A commonly overlooked element for owners of new domestic building projects is the appointment of a building surveyor. Prior to recent amendments of the Building Act, most landowners would most often a...

Located approximately 40–50km south of Brisbane's CBD, South Maclean sits within the City of Logan, bordering the Logan River. Formerly part of the Shire of Beaudesert, the locality became part of Log...

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Round Mountain

Suburb Property Profile: South Maclean, QLD 4280

<p>Located approximately 40–50km south of Brisbane's CBD, South Maclean sits within the City of Logan, bordering the Logan River. Formerly part of the Shire of Beaudesert, the locality became part of Logan City following the 2008 local government amalgamations. A quiet, leafy town centre gives South Maclean a genuinely rural character, offering families and retirees a change of pace with plenty of open space for those wanting acreage living. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=99]</p><h2><strong>Location Demographics</strong></h2><p>The population of South Maclean sits at 2,232 according to the 2021 Census, up a striking 63.9% from 1,362 in 2016, as new residential estates continue to develop across Logan City's south-western corridor. The median age is 39, and the predominant age bracket is 5–14, pointing to a strong presence of young families. Median household income sits at $2,046–2,061 per week. Households are primarily couples with children, and 85.1% of homes are owner-occupied.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=450]</p><h2><strong>Travel &amp; Infrastructure</strong></h2><p>South Maclean doesn't have its own train station, and public transport options are limited in the area. The Mount Lindesay Highway provides the main road access through the suburb, putting Flagstone's shops and services just a 5-minute drive away, Jimboomba around 10 minutes, and Brisbane's CBD around 40 minutes.</p><h2><strong>Shopping</strong></h2><p>South Maclean has no shopping centre of its own; residents typically drive the short distance into Flagstone for everyday shops, cafes and essential services, or into Jimboomba's town centre for a broader range.</p><h2><strong>Schools &amp; Recreation</strong></h2><p>There are no schools within South Maclean itself. Families typically send children to Flagstone State School, Jimboomba State School or Everleigh State School for primary education, with Flagstone State Community College, Yarrabilba State Secondary College or Park Ridge State High School serving as secondary options nearby.</p><h2><strong>Local Amenities</strong></h2><p>South Maclean has five parks, covering around 2.4% of the suburb's total area — modest by suburban standards, but consistent with its rural, acreage-focused character. The Logan River runs along the suburb's boundary, giving residents a genuine connection to the waterway and reinforcing the area's laid-back, semi-rural appeal.</p><h2><strong>Looking for Land for Sale and House &amp; Land Packages in South Maclean, QLD?</strong></h2>

Located approximately 15km north of Cairns' CBD, Smithfield sits within the Cairns Region. Established in 1876, the suburb has become the business and trade hub of the Cairns northern beaches, and its...

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Smithfield Village

Suburb Property Profile: Smithfield, QLD 4878

<p>Located approximately 15km north of Cairns' CBD, Smithfield sits within the Cairns Region. Established in 1876, the suburb has become the business and trade hub of the Cairns northern beaches, and its position at the base of the Kuranda Range makes it the departure point for the world-famous Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Buyers are drawn here for the mix of everyday convenience, abundant parkland and easy access to the region's biggest tourism drawcards. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=513]</p><h2><strong>Location Demographics</strong></h2><p>The population of Smithfield sits at 6,664 according to the 2021 Census, up 25.7% from 5,303 in 2016. The predominant age group is 20–29 to 30–39, and households are primarily couples with children, with around 65% of homes owner-occupied.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=669]</p><h2><strong>Travel &amp; Infrastructure</strong></h2><p>The Captain Cook Highway passes through Smithfield, with the Kuranda Range Road branching off toward the Atherton Tablelands. The suburb is a short, direct drive from Cairns CBD, and ongoing highway upgrades are expected to streamline access into the city further.</p><h2><strong>Shopping</strong></h2><p>Smithfield Shopping Centre anchors local retail, alongside a Bunnings, Kmart, supermarkets, liquor stores and a range of specialty stores including mechanics and bike shops — giving the suburb a genuinely comprehensive retail base for its size.</p><h2><strong>Schools &amp; Recreation</strong></h2><p>Smithfield has access to a range of schools serving the northern Cairns beaches, giving families in the area solid local education options within a short drive.</p><h2><strong>Local Amenities</strong></h2><p>Green space is a defining feature of Smithfield, with 14 parks covering close to a third of the suburb's total area — including Cattana Wetlands, Smithfield Regional Park, Rainy Mountain Park, the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Trail, and a fenced dog park. The suburb is also the starting point for the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, putting Smithfield at the centre of some of Tropical North Queensland's best-known tourism experiences.</p><h2><strong>Looking for Land for Sale and House &amp; Land Packages in Smithfield, QLD?</strong></h2>

Stockland's Sienna Wood has reached a different stage of its development in Hilbert, with two of the masterplanned community's major pieces of infrastructure opening in 2026 while new residential lots...

