The NSW Government will take the lead in rezoning the Burwood North Metro Precinct, that could deliver around 15,000 new homes near the future Sydney Metro station, creating new housing and job opportunities close to transport and services. 
 
The new Burwood North Metro Station provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a thriving inner-west precinct near a world class metro line, just four stations away from the Sydney CBD. 
 
Centred around the new Burwood North Metro Station, the rezoning will deliver a new precinct supported by major public transport links and open space, while rejuvenating another part of the Parramatta Road corridor. 
 
The current Burwood train station and Parramatta Road bus links are also nearby, along with strong local schools and shopping precincts, with the Parramatta River a short distance away. 
 
Burwood Council and Canada Bay Council have both progressed individual masterplans to deliver homes in their Local Government Areas. The NSW Government will build upon the Councils’ plans as well as identify further opportunities for residential growth to better respond to the future Sydney Metro station. 
 
The rezoning is being progressed through the State Significant Rezoning Pathway, which was introduced by the Minns Government to fast-track major rezoning proposals. The State Significant Rezoning Policy, introduced in September 2024, fast tracks the rezoning of key precincts, and existing planning proposals delayed in the planning system. 
 
NSW is in need of bold housing solutions. Sydney is the second least affordable city in the world, with house prices having significantly outstripped wage growth over the last two decades. 
 
A key focus of the state-led rezoning will be to deliver precinct-wide infrastructure that will enable essential services and amenities to be delivered alongside the new housing. 
 
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will now work with both councils and the relevant state government agencies to progress the rezoning, with a draft masterplan expected to be exhibited in the first half of 2026. This will be followed by a final precinct masterplan, at which stage development applications can be lodged under the new planning controls. 
 
This new site builds on the NSW Government’s earlier announcements of state-led and state-assessed rezoning projects. To date, 25 projects have been progressed as state rezonings, with the potential to enable the delivery of an estimated 60,000 homes and 68,000 jobs.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW, says the NSW Government’s decision to lead the rezoning of Burwood is an essential move to unlocking much needed housing supply, accelerating the planning system, and ensuring coordinated infrastructure delivery.&nbsp;

“The NSW rezoning process is currently one of the slowest in the country. Any action that helps to speed this up, particularly in well-located areas like Burwood North, should be welcomed,” said UDIA NSW CEO, Stuart Ayres.&nbsp;

“New homes start with rezoned land. That’s why we’re encouraged to see the NSW Government stepping in to lead the process at Burwood North. The more the State can be involved in finalising these complex rezonings, especially where boundaries are shared, the better the outcomes for everyone."

Joel Robinson

NSW Government to rezone Burwood North and trigger 15,000 new homes near future Sydney Metro Station

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a>, in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, has achieved strong sales success with the launch of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a>, the most elevated and luxurious release to date in the $5 billion Melrose Park masterplanned community in north-west Sydney.

Around $30 million worth of apartments, across 35 sales, was secured within four hours of the release, marking one of the strongest launch results at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a>. Priced between $645,000 and $1.5 million, Aeris set a new benchmark for the precinct, with two-bedroom apartments eclipsing the $1 million mark, significantly higher than comparable offerings in previous stages.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=4945]

Veronica Papaianni, Sales Manager, Apartment &amp; Mixed-Use Developments at Sekisui House Australia, said the sales results confirmed both the strength of the market and the growing demand for premium apartments in master planned communities.

“Aeris captured the attention of buyers with its elevated location, luxury finishes and new product types including two-bedroom residences with dedicated multipurpose rooms, a first for Melrose Park,”&nbsp;Papaianni says.

“The response was immediate with over 200 people attending the launch and 35 apartments sold launch day. Owner occupiers made up over half of all purchasers, an exceptional outcome for a high-rise apartment building and a strong indicator of the desirability of Aeris as a place to live, not just invest."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=4946]

Apartments sold were evenly split between one and two-bedroom configurations, with strong demand from young couples, professionals, downsizers and first home buyers. The introduction of adaptable layouts, such as dual key and multi-generational residences, also expanded buyer interest.

“The record result builds on renewed buyer confidence following two interest rate cuts earlier this year, with another cut widely anticipated next week,"&nbsp;Papaianni added.

