppington Town Centre should capitalise on the development of the Aerotropolis Precinct, the councils said, increasing its role in provisioning residential and employment, to “support the concept of a 30-minute city”.&nbsp;“Leppington Town Centre will be a people and lifestyle-focused place, transit-oriented and highly convenient with major shopping, cultural and recreation facilities,” according to the councils.&nbsp;“It will have multiple education and health facilities as well as convenient industrial and urban services space on its fringe to meet the needs of its local community.”&nbsp;Public exhibition of the project will launch in April and the report is to befinalising by November 2023.

Major opportunity in the works as high growth Sydney precinct seeks lead developer as part of Leppington “strategic core” rezoning plans…

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A deal worth more than $2 billion has been struck between one of Australia’s biggest developers and a western Sydney council to revitalise the city’s centre.The agreement between Walker Corporation and Blacktown City Council includes new office, health and retail developments in the CBD and a green square.While details are being finalised, Walker executive chairman Lang Walker said the development would deliver more than 1000 construction jobs over five years and permanently add more than 4500 jobs and $920 million in value every year to the city’s economy, according to the Walker Corporation.The deal adds to Walker’s current and past city-transforming projects in <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/high-rise-limit-hike-parramatta-cbd-planning-proposal" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/high-rise-limit-hike-parramatta-cbd-planning-proposal">Parramatta</a>, a $3-billion transformation that was completed less than a year ago, and Queensland’s <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/maroochydore-city-centre-walker-corporation-suncentral-development-construction" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/maroochydore-city-centre-walker-corporation-suncentral-development-construction">Maroochydore</a>.“This is an exciting opportunity to deliver an urban transformation which will change the way people think about Blacktown and bring thousands of new jobs closer to where people live,” Lang Walker said.“Blacktown is growing fast and it needs the modern amenities and infrastructure to match, accompanied by wide open public squares and better-designed access, in and around the city for pedestrians, cars, buses and those using public transport.”<div id="Fo2AAA2x6bsUiIaCd2UrN"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/9IDKrvjK4tkrRAcNFBxYY/296a20179183f2a6da2f7fd92e934dc2/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/9IDKrvjK4tkrRAcNFBxYY/296a20179183f2a6da2f7fd92e934dc2/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A concept render of part of the planned $2-billion revitalisation of the Blacktown CBD. </div></div>The future masterplan will also deliver the council’s mooted Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute.“Over the coming months we will be finessing the details of our masterplan to create vibrant, energised, people-friendly spaces through great architecture, careful placemaking and state-of-the-art facilities,” Walker said.Blacktown, 35km west of the Sydney CBD, is the most populous city in NSW and continues to grow quickly with a predicted population of 615,000 by 2041.Blacktown mayor Tony Bleasdale said the opportunity to work closely with Walker on a transformation the same size as Parramatta Square was “a game changer”.“This is the beginning of a major boom period for Blacktown. The Walker project will play a central role in council’s long-term plan to ensure Blacktown residents have access to world class infrastructure, education, health and open space in the heart of our city, for our community to flourish,” Bleasdale said.Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger said Walker coming to Blacktown was “a major win for our hard-working community”.“Walker’s vision for Parramatta Square has transformed what was a run-down section of the CBD into a vibrant city centre that is now providing tens of thousands of new jobs in premium offices, fantastic restaurants and wide-open public plazas,” Borger said.“Lang Walker and his team will no doubt bring that same visionary nous to Blacktown to help the city modernise in line with its rapid population growth.”

Hot on the heels of its $3-billion project in Parramatta, the developer has struck a deal with Blacktown council to revitalise the city centre…

