URBAN CITIES ARE FEELING GROWING PAINS

Australia’s cities are becoming hotter and more congested beneath the strain of population growth, which is having a significant impact on the environment.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has unveiled the 2021 State of the Environment report — prepared for the previous government but withheld since last year.

The report, which is focused on the damage occurring to the nation’s natural world and wildlife, it also indicates the health and conditions in urban landscapes.

According to Ms Plibersek, the report is damning.

“It tells a story of crisis and decline in Australia’s environment and a decade of government inaction and willful ignorance.”

In summary, the document — which complies the scientific assessments of a five-year period of time by 30 leading experts — reveals most of Australia’s eight major cities are growing at faster rates than many other developed cities internationally.

The largely unmanaged growth has led to greater urban heat, congestion, rising pollution and waste, putting greater pressure on resources.

The report finds population growth is the major driver of environmental issues within cities, according to the report.

Here, Sydney has lost 70% of native vegetation cover due to development. Further, the infrastructure across the city has created pollution hotspots in Sydney Harbour that is 20 times greater than the pre-human disturbance.

“Waste going to landfill in New South Wales increased by 10% over past 10 years, with hazardous waste almost doubling,” according to the summary findings.

Is this Whitsunday’s best home?

Hayman Island may have been ravaged by Cyclone Debbie in 2017, which saw the island, one of the smallest of the major Whitsunday islands, all but shut down, but the 390-hectare paradise has made an extraordinary comeback.

The InterContinental brand took over the island’s only resort, which was completely devastated by the Category 4 cyclone. The same year the cyclone hit, The Residence at Hayman was built, one of just two private residences on the island.

Constructed by Hutchinson Builders, a Tier 1 builder better known for delivering some of South East Queensland’s finest multi-residential developments, the lavish home is made from reinforced concrete with a blend of glass and timber battening.

It was designed by the late, internationally renowned architect Kerry Hill, widely regarded as a key figure in refining tropical modernist architecture. Hill was an island specialist, having designed several major resorts in Bali.

The Residence at Hayman spans three levels and offers over 1,400 sqm of living space, including around 580 sqm of internal living areas. The remainder comprises breezeways, terraces, and balconies designed to embrace the island’s subtropical climate.

Entry to the home is via the upper level, as the property tiers down the site with direct access to the beach. The top and lower levels accommodate most of the home’s eight bedrooms, as well as a study and a double garage with buggy parking, the preferred mode of transport throughout the Whitsundays.

The middle level is home to the main kitchen, living, and dining areas, complete with a full butler’s pantry. It opens to a large, L-shaped terrace featuring an outdoor kitchen, alfresco dining and lounge zones, and a sundeck. The terrace flows to the basalt-clad infinity swimming pool, deck, and cabana with integrated seating, as well as a pool house.

Owners or guests of The Residence also have access to the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort facilities, including 24-hour room service, butler assistance, private chefs, and the resort’s wellness centre.

Whitefox agents Cheyne Fox and Nic Whitehead are marketing The Residence as “a rare and extraordinary find.”

“This is more than just a home, it’s an opportunity to own a piece of paradise, a legacy to share with family and friends for generations to come,” Fox said.

The only other private residence on Hayman Island, Hayman House, is also on the market. Commissioned by Terry Peabody, former billionaire and Transpacific Industries founder, Hayman House was first listed last year with hopes of $27 million, later reportedly reduced to $20 million in early 2025.

Designed by Kerry Hill and also built by Hutchies (in 2010), Hayman House shares a similar design ethos to The Residence, albeit on a smaller scale. Its 18-week construction endured three cyclones, with all site access via the beach, which had to be reinforced to prevent heavy vehicles from sinking into the sand.

URBAN CITIES ARE FEELING GROWING PAINS

Environment report finds urban areas are feeling a strain on resources.

Designed by the late Kerry Hill and built by Hutchinson Builders, The Residence at Hayman Island blends tropical modernism with absolute waterfront luxury.