"The interest rate reductions have definitely contributed to the sales momentum and buyer optimism. We are seeing more people engage with the market, particularly owner occupiers who feel now is the right time to secure a high-quality home in a future focused location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=4948]

Positioned at the highest point of the 30-hectare Melrose Park site, Aeris offers panoramic views of the Parramatta River, Sydney Olympic Parklands and the surrounding neighbourhood. Every apartment includes Miele appliances, timber flooring and smart home integration with residents enjoying access to a rooftop pool, gym and outdoor cinema.

“The success of Aeris further elevates Melrose Park’s standing in Sydney’s competitive property landscape. Aeris reaffirms Melrose Park’s position as one of Sydney’s most ambitious urban renewal projects," Papaianni continued.

"Its green spaces, future Town Centre (set to open in 2026), Melrose Park High School and connectivity to the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 connection, make it a highly attractive proposition for both owner occupiers and investors.”

There will be 468 apartments across the 21- and 23-level towers. Only the first of Aeris’s two towers has been released to date, with the next release expected in early 2026.

Construction of Aeris is anticipated to commence in late 2025, with the first lower tower due for completion in Q4 2027 and the second tower expected in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Apartments sold were evenly split between one and two-bedroom configurations, with strong demand from young couples, professionals, downsizers and first home buyers

Strong buyer response to Aeris, Melrose Park’s latest stage

Melbourne is continuing its bounce-back from bottoming out of the property market earlier this year.

The gains are modest, but have been continuous now for the last three months. Dwelling values, which incorporate both houses and units, rose 0.4 per cent in July, according to Cotality's latest Home Value Index.

Unit values lifted 0.4 per cent over the month, following gains of 0.3 per cent in June and 0.4 per cent in May.

On an annual basis, Melbourne unit values are still 0.8 per cent below where they stood a year ago, highlighting the lag in the apartment sector’s post-pandemic recovery.

Median unit values now sit at $621,281, while Melbourne’s house median is $952,339, a gap of over $330,000.

Melbourne’s quarterly growth of 1.2 per cent across all dwellings placed it behind most capitals, though the broader mood is lifting with rate cuts and construction confidence slowly returning to the market. Cotality notes that the supply-demand imbalance remains a key driver of price resilience, with listings well below average and annual sales slightly above trend.

<h2>What happened in Melbourne’s off the plan apartment market in July?</h2>

There were key milestones across several major developments in Melbourne over July, from new releases to construction advancements, in both Bayside and Melbourne's inner ring.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gamuda-land">Gamuda Land</a> topped out <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fareham-st-kilda-95-st-kilda-road-st-kilda-vic-3182">Fareham</a>, its sculptural residential tower on St Kilda Road.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/markscon">Markscon</a> has completed the 16-storey structure and remains on track to deliver the entire building by early 2026.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=137950 project_image_fid=281436]

“Topping out marks more than just structural progress - it represents our long-term vision to create sustainable, well-integrated neighbourhoods that add real value to the communities around them,” said Jess Teng, Chief Operating officer, Gamuda Land.

Fareham, one of the few new developments currently on the market in St Kilda, responds directly to its location along the iconic St Kilda Road. The project is targeting an average 8-star NatHERS rating, well above standard requirements for new apartment buildings.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/gamuda-land-tops-out-fareham-on-st-kilda-rd">Gamuda Land tops out Fareham on St Kilda Rd</a>

In the inner north, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/beulah">Beulah</a> revealed a new sustainable townhouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/brunswick-established-23-hodgson-st-brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick Established</a> precinct.

The collection, known as ‘The Courtyard House’, has been created in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/six-degrees-architects">Six Degrees Architects</a> to meet the evolving needs of modern families.

The release comprises 15 two and three-bedroom homes centred on a communal courtyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136451 project_image_fid=270371]

With a central courtyard at its heart, the design reimagines the possibilities of multi-generational living, blending flexibility, sustainability and personalisation within a heritage setting. Distinct from a traditional garden, the courtyard delivers natural light, fresh air and a generous sense of space, without the upkeep of a backyard.

“The modern home should flow from inside to outside - the courtyard provides a space which joins the different parts of the home together as the central outside space of the home,” explains Six Degrees Director, Peter Malatt.