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High-profile couple George and Wendy Inatey have partenered with retail giant Mark Mezrani for a co-living project in Sydney’s Camperdown.Documents submitted as part of the application show Eftee Pty Ltd and Funky Warehouse Pty Ltd as the companies behind the project.ASIC records list George Inatey as the director of Eftee Pty Ltd and he and his wife listed as shareholders.Mark Mezrani is listed as the director of Funky Warehouse Pty Ltd. George Inatey is a construction lawyer and barrister while Mezrani is the founder of Kidstuff.The project comprises a commercial boarding house over a seven-storey and five-storey buildings on the 1082sq m site at 73-75 and 77-79 Parramatta Road, Camperdown.Corelogic records show that Eftee and Funky Warehouse bought 73-75 Parramatta Road from Crotti Holdings in December 2021 for $7.15 million.There is no sale information listed for 77-79 Parramatta Road but Corelogic records do show that the two companies are also listed as the owners of 93-99 Parramatta Road.That property was purchased in January 2021 for $15.4 million from 99 Camper Holdings Pty Ltd.&nbsp;<div id="1MypG8TedtMUrUPupuyAAl"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2syRP2qvv1ZB3wk0vI2MFA/73bf3b61ed847d4cd453206e8b3100f2/TrimDownload_hbK40Pkl.jpeg" alt="George Inatey and Mark Mezrani's plans for the co-living project on Parramatta Road in Sydney." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2syRP2qvv1ZB3wk0vI2MFA/73bf3b61ed847d4cd453206e8b3100f2/TrimDownload_hbK40Pkl.jpeg"></picture><div>▲ A render of the planned co-living project on Parramatta Road. </div></div>The two Parramatta Road lots are in a mixed-use zone and both have buildings on them: a vacant single-storey former tile factory and a three-storey mixed-use building currently being used as a day spa centre.Both will be demolished under the proposal.Mostaghim Architecture and Interior Design drafted the plans and incliude 113 units, two basement levels, one retail tenancy space of 82sq m on the ground floor and a co-working space of 96sq m.Access to car parking on the first basement level would be from Broderick Street, which runs parallel to Parramatta Road.&nbsp;There would be seven residential car parking spaces on basement level one with one accessible parking space, one commercial accessible parking space, three motorcycle parking spaces, 150 bicycle spaces, and one service vehicle parking space.The second basement level would have 15 residential parking spaces with one accessible parking space, six motorcycle parking spaces, 41 bicycle spaces and a bulk storage room.Two residential lobbies serving each component of the project, a recreational communal area, a central courtyard, three co-living units, the retail tenancy, co-working space and a communal laundry are planned for the ground floor.&nbsp;There would be 21 units on each of the first, second and third floors, which would also include two accessible and two adaptable units per floor.The fourth floor would have 20 units with four adaptable units and a manager’s room while the fifth floor would have 14 units with one adaptable unit and communal open space on the roof of Block B.Thirteen units would be located on the sixth floor.The plans show a gross floor area of 6469sq m and the project has an estimated cost of $19.94 million.Extended trading hours for the retail tenancy of 7am to midnight, seven days per week, are also part of the application though no tenant has yet been secured, according to application documents submitted to the City of Sydney.The need for co-living developements is ramping up as <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/iglu-pbsa-student-accommodation-nsw-anzac-parade" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/iglu-pbsa-student-accommodation-nsw-anzac-parade" target="_blank">new and returning international students</a> flood back into Australia with a major shortfall in accommodation predicted for them.

The Inateys have partnered with retail giant Mark Mezrani for the project in Sydney's inner-west…


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A 70ha greenfield site with approval for more than 150 lots in one of the nation’s hottest locations—Byron Bay—has come to market.The amalgamated site, known as the West Byron Amalgamation, has approval for a masterplanned mixed-use community and is being labelled the biggest site on offer in Byron in recent times—and possibly the last of its size for the NSW coastal mecca.The properties along Ewingsdale Road and Melaleuca Drive total 68.9ha over five lots.The amalgamated site, to the north-west of the town centre, has approval for a masterplanned community of more than 150 large lots, including 124 residential lots, 25 super lots, two large neighbourhood centre lots and multiple light-industrial-zoned lots.The land has been through an approval process for more than 10 years and the owners received development consent early last year.The properties will be taken to the market individually or in one line via an international expressions-of-interest campaign by Tim Holtsbaum and Blake Goddard of Knight Frank.<div id="4tt6wFwpFa5guYpl1hIyK1"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/33p4qtmnCi9bdjM5tSlk90/aafed1f9e5395d04c3f3488030abf300/Ewingsdale_Road__West_Byron.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/33p4qtmnCi9bdjM5tSlk90/aafed1f9e5395d04c3f3488030abf300/Ewingsdale_Road__West_Byron.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The West Byron Amalgamation is being labelled the last large development site in the town. </div></div>Byron Bay was named as one of 12 hotspots around the world alongside the likes of Knightsbridge in London and the Como region in Italy in Knight Frank’s The Wealth Report 2022, chosen for its health and wellbeing elements.The town’s forecast price growth is 30 to 35 per cent during the next five years, the strongest predicted growth of the 12 locations in the report.Goddard said the approved masterplan was “a true rarity”.“With the area in need of more housing availability, it will provide years of much needed supply to Byron Bay,” he said.<div id="3feV4AaVuqvnqDMiuCu4t3"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2wld9GZpoIDsw85QH1SOf3/0696353b8c896f638de38f4177b528ad/Mid_article_resizes__12_.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2wld9GZpoIDsw85QH1SOf3/0696353b8c896f638de38f4177b528ad/Mid_article_resizes__12_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The popularity of Byron Bay skyrocketed during the pandemic. </div></div>“The owners carefully designed and curated the approval to ensure it meets with demand from the local surrounds.“This includes 2.5km of internal designated cycleways and a village centre to service the new community and supported by communal parks and gardens.”Holtsbaum said the West Byron Amalgamation was in a premium location and on a scale unlikely to be seen again in the Byron Bay region.“Byron Bay presents one of the most sought-after investment locations, driven by restricted supply and continued demand,” he said.“We expect to field interest from buyers looking at individual holdings to develop either a residential or commercial project, for example, as well as larger developers looking to create a major masterplanned community.”