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Sienna Wood

Stockland's Sienna Wood enters its next phase as Hilbert community infrastructure comes online

<p>Stockland's Sienna Wood has reached a different stage of its development in Hilbert, with two of the masterplanned community's major pieces of infrastructure opening in 2026 while new residential lots continue to be released.</p><p>Wungong Primary School welcomed its first students in February, followed by the opening of Sienna Wood Town Centre in May, bringing a full-line Woolworths, specialty stores, dining, medical services and childcare into the community.</p><p>The additions build on infrastructure already delivered throughout Sienna Wood, including several major parks, walking trails, conservation areas and community facilities, as Stockland progresses the approximately 3,800-property development towards its estimated 2031 completion.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=667]</p><h2>About Sienna Wood</h2><p>Sienna Wood is around 34 kilometres south-east of the Perth CBD, with access to Tonkin Highway and the broader arterial road network. Existing destinations nearby include Armadale's retail and health precincts, while the estate itself now provides an increasing proportion of its everyday infrastructure.</p><p>Stockland is continuing to release land as infrastructure comes online, with new lots currently ranging from 263 sqm to 561 sqm and further releases scheduled monthly. A $5,000 deposit initiative is also available on eligible land purchases.</p><p>A defining part of the masterplan is the amount of land retained as open space. Stockland has allocated 39 per cent of Sienna Wood to open space, around four times the minimum requirement for new developments.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=667 land_estate_image_fid=2387]</p><p>That includes a 13.3-hectare conservation area, which Stockland says is two-thirds rehabilitated and planted, as well as the revitalised Neerigen Brook. New footpaths and limestone trails provide connections through the community, including between Shipwreck Park and Eleventh Road.</p><p>The recreation network has also expanded as the community has grown. Shipwreck Park was delivered as a $4.8 million all-abilities playground, while the $2.6 million Explorer Park includes an eight-metre-high "tree of life" play structure and tunnel slides. Dinosaur Park provides another playground within the estate, while basketball courts, table tennis, football goals and cricket nets are distributed across its parks.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=667 land_estate_image_fid=2385]</p><p>The opening of Wungong Primary School has added another piece of infrastructure directly within the community. The $41 million Kindergarten to Year 6 school opened for Term 1 in February 2026 to serve the growing Hilbert and Wungong area.</p><p>Three months later, Sienna Wood Town Centre opened opposite Shipwreck Park. The centre has shifted everyday retail and services closer to homes within the development, with Woolworths accompanied by specialty stores, food and dining options, medical services and childcare.</p><p>Those additions come as the surrounding south-east Perth corridor continues to expand.</p><p>Urbis research prepared for Stockland identified Hilbert and Haynes as part of the high-growth Armadale-Wungong-Brookdale area. Its February 2025 report forecast the broader statistical area's population to increase from 23,166 in 2021 to 33,455 by 2031, representing average annual growth of around 3.1 per cent.</p><p>The report pointed to new housing, public transport, education and employment opportunities as contributors to that growth. Major infrastructure identified in the surrounding region included the Byford Rail Extension, Armadale Station upgrade, Tonkin Highway Extension and the developing Forrestdale Business Park West.</p><h2>Builders in Perth's south-east</h2><p>A number of established WA home builders operate across Perth's south-eastern growth corridor and the broader metro region.</p><h3>Home Group WA</h3><p>Home Group is a Perth home builder offering single and two-storey home designs, house and land packages and custom home building.</p><p>[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=23 home_builder_image_fid=51360]</p><p>The builder promotes Keystart-approved packages and has received industry recognition from the Housing Industry Association and Master Builders Association for project building, display homes and customer service.</p><h3>New Generation Homes</h3><p>New Generation Homes (New Gen Homes) is a Perth-based builder that is part of the Summit Homes Group, drawing on the group's 48 years of industry experience and more than 47,000 homes delivered across WA.</p><p>[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=190 home_builder_image_fid=49639]</p><p>The brand positions itself around value-driven, conventional home designs for first and second home buyers, offering house and land packages, a range of home designs from narrow to wide frontages, and in-house finance support through Westgate Home Loans.</p><h3>Easystart Homes</h3><p>Easystart Homes is also part of the Summit Homes Group and is positioned specifically as a first-home specialist, offering guidance across finance, land selection and home design.</p><p>[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=187 home_builder_image_fid=49414]</p><p>The builder offers two construction methods, BrickHybrid and Double Brick, built using TRUECORE steel framing, along with guarantees including a 9-month price hold and a 12-month build time commitment, and support navigating WA First Home Owners Grant eligibility and low-deposit home loans.</p><h3>Summit Homes</h3><p>Summit Homes is the parent brand of the Summit Homes Group and one of WA's most awarded builders, with 48 years of experience and more than 47,000 homes delivered across Perth and the South West.</p><p>[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=161 home_builder_image_fid=48769]</p><p>The builder has received the HIA Professional Major Builder award for six consecutive years and offers a broader range of services than its First Gen and Easystart sister brands, spanning custom single and two-storey homes, renovations, granny flats, developments and modular and tiny homes, building across the Perth metro area and the South West.</p><h3>B1 Homes</h3><p>B1 Homes is a Perth-based builder focused on first-home buyers, next-home buyers and investors, offering single-storey home designs and house and land packages across Perth's north, south, east and central regions.</p><p>The builder is part of the Scott Park Group and backed by Sumitomo Forestry, a global sustainable construction and forestry builder.</p><p>[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=49 home_builder_image_fid=30626]</p><p>B1 Homes promotes low-deposit entry options and holds a 4.9-star rating on ProductReview from more than 400 client reviews.</p><h2>Bottom line</h2><p>Sienna Wood's monthly land release cadence, combined with a $5,000 deposit offer, gives buyers a relatively low-friction way to secure a lot in one of Perth's more established south-eastern growth corridors, one where key community infrastructure, including a new town centre and primary school, has already been delivered rather than promised for some distant future stage.</p><p>With median prices in Hilbert and Haynes still sitting below the Greater Perth benchmark and price growth outpacing the broader market, the area continues to offer a comparatively accessible entry point for first-home buyers and upgraders.</p><p>For those ready to pair land with a build, Perth's south-east sits within reach of a wide spread of established builders, from first-home specialists to full-service custom builders, giving buyers meaningful choice.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=667 display=land_lots]</p>