Brunswick Established is now 70 per cent sold.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/beulah-release-sustainable-courtyard-townhouse-collection-at-brunswick-established">Beulah release sustainable courtyard townhouse collection at Brunswick Established</a>

In Melbourne's west, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spacious-property-development-group-pty-ltd">Spacious Property Development Group</a> confirmed that residents will begin moving into <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/voyage-altona-102-106-pier-street-altona-vic-3018">Voyage Altona</a> this spring, as builder Ironside pushes through final works.

Positioned within the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/altona-vic-3018">Altona</a> waterfront precinct, Voyage offers coastal apartments set within landscaped surrounds. Voyage is the only new apartment offering currently on the market in Altona.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=2146]

The developer flagged the start of settlements as a key moment for the precinct, which forms part of a broader long-term vision for Altona’s transformation.

Prices start from just over $500,000 for one-bedroom apartments, with three-bedroom configurations topping out just over the $1 million mark.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/buyers-to-move-into-voyage-altona-this-spring">Buyers to move into Voyage Altona this Spring</a>

City Beat July 2025: Melbourne values continue to trend upwards

For the first time in four years, a new apartment development has launched in the growing North Sydney commercial and retail hub.

Several years in the making, national apartment developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/casa">CASA</a> has unveiled <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>—a boutique collection of just 71 apartments in a striking, stepped building ideally located on McLaren Street, on the edge of North Sydney’s vibrant lifestyle precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141323 project_image_fid=3191]

The McLaren is just a stone’s throw from the new Victoria Cross Metro Station, part of the expanded Sydney Metro network that’s attracting buyers from North Sydney through to Castle Hill.

CASA engaged renowned architects Bates Smart to design the project. Boutique by city centre standards, where developments often reach soaring heights and feature hundreds of apartments, The McLaren stands out for its intentional, considered design.

What’s immediately evident is the care taken to maximise apartment outlooks. The building rises to just 14 storeys - also relatively modest for the area - but cascades downwards to create expansive terraces and a sculpted rooftop garden offering panoramic views across Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The McLaren’s podium pays homage to the site’s fine-grain, leafy character. It sits adjacent to heritage-listed properties and near the Walker and Ridge Streets Heritage Conservation Area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141323 project_image_fid=3193]

The development offers a diverse mix of apartments, ranging from one to four bedrooms. More than half are generously sized three-bedroom residences, catering to the local downsizer market. Selected apartments feature natural stone benchtops, Gaggenau appliances, and a refined interior palette inspired by the local landscape.

The McLaren also includes a rare collection of terrace homes that echo the scale, materiality, and character of North Sydney’s Victorian-era dwellings—particularly those along nearby Walker Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141323 project_image_fid=3194]

All McLaren residents, whether in a terrace home or apartment, will enjoy exclusive access to resident-only amenities, including a rooftop garden terrace, private dining and wine cellar facilities, and a lounge area designed for entertaining and relaxation. A ground-floor retail space and a new public through-site link connecting Walker and Harnett Streets will further enhance local vibrancy and walkability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141323 project_image_fid=3196]

Colliers is receiving strong interest from local downsizers and working professionals who are drawn to the connectivity of North Sydney, and the convenience of being just one metro stop from the Sydney CBD for both work and leisure.

CASA, established in 2010 as a private real estate fund backed by global institutional investor GFM, has recently expanded its residential development pipeline nationally, with two additional projects in Melbourne and another in Byron Bay.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141323]

CASA reveals The McLaren, North Sydney's newest apartment development

The Victorian Government has passed legislation creating a developer-paid Strata Building Bond establishing much needed first level consumer protections for purchasers of new apartments in the state.&nbsp;

Aligned to that legislation the government is progressing new regulation to allow developers to insure those new apartment projects with a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/resilience-latent-defects-insurance">Resilience LDI</a>, instead of the traditional Strata Building Bond.

The move is part of a broader strategy to stimulate both supply and demand in the new apartment market. Recent government initiatives include removing stamp duty on new apartments until October 2026 and encouraging increased housing density around 50 key train and tram corridors.

This latest insurance reform is expected to boost buyer confidence in a market that has seen sluggish demand in recent years.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">What is Latent Defects Insurance and is it bringing confidence to the off the plan apartment market?</a>

Resilience Insurance was the first provider to offer Latent Defects Insurance in Australia, with Sydney developers such as Deicorp, Urban Property Group, and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/northland-group">Northland Group</a> already taking up the policy.

Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance, says the new legislation is a significant step toward rebuilding trust in Victoria’s off the plan property market.