The 70ha amalgamated site has approval for more than 150 lots and is being touted as the last big site in the world-famous NSW coastal resort…

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Sydney developer Top Spring is pulling the trigger on its 1.26ha five-tower masterplanned community at St Leonards on the back of strong appetite for the apartments.After a launch at the end of 2022 the developer has banked more than $65 million in sales for the <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/sydney-developers-five-building-residential-precinct-plan" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/sydney-developers-five-building-residential-precinct-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">placemaking project, The Newlands</a>.&nbsp;Top Spring development director Jeff Curnow said they had received development application approval in March 2022 for the five superlot site at 21-41 Canberra Avenue and 18-32 Holdsworth Avenue.&nbsp;“Last year was actually quite slow for sales, but this year we’re turning over pretty frequent sales of four or five a week at the moment,” Curnow said.“We’ve still got a bit to go, it’s a 330-apartment project and we’ve sold about 20 per cent. But it’s looking good at this stage.”<div id="4TFArFud3W2E5IX9JoqPBx"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4sQMpc6yG6FQSDjEtUTHeP/f0bc55f5fb07f522405b4da3888a22ea/The_Newlands_MID.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4sQMpc6yG6FQSDjEtUTHeP/f0bc55f5fb07f522405b4da3888a22ea/The_Newlands_MID.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Parkland fronts three sides of The Newlands development, providing a green spine for the significant residential project. </div></div> Curnow said they would be launching the next stage to the market in early April.“Our focus at the moment is getting that <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/top-spring-double-bay-sydney-luxury-apartments-ode" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/top-spring-double-bay-sydney-luxury-apartments-ode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-end brand recognition</a> with our smaller boutique projects at Elizabeth Bay and Double Bay,” Curnow said.“The big projects [such as The Newlands] have got a long gestation period, it’s a lot of work and there’s a lot of risk sitting in there.”Curnow said the St Leonards and Crows Nest area would attract “strong demand as it evolved around a green spine and public transport infrastructure”.“It makes sense with the Metro there, it’s where the density should be going. It’s going to be completely unrecognisable in five to 10 years,” he said.The Newlands is due for completion in late 2026. Early works and demolition have started on the site and construction is due to commence later this year following the appointment of DASCO as the construction partner.&nbsp;“Like all Top Spring Australia projects, it was important to partner with a like-minded contractor that aligns with our standards and vision for this iconic site,” Curnow said.“DASCO is one of few builders in the state to achieve a coveted 4.5-star iCIRT rating, recognising their success in innovation, reliability, and construction excellence.”DASCO co-owner Daniel Nicolas said it was an exciting opportunity to help deliver the masterplanned community.&nbsp;

Sydney developer Top Spring is pulling the trigger on its 1.26ha five-tower masterplanned community at St Leonards following strong appetite for the apartments...

