Sunshine Coast builder-developer Habitat has completed construction of The Corso, its latest residential apartment development in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/maroochydore-qld-4558">Maroochydore</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/the-corso-maroochydore-20-south-sea-islander-way-maroochydore">The Corso</a>, which comprises 158 two and three-bedroom apartments across two towers, has started welcoming its first residents.

Just three-bedroom apartments remain in the development that is strategically located in the heart of the burgeoning&nbsp;Maroochydore CBD.

The sub penthouse is priced at $1.59 million and has three bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms, and parking for two cars, while the final remaining penthouse is priced at just under $1.7 million.

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The Corso comprises a 15-level south tower with 116 apartments and a smaller nine-level north tower with 42 apartments.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to various communal amenities, such as a resort-style pool with cabanas, day beds, and a lawn area. A&nbsp;private terrace spans both towers, offering panoramic views and a dining area for exclusive use by residents. The Corso also features ground-level commercial spaces for retail and café outlets.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/k-architecture">K Architecture</a>, the development rises above landscaped parklands and a proposed convention centre.

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Just minutes from Maroochydore’s coastline, the area provides access to beaches, rivers, and parklands like Maroochydore Rotary Park and Cotton Tree Pier.

The Corso is the second residential project in Maroochydore CBD by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/habitat-development-group">Habitat Development Group</a>, following the successful Market Lane project.

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High demand in the Sunshine Coast’s rental market, combined with Habitat Development Group’s track record of maintaining vacancy rates under one per cent, suggests strong potential for investors.

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The Corso will also benefit from Maroochydore’s transformation from a tourism and retirement destination to a hub of economic activity with world-class infrastructure.

The region now boasts its airport and a Greenfield CBD, and future transport projects, including plans for light rail and train connections to Brisbane, enhancing the area's accessibility.

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The Corso is the second residential project in Maroochydore CBD by Habitat Development Group, following the successful Market Lane project

Joel Robinson

Habitat complete The Corso, Maroochydore apartment development

Brisbane developer&nbsp;Consolidated Properties Group&nbsp;has revealed its final release of six residences in its $450 million absolute riverfront Monarch Residences development at Toowong.&nbsp;

The Penthouse Collection encompasses the largest and most lavishly appointed apartments within Monarch Residences and the final six are hitting the market.&nbsp;

Astute buyers keen to own in what is Brisbane’s finest current apartment offering are expected to move quickly on the release, says Colliers Brisbane Director of Residential, Andrew Scriven.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own such a home of this calibre, with a breathtaking landscape with vistas of the city and 130 metres of north-facing riverfront,” Scriven said.

“There will never be another place like <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/monarch-residences-toowong-600-coronation-drive-toowong">Monarch Residences</a>.” &nbsp;

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The Penthouses have been curated by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a>&nbsp;(CPG)&nbsp;in partnership with John Wardle, the Melbourne-based Architectural Institute of Australia gold medal-winning architect, and leading national architectural practice Cottee Parker.&nbsp;

The Penthouse Collection features elevated ceiling heights, starting at a minimum of 3.2m, that create a volume of space, openness to uninterrupted views, and an abundance of natural light and river breezes.

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In addition, the penthouses feature premium interior finishes including Herringbone European oak timber flooring, oak finished bespoke joinery, paired with luxurious Dolce Vita quartzite benchtops and a suite of European appliances.&nbsp;

The individualised floorplans allow each penthouse to showcase its own views and unique features, ensuring each of the collection’s apartments stands out from the rest.

Apartments in the Penthouse Collection range in size between 295 sqm and 347 sqm and are priced between $5.75 million and $7.9 million.

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Consolidated Properties Group CEO and chairman Don O’Rorke says the final release of the Penthouse Collection is a case of leaving the best until last.

“We launched Monarch Residences in early 2023 and it’s been one of the best received residential projects in our 45-year history, as well as Brisbane’s, with the apartments now 95 per cent sold out ahead of construction completion end of next year,” O’Rorke said.

“There is no better-connected site in Brisbane with its rail, bus, ferry, pedestrian and cycleway linkages at its doorstep – and we have aimed to deliver apartments, amenities and a design ethos that does justice to the quality of the land and which reflects quintessential Queensland living.

“We have designed each penthouse as a sanctuary right in the heart of the city. They are the epitome of luxury, elegance and security overlooking the Brisbane River – the purchasers will be securing something truly special.”

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Architect John Wardle says that when designing interiors for The Collection, his team wanted to create a feeling of harmony and connect owners to the Brisbane Riverfront.

“Our design philosophy focuses on creating spaces that harmonise with their surroundings," Wardle says.