Located approximately 20–31km southeast of Perth's CBD, Southern River sits within the City of Gosnells. Originally a rural area supporting egg farms, horse breeding properties and boarding kennels fo...

Ambia

Bletchley Park

Suburb Property Profile: Southern River, WA 6110

<p>Located approximately 20–31km southeast of Perth's CBD, Southern River sits within the City of Gosnells. Originally a rural area supporting egg farms, horse breeding properties and boarding kennels for cats and dogs — with a population under 500 in those early years — the suburb has transformed dramatically into one of Gosnells' fastest-growing residential communities. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=560]</p><h2><strong>Location Demographics</strong></h2><p>The population of Southern River sits at 12,852 according to the 2021 Census, up 24.2% from 10,350 in 2016. The predominant age group is 0–9, and households are primarily couples with children, reflecting a genuinely young, family-focused demographic. Median household income sits at $2,364 per week.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=482]</p><h2><strong>Travel &amp; Infrastructure</strong></h2><p>Southern River doesn't have its own train station. Local Transperth bus routes, including the 204, 212, 233, 517 and 518, connect residents to nearby Maddington and Thornlie stations and onward to Murdoch University, with a typical commute into Perth taking around 54 minutes by public transport, or around 27 minutes' drive on main roads outside peak periods.</p><h2><strong>Shopping</strong></h2><p>Southern River Shopping Centre, on Bristle Avenue and Ranford Road, is anchored by a Coles supermarket, with a Bunnings located directly opposite. The Vale Shopping Centre, on Warton Road, adds a Woolworths to the suburb's retail options, and a newer Southern River East centre opened in the suburb's east in 2022.</p><h2><strong>Schools &amp; Recreation</strong></h2><p>Southern River College, established in 1976, is an independent public co-educational high school catering for Years 7–12, with enrolments of around 900 students. Excelsior Primary School serves younger students locally, and families have further nearby options across Gosnells' broader school network, including Ranford Primary School and Harrisdale Senior High School.</p><h2><strong>Local Amenities</strong></h2><p>Around 10.4% of Southern River's land area is set aside as parkland, spread across 24 parks — a genuinely strong ratio of green space for a Perth suburb. The Gosnells Golf Course sits within the suburb, and reserves including Cromarty Gardens, Brookland Greens, Spinifex Way and Nolan Avenue give residents plenty of local options for walking and recreation close to home.</p><h2><strong>Looking for Land for Sale and House &amp; Land Packages in Southern River, WA?</strong></h2>

Located approximately 164–181km north of Melbourne's CBD, Shepparton sits within the City of Greater Shepparton, in the heart of the Goulburn Valley. A Methodist church was opened here in 1874, with t...