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Sydney apartment developer Jean Nassif is hoping to bag $100 million for a 1.64ha site near Sydney Airport, amid ongoing court battles.Nassif reportedly acquired the larger industrial complex at 154 O’Riordan Street for $32 million from Dexus in 2015 and later acquired the neighbouring 146 O’Riordan Street site at Mascot.&nbsp;Colliers national directors Michael Crombie and Trent Gallagher are marketing the DA-approved site on behalf of JKN Park, which is owned by Jean Nassif.Nassif was granted a permit for a 96-room hotel and 444 serviced apartments across the agglomerated site and the agents said it was a develop or hold asset in a strongly contested area.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Nassif has been overseas, while a parliamentary inquiry was under way into the Hills Shire Council and the Toplace director’s construction company has been slapped with a $4-million lawsuit this week over accusations of unpaid invoices amounting to $3,808,908 owed to a Sydney-based contractor.Earlier this year Nassif and <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/toplace-jean-nassif-ban-reprieve" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/toplace-jean-nassif-ban-reprieve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toplace were granted a reprieve</a> and allowed to continue trading following a review of the revocation of their building licences.&nbsp;<div id="RAcZms4tZopWZSJldwiGf"><div id="Jrol8mIbly420b1EjQf6J"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4kASpxyNLKbyWWjJzDE93u/cef86dc643968cda3b7479333fefb627/EDM_resize__9_.jpg" alt="Toplace Skyview Developments" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4kASpxyNLKbyWWjJzDE93u/cef86dc643968cda3b7479333fefb627/EDM_resize__9_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The Skyview apartment project at Old Castle Hill Road, Castle Hill, NSW. </div></div> Toplace and Nassif cannot take on new contracts without the approval of NCAT and the Commissioner of Fair Trading while an appeal is under way. </div>Toplace argued that the cancellation of the licences would severely impact the ability for it to undertake remediation works at its development sites.Colliers agent Michael Crombie said it was rare to put a site of this scale to market in the Mascot area.&nbsp;“The immediate proximity to Sydney Airport, Port Botany, Mascot Railway and the motorways will be integral to the end development of this site,” Crombie said.&nbsp;“The vendor has heavily de-risked this asset, with a DA as well as an amendment to the height enhancing the development opportunity.”Toplace was ordered to undertake remediation works at an apartment building in Sydney’s inner west.In December 2022, NSW Fair Trading took action against Jean Nassif and his development company Toplace after a series of building rectification orders were issued for its developments over “potential serious defects” and concerns that transfer slabs were “not structurally adequate”.Nassif has reportedly delivered in excess of 30,000 homes.&nbsp;

Sydney apartment developer Jean Nassif is hoping to bag $100 million for a 1.64-hectare site near Sydney Airport, amid ongoing court battles...

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Charter Hall has been given the green light for a logistics development in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria.The site is in the core employment precinct of Alexandria and provides a “unique opportunity” to redevelop a redundant site. &nbsp; The site at 520 Gardeners Road is home to a former hardware and building supplies store that “does not reflect the requirements of modern industrial uses”.&nbsp;Charter Hall launched plans last year to replace it with a multi-level warehouse and distribution centre with 24/7 operation.The completed development will offer a three-level warehouse and distribution centre comprising 27,509sq m of gross floor area split between warehouse and office space.Located near Sydney Airport, Port Botany, and regional road networks, the project aims to provide the “highest and best use of the site through the development of a brownfield site to deliver sustainable development”.&nbsp;Planners Urbis said it was “ideally located for freight logistics and/or last mile facility having regard to strong tenant demand and access to major infrastructure hubs”.&nbsp;Once operational the site will provide an estimated 659 jobs.&nbsp;Gardeners Road is attracting other logistics developments, including an eight-warehouse complex at 546-548 Gardeners Road, which has just been submitted to the council.Part of the Southern Enterprise Area, it has seen ‘progressive renewal’ over the past 5-10 years.

Approvals are in for “state-of-the-art” multi-level warehouse from Charter Hall located in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria…

