'For large, long-term, high-rise projects, purchasing a tower crane might be considered, with costs ranging from $.3-1.5 mill.'

These would have 100-200 units adding $1,500 to $15,000. The land cost goes down by the same rate.

In Victoria, new apartments cost roughly $2,500 - $4,000 /m², whereas standalone houses typically range from $1,800 - $3,000 /m².

If the apartment is small, but then you have Body Corporate Fees to take into account.

Meanwhile ...

Up to 42 per cent of units sold have traded at a loss in some of Melbourne’s inner south-east suburbs earmarked for more development, prompting expert warnings about the feasibility of delivering more high-rises in the area.

The suburbs of Armadale, Malvern, Prahran, South Yarra and Windsor have been added to the Victorian government’s list of 60 train and tram activity centres, to allow denser housing close to public transport.



Malvern, Prahran and South Yarra will have pockets that permit buildings up to 16 storeys, while parts of Armadale and Windsor have been approved for buildings up to 10 storeys.

In these suburbs, a sizeable proportion of units have been selling at a loss, the most recent data from property research group Cotality shows.

In South Yarra, 41.9 per cent of units sold were loss-making in the three months to November 2025, while in Prahran it was 34.9 per cent.

There were losses in Windsor (25 per cent), Malvern (22.7 per cent) and Armadale (17.3 per cent).

Quantify Strategic Insights head of data Angie Zigomanis said while these locations had good amenity and infrastructure, developers would find it challenging to build the kind of apartments owner-occupiers wanted to live in at a price that was affordable, due to higher construction and development costs and elevated interest rates.

https://www.theage.com.au/property/news/melbourne-suburbs-where-units-sell-at-a-...

JC Denton wrote Yesterday at 10:00am:


Menzies maintained sufficient public housing while encouraging private ownership, in a scenario of increasing immigration.  Study how he did it ( .. in the post- war Keynesian 'welfare state'/ deficit-spending era...) 

You need both public and private,  to prevent the private profit-driven developers from pushing up prices to unsustainable levels.


Quote:


Well, Greens are a 'one trick pony', ie 'tax the rich' to rebuild public housing.

JC Denton wrote Yesterday at 10:00am:


They can do that. They are a minor party. So they never have to deliver. The last time they held any sort of power they gave us the carbon tax. A policy I strongly support. But now all they talk about is communism, which makes me wary.

Quote:


Do you have any evidence for that?

That Australian houses are not as well insulated as Canadian ones makes perfect sense. No point spending a fortune on insulation if you never shut the windows.

In Canada, being warm is a luxury. Often a necessity for survival. Here it is a curse.

I don't know much about him, other than the fact he is from the far right faction. Which suggests to me the Liberals are going to continue their slide into minor party status.