Uptown

Parkers Grove

Suburb Property Profile: Shepparton, VIC 3630

<p>Located approximately 164–181km north of Melbourne's CBD, Shepparton sits within the City of Greater Shepparton, in the heart of the Goulburn Valley. A Methodist church was opened here in 1874, with the town's growth accelerating once the railway line was extended from Seymour in 1880. Long known as the agricultural capital of northern Victoria, Shepparton is home to SPC, one of the country's oldest and largest fruit canneries, and today boasts a genuinely multicultural community shaped by significant Italian, Indian, Afghan and Iraqi populations. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=176]</p><h2><strong>Location Demographics</strong></h2><p>The population of Shepparton sits at 32,067 according to the 2021 Census, up 2.8% from 31,197 in 2016. The median age is 38, and households are primarily childless couples, with a median household income of $1,285 per week.</p><p>[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=758]</p><h2><strong>Travel &amp; Infrastructure</strong></h2><p>Shepparton railway station, on the Tocumwal line, has served the town since 1880 and provides V/Line services into Melbourne's Southern Cross Station 4–5 times daily, taking around 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. Local buses (routes 1–9) serve the hospital, TAFE and surrounding suburbs including Kialla, and V/Line coaches connect Shepparton to Bendigo, Echuca and Seymour. By car, the Hume Freeway gets residents to Melbourne in around 2 hours.</p><h2><strong>Shopping</strong></h2><p>Shepparton's town centre serves as the region's major retail hub, with SPC's own factory outlet on Corio Street a popular local drawcard alongside the city's broader shopping precinct — the town has 425 retail establishments in its wider commercial base.</p><h2><strong>Schools &amp; Recreation</strong></h2><p>Shepparton has a strong education base for a regional city, with a La Trobe University campus, the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Goulburn Valley Grammar School, three state secondary colleges, six state primary schools and a Catholic primary school all serving the local population.</p><h2><strong>Local Amenities</strong></h2><p>Victoria Park Lake gives Shepparton a genuinely impressive riverside precinct, alongside a regional art gallery and a wide range of restaurants reflecting the town's multicultural makeup. The surrounding Goulburn Valley hinterland offers water sports and recreation, orchards, wineries, state forest reserves and wetlands, and the annual Shepparton Festival in March draws visitors from across the region.</p><h2><strong>Looking for Land for Sale and House &amp; Land Packages in Shepparton, VIC?</strong></h2>

Guides

Why a Building Surveyor is Essential to Your Project

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A commonly overlooked element for owners of new domestic building projects is the appointment of a building surveyor. Prior to recent amendments of the Building Act, most landowners would most often allow a builder to select their preferred practitioners, but this has proven legally problematic.</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6573" src="https://legacy-ibn-uploads.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/HomeConstruction1.jpeg" alt="homeconstruction1" width="750" height="500"></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Building surveyors in Australia were once public <a href="/new-homes/officer-vic-3809">officer</a>s (or municipals) employed by councils, however, their roles have moved into the business sector and evolved to take on more creativity and transparency.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Building Surveyors in <a href="/new-homes/vic">Victoria</a>, for example, must be registered with the VBA and provide independent oversight of construction work to ensure that buildings are: safe to use and access, energy-efficient, and built in accordance with the building permit. They assess building control processes like drawings, specifications, computations, and reports to ensure they comply with the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Building Act 1993; Building Regulations 2018 </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">National Construction Code.</span></i>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Surveyors carry out inspections &#x2013; or have inspectors conduct them on their behalf &#x2013; to survey the stages of your build. A survey can highlight constraints in a plan format to be read by architects, engineers, the council and other consultants. Some of these constraints can pertain to site dimensions, location, and limitation of easements, topography, and positions of underground services and adjoining buildings.</span>
<p class="p1"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6574" src="https://legacy-ibn-uploads.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Siteinsight1.jpg" alt="siteinsight1" width="700" height="467"></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">In recent years, builders who appointed surveyors risked loss of licence through potential legal disputes and misconduct claims, known to have occurred between builders and owners. For this reason, owners of new builds are now protected from any illegal building procedures providing they appoint a building surveyor to monitor the ongoing legality of work and carry out specific tasks such as direct to fix non-compliant work.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At completion stage, a building surveyor issues an occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection. Surveys by registered practitioners, in the case of a new build requiring a 5 stage inspection can cost up to $2,500 and as the industry adage goes, they are known as &#x2018;the best insurance policy money can buy.&#x2019;</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thinking of embarking on a home building project? Our team can offer free, expert advice on choosing the right builder and home design for you! Get in touch on 1800 184 284 with our team to get started today.</span>

Why a Building Surveyor is Essential to Your Project

Joel Robinson

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