“We work in an industry where buyers are cautious about purchasing off the plan,” Nugent says. “As a country, we need people to feel confident in that buying process. Having a Resilience LDI on a building gives those buyers absolute peace of mind when transacting.”

Nugent says as construction standards and buyer expectations continue to rise, Resilience LDI is becoming a crucial part of the insurance landscape.&nbsp;

“Builders, developers, and property owners need to recognise its unique role in safeguarding against long-term risks. It is not a replacement for other insurances, but a necessary addition that fills critical gaps in coverage.”

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/expert-insights/strata-insurance-vs-latent-defects-insurance-closing-the-coverage-gaps-for-property-stakeholders">Strata Insurance vs Latent Defects Insurance: Closing the coverage gaps for property stakeholders</a>

Resilience has been working closely with the Victorian Government over the past 12 months to help establish a workable framework for the policy’s adoption.

Victoria’s Strata Building Bond scheme, which operates similarly to the same program in NSW, introduced in 2017, requires developers of apartment buildings with four or more storeys to provide a bond equal to two per cent of the total contract price. This bond, held by the Building and Plumbing Commission, is intended to cover the cost of fixing defects found in common areas within a set timeframe after completion.

However, one of the key criticisms of the bond scheme is that it only covers common property—not private areas or structural defects. It also doesn’t address issues related to faulty materials, design, or workmanship.

Latent Defects Insurance, typically costing between 1 and 1.5 per cent of a development’s total build cost, offers far broader protection. As a “first right” policy, it serves as the primary source of financial coverage in the event of structural issues. LDI covers the cost of repairing or replacing components damaged due to defects in design, materials, or workmanship, with a 10-year coverage period beginning from the date of the Occupancy Certificate.

The New South Wales Government has also thrown its support behind Latent Defects Insurance and is expected to announce it will become mandatory in 2028.

Resilience has been working closely with the Victorian Government over the past 12 months to help establish a workable framework for the policy’s adoption.

VIC Government introduces Latent Defects Insurance as alternative to Strata Building Bond

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Construction has commenced on GPT Group's $300 million office development at 32 Smith Street in Parramatta with representatives from the development team and anchor tenant QBE on hand to mark the occasion at a ground breaking ceremony last Friday.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/0d3a9232.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="L-R: Matthew Faddy, GPT Head of Office &amp; Logistics Renee Roberts, QBE Australia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Mark Curzon, Director at Fender Katsalidis. Image: Supplied" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="451" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/0d3a9232.jpg?itok=grpuRi-B" title="L-R: Matthew Faddy, GPT Head of Office &amp; Logistics Renee Roberts, QBE Australia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Mark Curzon, Director at Fender Katsalidis. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>L-R: Matthew Faddy, GPT Head of Office &amp; Logistics Renee Roberts, QBE Australia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Mark Curzon, Director at Fender Katsalidis. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>The 29-storey tower has been designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects (FKA) and joins the growing chorus of projects reinvigorating Parramatta and reinforcing its credentials as a design-led city.

Located on a 2,439 sqm gateway site on the corner of Smith and Phillip streets, 32 Smith Street, is just a stone's throw away from the $1.2 billion Riverbank cultural and entertainment precinct, and the $2 billion Parramatta Square.

Parramatta Square represents NSW's largest urban renewal project and will upon completion, provide new chambers for Parramatta City Council, a public library and a vertical campus for Western Sydney University.

These projects,together with pother major commercial and residential projects, including the restoration of the historic, 700-seat Roxy Theatre are leading the charge for Parramatta as it sets its sights on becoming Sydney’s second CBD. 

On the design front, FKA have conceived a tower which it says gracefully opens up the site’s ground level to the public with a set-back podium and two softly rounded, pebble-like forms that encourage pedestrian usage.

According to FKA, the tower is simple in form and has been shaped as a building in the round, with its curved pebble form reducing glare and wind to create a "friendly sculptural tower."

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_17020_6262.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="32 Smith Street's forecourt. Image: Supplied" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="425" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_17020_6262.jpg?itok=VZacbr8g" title="32 Smith Street's forecourt. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>32 Smith Street's forecourt. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>The Fender Katsalidis design was selected from a competitive jury process led by the Parramatta City Council with its sense of civic contribution amongst the design's strong points.