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A western Sydney bowling club has taken its ambitious plans for an 18-storey mixed-use development to the Department of Planning and the Environment, after the Hills Shire Council refused to endorse the project.The 85-year-old Hills District Bowling Club is hoping the Sydney Central Planning Panel will decide on the $50-million redevelopment by the end of April.The club’s plan seeks to retain at least two playing greens and a clubhouse but add up to 196 apartments as well as 32 senior-living units in four buildings on its 1.34ha site at 6-18 Jenner Street, in Baulkham Hills.About 3100sq m of floor space would have been given over to the registered club and 152sq m for commercial and retail floor space. The concept plans show a single building—with a six-storey podium— fronting Old Northern Road. Three smaller buildings of five to six storeys would open to Jenner Street.The plans were first made public in August 2020 during pre-lodgement meetings between the bowling club and the Hills Shire. A formal development application was filed in March 2021.In the 18 months since then, the plans have been revised at least twice, which saw the main tower reduced from 21 storeys to 16, and the number of residential units dropping by 43. The latest plans had also reduced the clubhouse to two floors rather than the original three.Still Hill Shire said no, citing the main building’s uplift, height and setbacks, as well as concerns with traffic and transport.<div id="2nukp6WKV7pe9AEbx1Rzbn"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7JBa1QjFjIHlNJ3Y9hbTTH/f963eb2aee70ec3d0a20c83c7ae49790/Hills_Bowls_Club_1_Mid.jpg" alt="in knocking back the proposal, the Hills Shire also said no to $7.65 million in Voluntary Planning Agreements by the developer." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7JBa1QjFjIHlNJ3Y9hbTTH/f963eb2aee70ec3d0a20c83c7ae49790/Hills_Bowls_Club_1_Mid.jpg"></picture><div>▲ In knocking back the proposal, the Hills Shire also said no to $7.65 million in Voluntary Planning Agreements by the developer.</div><div> </div></div>In a report to the council, Hills’ manager of forward planning, Nicholas Carlton, pointed out that at 63m, the 18-storey residential tower would be the tallest building in an area. The maximum building height is set at 50 metres.Carlton’s report also raised regional and transport issues, which impede development within the Baulkham Hills town centre.“The proposal is inconsistent with the policy position articulated within council’s LSPS (Local Strategic Planning Statement), which specifically identifies that council will ‘discourage commercial and residential uplift in Baulkham Hills town centre until transport and traffic issues are resolved’,” the council meeting was told.“The development concept submitted demonstrates an outcome which is beyond the built&nbsp;form capacity of the site.”<div id="2AEgWrXlsSFUZj4biqwzMM"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1dHZHTNv1RGv45DrWGBqRu/043d6af4cac25b3a4889bddb652b191c/Hills_Bowls_Club_2__Mid.jpg" alt="Hills Bowling Club has lowered the height of the proposed club rooms and restaurant from three storeys to two. " data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1dHZHTNv1RGv45DrWGBqRu/043d6af4cac25b3a4889bddb652b191c/Hills_Bowls_Club_2__Mid.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Hills Bowling Club has lowered the height of the proposed club rooms and restaurant from three storeys to two.</div><div> </div></div>The council agreed, but&nbsp;in knocking back the proposal, the Hills Shire also said no—for the time-being at least—&nbsp;to $7.65 million in Voluntary Planning Agreements, including&nbsp;$2.85 million in local infrastructure contributions.Voluntary Planning Agreements, or VPAs, are agreed between developers and government agencies (including councils) for money or works by the developer for infrastructure, services or other public amenities typically negotiated at the time of rezoning.Hills bowling club management would not comment on the rezoning review, other than to say the plans before the Sydney Central Planning Panel had not changed from those refused by Hills Shire.

A western Sydney bowling club has taken its ambitious plans for an 18-storey mixed-use development to the Department of Planning and the Environment, after the Hills Shire Council refused to endorse the project.

