Tasmanian property development and construction team The Young Group is proudly going where few Aussies have gone before – the end-to-end project of providing a full-sized ice rink.

The Cambridge-based business, founded by Trent and Nakiya Young in 2008, is spearheading the delivery of a new ice rink in Hobart.

The proposed site at Cove Hill Road, Bridgewater. Picture: realcommercial.com.au

The mammoth commercial project will be the first full-size ice rink built in Australia since 2010 and follows a series of rink closures across the nation over the last few decades.

Tasmania is currently the only state or territory without an ice rink, after the 1,012 sqm block that housed the former Glenorchy Ice Rink was sold off in 2022 for $1,199,000.

Significant real estate space is needed to house a full-sized rink, where the ice alone outstrips the size of an Olympic swimming pool at 60cmx30cm. Despite this, Trent Young tells realestate.com.au he is committed to delivering the unique development.

O’Brien Ice House in Melbourne, opened in 2010, is the newest ice rink in Australia. Picture: Dave Sandford

“I am generally interested in unusual projects and doing things differently,” he said. “Since the announcement we have been working through the details for the corporate structure to develop the facility and finalising costings.”

Space in the 7.84-hectare light industrial commercial plot Point.B in the Hobart suburb of Bridgewater was assessed as suitable for the project back in March, with The Young Group now at a critical stage.

“The next step is to take costing details back to government to finalise funding, which we hope to do in coming weeks,” Mr Young said.

The Point.B development. Picture: realcommercial.com

The delivery of a new rink in Australia comes as ice sports continue to gain traction, despite limited options for recreational skaters and even fewer suitable domestic training facilities for athletes.

Australia was represented in two out of four figure skating disciplines at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy in February, with four athletes qualifying for the games.

Cultural interest in ice hockey, thanks to popular book series and TV shows like Heated Rivalry and Off Campus, are also driving a resurgence of interest. Melbourne also played host to major National Hockey League teams the LA Kings and the Arizona Coyotes at Rod Laver Arena in 2023.

Australian ice dancers Holly Harris and Jason Chan at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Picture: Tim Clayton

While acknowledging ice sports “was never on the radar” for the Point.B development, Mr Young says he has a “long-term ambition for sport and recreation activities”.

“[Ice sports] align well with the vision for the site,” he said.

“I am pleased to be able to assist in bringing an ice rink back to Tasmania.”

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A new plan for an 18-storey office and apartment tower has been lodged for the site at 16 Gheringhap St, Geelong. The site is presently a gravel car park.

A developer has returned to the drawing board seeking to reimagine a proposed Geelong office tower into an 18-storey mixed use project featuring 107 apartments.

Urbis has lodged an application to the Department of Transport and Planning to amend the permit to provide for the 18-storey building on behalf of architects SMFA and developer Rezolve.

The gravel car park at 16 Gheringhap St, Geelong is one of 18 locations across the CBD where the planning minister has approved developments that have yet to move to construction.

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Urbis planners have detailed in a planning report how adverse economic conditions impacting the development industry, coupled with low demand for substantial office space, had forced the developer to pivot the project.

The existing permit, which was granted in 2023 for the office tower marketed as Yale Place, and was extended in 2024, would expire if work wasn’t started by March 2027.

The report outlines how “significant unforeseen and demonstrable impacts to the construction industry that has limited the ability for the development to commence”.

Renders for a proposed permit amendment to create an 18-storey mixed use building at 16 Gheringhap St and 12-18 Bayley St, Geelong. Image: SMFA.

A render of the development approved for the site, called Yale Place has 13 storeys and included a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Furthermore, engagement with agents has confirmed that a 17-storey office building in this location “would not have the appropriate demand to justify commencement of the works”.

The property neighbours a site where developer Quintessential Equity scrapped plans for its second CBD office tower – an approved 11-storey development – after it couldn’t entice an anchor tenant to the project.

The decision to downsize commercial space in favour of residential apartments follows with Franze Developments’ decision to repositioning an entire building at its Geelong Quarter project on Ryrie St.

A substantial red podium will include three levels for carparking. Image: SMFA.

The introduction of a swallow tail pleating to the eastern facade maximises views for occupants and provides a sculpted tower form. Image: SMFA.

The proposal seeks to reimagine the Gheringhap St corner site, introducing new architecture, dwellings and carparking.

Non-residential features include food and beverage premises at the ground floor, coworking space and restricted recreation at mezzanine level, offices at upper levels and a rooftop bar.

The 107 apartments from levels 7 to 16 would be a mix of 34 one-bedroom, 57 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom residences.

The tower would include three levels of car parking, three levels of office space and 107 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Image: SMFA.

Communal space for residents would be provided on level 7.

The project includes an upsized podium, including three levels of carparking, providing 110 resident car park spaces within the podium.

There would be separate lobbies for offices and apartments.

Secure bicycle parking is also included, with 30 double-height spaces for residents.

A facade of red metal covers the carparking levels, with a glass exterior surrounding the office floors.

Apartments would each offer a mix of glass and balconies at the facade.

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Wolfdene plans an industrial project at 1450 and 1454 Thompsons Road, Cranbourne East.

Private developer Wolfdene has entered the industrial property sector, acquiring two sites in Melbourne where it will undertake $330m in development with its new partners.

The company is making the shift as it not only adds to its near $4bn pipeline but also diversifies beyond its residential business as Melbourne’s market is hit by rising costs.

Wolfdene is also using its longstanding residential business to help it pursue commercial projects in Melbourne’s growth corridors.

The company is repositioning due to conditions being tough in some areas, while booming in others. As part of its growth, it pushed into WA six years ago, becoming the state’s fifth-largest private developer.

Wolfdene has now bought two Melbourne industrial sites, taking it beyond its traditional greenfield residential subdivisions, in deals brokered by LAWD Property’s Peter Sagar.

In Melbourne’s southeast, it partnered with Wolf Group and Aspen Capital to acquire a 24.95ha employment precinct in Cranbourne East, known as Thompsons Corner. This will be developed into about 95 Commercial Zone 2 lots with an estimated end value of $200m.

In the north, the developer has expanded its partnership with Blueways Group into the industrial sector, securing 19.72ha in Donnybrook where a 91-lot light industrial subdivision with an end value of $130m is planned.

Wolfdene managing director Michael Goldthorp said the expansion into industrial showed both an evolution of the developer’s capabilities and a “disciplined” response to market cycles. “Our business has always been focused on identifying where the fundamentals are strongest and allocating capital accordingly,” Mr Goldthorp said.

“As one of Australia’s largest private developers, we’ve built a strong track record in residential land subdivisions, but we’ve also demonstrated an ability to pivot – whether that’s geographically into Western Australia or into sectors like industrial – where demand, pricing and delivery conditions are more favourable.”

Victoria’s greenfield residential market faces multiple constraints, including planning delays, high delivery costs and drawn out infrastructure builds, prompting developers to hunt out alternative areas.

Wolfdene’s industrial strategy focuses on growth corridors where population expansion, infrastructure investment and employment demand are aligned.

At Cranbourne East, the Thompsons Corner project is expected to cater for uses like large-format retail, quick-service retail, logistics and trade-based operators. In Donnybrook, the Shenstone Park precinct site is near the Hume Highway and Donnybrook train station, with integration into the Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal to drive long-term logistics demand.

“There is a clear gap in the market for serviced industrial land across a range of lot sizes, particularly in emerging precincts where supply remains constrained,” Mr Goldthorp said.

The projects will begin next year and are to be completed in 2028.

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