"The Collection not only captures breathtaking views but also embodies the true essence of what it means to live in Brisbane, ensuring residents feel a true connection to the riverfront.

“Each residence is a testament to modern design capability, sophistication, architectural excellence and remarkable construction.”

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In addition to owning one of Brisbane’s most exclusive apartments, residents at Monarch Residences will have direct access to the historic heritage-listed Middenbury House, which sits on the site and is currently being restored and refurbished with the public able to access the house for the first time since it was built in 1865.

Monarch Residences is currently under construction with Hutchinson Builders, with an anticipated move-in by the end of 2025.&nbsp;

Prospective buyers can visit the multi-million-dollar, riverfront sales office on-site at 600 Coronation Drive, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a>. The sales display will be closing at the end of the year to make way for construction.

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The Penthouses have been curated by Consolidated in partnership with John Wardle, the Melbourne-based Architectural Institute of Australia gold medal-winning architect, and leading national architectural practice Cottee Parker. 

Consolidated release final Penthouse Collection at Brisbane’s Monarch Residences

Nestled within the Martha Cove marina community, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/figurehead">Figurehead Group</a>’s Osprey development is a collection of 18 luxury coastal apartments that perfectly blend architectural elegance with its scenic surroundings.&nbsp;

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The multi-award-winning developer recently completed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/osprey-safety-beach-15-martha-cove-boulevard-safety-beach">Osprey</a>, which was honoured with the Urban Developer’s Development of the Year award.&nbsp;

We recently toured the completed apartment with <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/project-marketer/projects-by-buxton">Projects by Buxton</a> director, Heath Thompson.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dCCTNwG1VUU?si=dN3KMFSQnXQgmlxA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/wolveridge-architects">Wolveridge Architects</a>, the two and three-bedroom apartments are inspired by the marina setting, with curved architectural details capturing the essence of the coastal location.&nbsp;

The curved facades flow into the interiors, providing uninterrupted views of the marina both from inside the apartments and on the spacious balconies.

Entry to each residence is through a central lightwell breezeway, emphasising the indoor-outdoor design concept.&nbsp;

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Located less than 200 metres from the vibrant Martha Cove marina, residents can enjoy quick access to Martha's Table, the local café, wine bar, and Mediterranean restaurant that serves as a hub for the community.&nbsp;

Osprey’s proximity to <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/safety-beach-vic-3936">Safety Beach</a> and the wider Mornington Peninsula further enhances its appeal, offering a blend of seaside living and easy access to surrounding attractions.

Osprey apartments are now complete and ready for new residents to move in.

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Designed by Wolveridge Architects, Osprey's two and three-bedroom apartments are inspired by the marina setting, with curved architectural details capturing the essence of the coastal location. 

Inside Figurehead’s Osprey in Safety Beach: Urban’s completed apartment tour

The volatile nature of apartment approvals is continuing to hindering the national housing target to build&nbsp;1.2 million new well‑located homes over five years.

The number of dwellings approved fell 6.1 per cent in August to 13,991, after an 11 per cent rise in July, according to data released by the ABS.

The decline was fuelled by a 16.5 per cent fall in approvals for private dwellings excluding houses (such as townhouses and apartments), to be 6.1 per cent lower than one year ago.

This was mainly driven by a decline in high-density apartment approvals. There were 1,214 apartments approved in nine or more storey blocks in August, down from 2,504 in July.

Matthew Kandelaars, Property Council Group Executive Policy and Advocacy, said it is disappointing to see the number of approvals go backwards after growth in July.

“We need to increase the number of homes approved and ensure a strong pipeline of apartment supply, to drive towards our housing targets at scale,” Kandelaars said.

“But the reality is that it has never been more difficult and costly to get apartments out of the ground.

“Apartment-killer taxes and planning systems continue to stall housing supply at a time when we can least afford it.

“Over the past year, we approved nearly 9,000 fewer apartments and townhouses across the country than the in preceding 12-month period. We need that number to increase month on month to build the homes Australians need."

In New South Wales, approvals declined by 14 per cent over the 12 months to August 2024 to just 42,400. They are now 45 per cent below their September peak.

“The decline in approvals is a warning that the path to reach our state’s housing targets is getting steeper by the month,” said Stuart Ayres, CEO, of UDIA NSW.

This pressure continues to be felt across the whole state, and across all dwelling types. As UDIA NSW analysis shows, all typologies reported an annual decline, with apartments again showing the most dramatic of declines of 30 per cent over the last twelve months to just 10,300 approvals.