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Developer ICD Property has teamed up with First Sponsor to choose a construction firm at a cost of $400 million to deliver their City Tattersalls Club project in Sydney.&nbsp;Sydney-based Richard Crookes Constructions was chosen to redevelop the more than 125-year-old building at 194-204 Pitt Street.<a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/icd-property-372-pitt-street-sydney-development-application-approval" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/icd-property-372-pitt-street-sydney-development-application-approval">The Central Sydney Planning Committee granted development consent</a> for the 50-storey project in November 2021.Plans designed by fjmt and BVN Architecture include significant upgrades to the heritage-listed ground floor with the tower above it hosting 241 luxury apartments and a 110-room hotel.Amenities such as several multipurpose rooms, private dining lounges and an outdoor deck and a rooftop terrace are part of the plans.&nbsp;Richard Crookes Constructions managing director Jamie Crookes said that the project was expected to create more than 1600 jobs during the construction phase alone.<div id="19MDFHbDeR1YKpSi0YtWNK"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5HSupPa9BpniMhT6kP7oAh/5e6e30e2cf43a5d3772fecedf05b3758/CTC_View06_Hotel.jpg" alt="fjmt and BVN Architecture's renders of the 50-storey tower planned for the City Tattersalls Club project on Sydney's Pitt Street." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5HSupPa9BpniMhT6kP7oAh/5e6e30e2cf43a5d3772fecedf05b3758/CTC_View06_Hotel.jpg"></picture><div>▲ fjmt and BVN Architecture’s render of the 50-storey tower planned for the City Tattersalls Club project on Sydney's Pitt Street. </div></div>ICD Property chief executive Matt Khoo said it was Richard Crookes’ proven ability to deliver similar projects that won them the bid.“Richard Crookes’ robust standing within Sydney’s construction landscape coupled with their proven track record of delivering award-winning, luxury residential and mixed-use projects make them a perfect fit to deliver this unique project,” Khoo said.The construction firm is working on Sydney’s Sirius apartments and completed the Opera Residences in 2021, which recently received an honourable mention at the Chicago Athenaeum’s 2022 International Architecture Awards.&nbsp;Singapore-based First Sponsor formed the consortium with ICD Property in 2019, with its role being two-fold as equity partner and sole financier.First Sponsor’s group chief executive, Neo Teck Pheng, said the project was still a strong prospect despite the current economic conditions.&nbsp;“The City Tattersalls Club redevelopment has advanced from strength to strength despite market conditions,” Pheng said.“Located directly in the heart of Pitt Street, only moments away from Westfield’s entertainment, dining, and shopping precinct, as well as the calming sanctuary of Hyde Park, these residences will offer it all—connection, amenities, location, uninterrupted water views.”ICD Property recently<a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/ICD-property-auckland-federal-street-skyscraper-listed-for-sale" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/ICD-property-auckland-federal-street-skyscraper-listed-for-sale"> pulled out of its skyscraper project in Auckland, New Zealand</a>, citing the need to focus on projects in Australia.

In a sign of things to come, ICD Property has signed a construction contract worth $400m with Richard Crookes Construction…


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Brothers Frank and Joe Scarf believe regional living is here to stay as they throw the covers off their Crescent Head land release in coastal NSW.The brothers have a long family connection to the area and their development company, Arissa, secured the site for The Crescent at the end of 2021, in a play that has cemented their move into greenfield development.&nbsp;Arissa managing director Frank Scarf founded the company with his brother Joe in 2009 and they had been predominantly developing apartments.“The apartment building space became very tricky … we’re not a building company so we always had to do our projects in joint venture or contract build and it became quite difficult,” Scarf said.“We quite enjoy the process of canvassing land owners and there is less competition in the greenfield area. I think we’ve found our niche in the land subdivision space.”&nbsp;While there has been some <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/corelogic-regional-housing-values-crash-november-2022" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/corelogic-regional-housing-values-crash-november-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concern over the resilience of the regional markets</a>, in the wake of the pandemic-induced regional boom, Arissa is confident in the feasibility of the project.&nbsp;Scarf said the site close to Crescent Head had “all the right metrics”.“The fact that there was no supply in the region, it was the last piece of zoned land that’s not flood affected in Crescent Head.”The 109-lot estate will include bigger blocks of 600-1000 square metres. Scarf said the site could have accommodated up to 130 blocks but they had made the decision to create bigger house sites that were “unique to the area”.<div id="2g2oKHfRNp5qRo4AXjRUbm"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2S0MtHAM4GRnPyP3RZRZUq/4d9f6657fe3d477045b7330566e79544/greenfields_vsumm_regions_hero.jpg" alt="Greenfield market will continue to grow as people continue to want to work remotely." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2S0MtHAM4GRnPyP3RZRZUq/4d9f6657fe3d477045b7330566e79544/greenfields_vsumm_regions_hero.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Greenfield market will continue to grow as people continue to want to work remotely. </div></div> RPM managing director Peter Grant said more than 30 blocks had already been snapped up after just three weeks on the market.Arissa had been very careful in how it designed its development of the greenfield site, which would add to the town’s small population, he said.&nbsp;“Crescent Head is known for its slow, rolling waves for the surfers and a lovely little caravan park that’s basically impossible to get into,” Grant said.“They haven’t had a land release in several decades so this was always going to be well received. But we needed to make sure the local community was comfortable with it too.” In addition to the 109 lots there will also be about 12.5ha of connectivity, roadways and parkland.Civil works were expected to begin later this year.&nbsp;

Brothers Frank and Joe Scarf believe regional living is here to stay as they throw the covers off their Crescent Head land release in coastal New South Wales...

NEW SOUTH WALES