The tower is imagined as a glazed form which rises above this civic ground level, creating what will become the most translucent building on the Parramatta skyline.

32 Smith Street has also been designed with an eye on the future. Its car parking is raised 12m above ground, to a full-height storey, allowing for future conversion to commercial programme.

Located above the car parking is an “oasis level” featuring an outdoor terrace that provides views to the Parramatta River, as well as a datum which responds to the existing scale of the street wall, highlighting the base of the tower.

At its summit, the building is crowned by a tree-lined open-air terrace, allowing tenants elevated views of Parramatta River and the emerging Parramatta skyline beyond.

Insurer QBE will move into the building as its major tenant, when it is completed in late-2020.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_17020_6266.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="32 Smith Street's street level interface. Image: Supplied" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="420" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fkmed_17020_6266.jpg?itok=TqahkZNf" title="32 Smith Street's street level interface. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>32 Smith Street's street level interface. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
“GPT is excited to be delivering such a well-designed and future thinking asset into Parramatta. 32 Smith will be Parramatta’s standout office building and will play an important role in the transformation of the Parramatta CBD that is now underway.”

- Matthew Faddy, GPT’s Head of Office &amp; Logistics
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
 “Parramatta is currently undergoing a marvellous urban renewal and it’s notable for the quality of design on a number of significant cultural and commercial projects. 

We are extremely proud of this project and believe it makes a significant contribution to the design-led renewal of Parramatta. Both the City of Parramatta and the NSW Government are driving this with a strong vision for the city to become a world-class business, arts and education centre with excellent design underpinning the emerging precinct.

We recognised the way pedestrians currently move around the site, which is on Parramatta’s primary north–south axis, and wanted to both open up the corner and provide a strong visual connection to the river.

The pedestrian flow-lines began to shape the podium into soft, pebble-like forms. These open up the river vista and create an impressive north-facing urban ‘room’, an open-air gathering space given shelter and shade by the building’s main tower form.

We worked hard at transforming the existing street wall into one cohesive, dynamic public realm and commercial environment.”

- Mark Curzon, Fender Katsalidis director
</blockquote>

 
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Laurence Dragomir

32 Smith Street's construction continues the rise of Parramatta

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The real estate investment trust, GPT Group has announced it will sell its 50 per cent share of the MLC Centre in Sydney’s central business district.
It is speculated the stake could fetch $800 million. It has a $725 million book value.
The proceeds will be directed to new office and residential towers at Melbourne Central shopping centre and at Parramatta.
GPT chief Bob Johnston said the group’s investment in the MLC centre had delivered investors an “exceptional” return.
The sale will see GPT’s Sydney office exposure fall from 65 per cent to 60 per cent.
It will lift its Melbourne exposure from 30 per cent to 34 per cent.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/1/17/MLC2.jpg" alt="">
Shares in GPT closed flat at $5.53 yesterday. 
GPT jointly owns MLC Centre with office landlord specialist Dexus who paid $722 million in 2017 when it was sold by QIC.
In 2011 GPT had offered to sell its half stake in Sydney’s iconic MLC Centre to their then co-owner QIC.
In its 2010 annual results, the group’s share of the 67-storey, Harry Seidler-designed building was valued at $368 million.
The MLC Centre was built by Lend Lease in 1978. GPT bought a 20% share in 1990.
In 1996 GPT increased its share by 15% and QIC bought a 25% stake following MLC selling a 40% interest in the building.
In 1997, GPT and QIC picked up the remaining 40% held by MLC to become equal owners of the building.
Dexus chief executive Darren Steinberg says the property trust will consider buying the other half of Sydney’s MLC Centre.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Half of Harry Seidler's MLC Centre to be sold by GPT

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Heavyweight GPT is progressing with plans for a substantial overhaul of the lobby of its Melbourne Central Tower. 

Designed by COX Architecture, the $35m upgrade would re-instate the corner of Elizabeth and Little Lonsdale Streets as one of the primary points of access into the building, removing interventions introduced during upgrades to the centre over a decade ago.