<img alt="New Building Approvals, NSW, Rolling Annual to August 2024" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff4c36ec-8788-4e6d-8776-9b1c4e37a3a4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/unnamed_0.png?VersionId=rO6K6BlNWp9t3uf6ncykilGX4ANsvY2h" />

Source ABS: UDIA NSW 
<img alt="No of Building Approvals" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1f56a5f2-4fe4-4a3f-a07d-eba8eb37da08" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/unnamed.jpg?VersionId=B.ag7p8G51AHHuKgYDdTBD5KYPmCR_8j" />

UDIA says it is continuing to advocate for more action to speed up the delivery of housing, including the Government adopting key recommendations made in the Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of Housing Supply Challenges and Policy Options for New South Wales. The report called out the challenges of development feasibility, construction sector capacity, and a slow and inefficient planning system, which are all constraining the delivery of new housing.

The Productivity Commissioner’s report makes some common-sense recommendations that can unlock more housing supply more quickly and help us chart a course to deliver our housing targets.

The Commissioner confirmed the findings of UDIA’s recent. Making TODs Work research found that mid-rise apartment projects are largely unfeasible in most parts of Sydney and recommended a further increase in densities around the announced TOD sites, expanding them to 800m and adding more locations to the program.

“Doubling the permissible floor space ratio in the TOD 2 sites and greatly increasing density in other areas which are already zoned for high-density apartments will significantly increase the capacity of the industry to deliver housing," Stuart Ayres added.

Ayres also says an upfront Government investment now will be recouped through future developer contributions and state revenue like stamp duty, land tax and payroll taxes, which are only paid to the Government when new homes are built.

"The current business-as-usual approach of waiting years for developer contributions to accumulate, before there is enough available to start funding a handful of these housing-enabling projects, is clearly not delivering homes at the speed that communities need them.

Low apartment approvals hindering housing goals

Sunkin Property Group has revealed the next phase of its game-changing Highett community, Highett Common, following the success of the first two stages of the net-zero masterplan.

Currently building Highett Common's stage one and two, the former of which is 85 per cent sold, Sunkin is set to launch The Mews Collection, a trio of buildings with 185 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

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The apartments will feature&nbsp;floor-to-ceiling glazed windows, to take advantage of the views of the surrounding parklands, as well as all-electric kitchens with stone surfaces, Bosch appliances, and induction cooktops.

Several apartments in the collection feature wrap-around terraces.

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The Mews Collection also includes the first luxury apartments within the precinct.

The 12 apartments, dubbed the Luxury Collection are a step up in design, with&nbsp;Gaggenau appliances, herringbone timber flooring, marble benchtops, and advanced home automation systems that are integrated with the Highett Common Connect app.&nbsp;

Buyers in the Luxury Collection will also receive a $12,000 styling&nbsp;consultation from <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a> to further customise their interiors.

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The Mews Collection also introduces the first neighbourhood facilities that will be accessible to the wider Highett community.

There will be a new two-level public library, part of the Bayside Community Facility, which will have study areas, rooms for community classes and meetings, and an adjacent café.&nbsp;

The Northern Residents’ Amenity is part of the Mews Collection stage and will comprise&nbsp;a lap&nbsp;indoor pool, a gym with a wellness area, and a bookable private dining room.

The Southern Residents’ Amenity will bring another gym with green views, an outdoor swimming pool, wellness hubs and a cinema.

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<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/highett-common-37-graham-road-highett">Highett Common</a> is part of an ambitious project to create Victoria’s first medium-density, net-zero community, located on a 9.3-hectare site in the heart of Highett, ideally position to take advantage of Highett Road's lively bar and restaurant scene. Future residents will also be in close proximity to Sandringham Beach, Highett Shopping Centre and Highett Train Station.

SK Construction has already been appointed to deliver the whole project, which will be home over 1,000 apartments and townhouses when complete in 2029.

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The Mews Collection also includes the first luxury apartments within the precinct

	Suburbs/Localities	Postcode	Mean Taxable Income ($)
1	Gwabegar	2356	22,993
2	Delungra/Gragin/Myall Creek	2403	23,768
3	Perisher Valley	2624	24,221
4	Norfolk Island	2899	24,350
5	Ashford/Atholwood/Bonshaw/Limestone/Pindaroi	2361	25,368
6	Aberdeen/Baker's Creek/Bundarra/Camerons Creek	2359	25,556
7	UNSW Sydney	2052	26,246
8	Callaghan/Newcastle University	2308	26,720
9	Koraleigh	2735	27,551
10	Speewa	2371	28,033

Student dominated university postcodes sits amid lowest earning postcodes in NSW

Alistair Walsh

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