The upgrade will dramatically change the Elizabeth Street streetscape and how people move in and around the site, while also retaining and celebrating the 90's architecture, characterised by the space frame canopy.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/mct-render-5-tmb.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Central's reconfigured retail laneway. Image: Scharp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mct-render-5-tmb.jpg?itok=7VlTMeKY" title="Melbourne Central's reconfigured retail laneway. Image: Scharp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Central's reconfigured retail laneway. Image: Scharp</figcaption></figure>Included as part of the works are the following key elements:

<ul>
<li>The realignment of the entry, and the creation of new retail opportunities and a 'third space' to refresh and reset.</li>
	<li>Interactive media &amp; LED walls streaming live content and multimedia artwork, as part of the welcome experience for visitors.</li>
	<li>An amphitheatre designed for collaboration, the exchange of business ideas, or a space to enjoy a morning coffee.</li>
	<li>A flexible working hub that is envisaged as a dynamic place to meet with connections to the amphitheatre and supplemented by business facilities.</li>
	<li>Providing an expanded and consolidated premium retail offering catering to new retail operators, in addition to a high-quality lobby barista on-site at the Tower.</li>
</ul>
The existing 65,000 sqm tower - designed by the late Kisho Kurokawa in association with Bates Smart - was completed in 1991, and currently accommodates major tenants including ME Bank and NBN Co, who account for approximately 40% of the office space.

GPT is also seeking a pre-commitment for an office tower at 300 Lonsdale Street, estimated to be worth around $100m.

The 13-storey development has been designed by Woods Bagot to provide 26,000 sqm NLA of A Grade office space, to be built above the existing Melbourne Central retail centre.

Whether the design as illustrated in the renders below is still current hasn't been confirmed, they at least provide a good indication of the location and breadth of development expected.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/300lonsdale.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="300 Lonsdale Street awaiting a pre-commitment. Images: Point Polaris + Equity DM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="336" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/300lonsdale.jpg?itok=vfO9uwNd" title="300 Lonsdale Street awaiting a pre-commitment. Images: Point Polaris + Equity DM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>300 Lonsdale Street awaiting a pre-commitment. Images: Point Polaris + Equity DM</figcaption></figure>Combined, these projects would form the basis of a projected $200m capital works program that GPT are embarking on at its retail and commercial asset.

The lobby upgrade represents a growing trend among owners seeking to refresh existing commercial assets in response to the latest and emerging trends within workplace design and a competitive commercial office market.

Additionally, the new wave of CBD commercial office developments such as 477 Collins Street, 80 Collins Street, Collins Arch and 405 Bourke Street is putting further pressure on existing stock to remain relevant.

Other commercial buildings set for major upgrades to their lobbies and foyers include 100 Queen Street (upon ANZ 's relocation to Docklands next year), 35 Collins Street, 459 Collins Street and 530 Collins Street to name a few.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/18_collins-place-banner.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="35 Collins Street lobby upgrade. Image: Armitage Jones"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/18_collins-place-banner.jpg?itok=evy05jOr" title="35 Collins Street lobby upgrade. Image: Armitage Jones" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>35 Collins Street lobby upgrade. Image: Armitage Jones</figcaption></figure>There is an increasing focus on maximising street presence and retail opportunities, improving the arrival and welcome experience, and providing quality end-of-trip and business facilities.

Works are due to commence on the Melbourne Central Tower lobby upgrade this year with completion slated for 2019.

Lead Image: Scharp
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It's Back to the Future for Melbourne Central Tower's lobby upgrade

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GPT Group will offer free wi-fi to shoppers at its Melbourne Central and Casuarina Square retail centres in exchange for their data through a partnership with Australian retail analytics startup SkyFii.
GPT Group had previously rolled out the wi-fi offering at two of its other centres - MLC Centre in February this year and Rouse Hill Town Centre last August.
SkyFii’s technology tracks the movements and behaviour of registered and unregistered users through in-store networks.
Data collected through the company’s platform can be integrated with a client’s point of sale or CRM systems, while targeted messages can be sent to customers in real-time through wi-fi, SMS, email or app-based push notifications.
The data collected through the service will be anonymous in most cases.
“It allows [GPT] to provide a reliable, efficient and secure service to its customers by giving them access to a state-of-the-art wi-fi network. It makes shopping more pleasant and provides retailers with a key benefit for retailers being increased time spent in a centre,” Skyfii chief executive Wayne Arthur told itnews.com.au.
Wayne Arthur holds the prospect of rollouts across GPT's 16 shopping centres .
SkyFii, which was founded in late 2011, offers its services across Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and Australia.
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