PRESTIGE PROPERTY: THE BLUE SKY FACTOR PART 2

ULTIMATE WATERFRONT

PRADELLA's $260 million West End development Waters Edge has launched its second stage, offering luxury residential apartments on prime riverfront land.

General manager David Whelan, says the launch follows the success of stage one, which achieved more than $50 million in sales.

“Waters Edge was one of the few residential developments to start construction in 2009,” says Whelan.

“The fact that stage two is being launched on time is testament to the vision of Waters Edge and the ongoing demand for high-end apartment accommodation in West End.”

The complex consists of two towers Reach and Drift, spread across 400sqm of waterscaped grounds, which include wading pools, an outdoor kitchen, barbecue shelters and a lap pool.

Whelan says the company has adapted to the market’s needs by offering flexibility to buyers with a two-year rental and depreciation schedule, or a relocation plan allowing for three-month settlement delays.

“We understand that in this market we need to respond to the pressures faced by buyers and our flexible options have provided a number of families and investors with peace of mind during the buying process.

“Waters Edge provides luxury residential living and with future development on the site offering a mixture of retail and commercial uses, buyers will be securing the complete urban lifestyle.”

The completed project will offer 234 apartments, including 32 luxurious riverfront apartments with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a separate multi-purpose room.

Whelan says both owner-occupiers and investors have been quick to snap up apartments.

Marketing and sales director Ross Higgins anticipates strong buyer demand for Waters Edge in 2010.

“Waters Edge provides luxury residential living and with future development on the site offering a mixture of retail and commercial uses, buyers will be securing the complete urban lifestyle,” he says.

Investing in paradise

A SCENIC two-hour drive from Brisbane and 90 minutes from the Gold Coast will take you to O’Reilly’s Mountain Villas, a rare investment find with just seven remaining.

Etched into the World Heritage listed rainforest are the world-class O’Reilly’s Mountain Villas.

Only seven of the 48 villas remain available for freehold purchase, offering buyers the chance to acquire a slice of paradise in the $34 million development.

A new conference centre and the region’s first destination spa, represents an exciting new era for the O’Reillys, who successfully pioneered ecotourism in Australia and won Best Deluxe Accommodation at the 2006 Queensland Tourism Awards.

The villas and spa development has taken O’Reilly’s into exciting new tourism territory, opening up new markets seeking upmarket accommodation and the ultimate escape experience.

Featuring 48 luxury self-contained villas, the Mountain Villas are O’Reilly’s most exciting and ambitious project yet – offering a rare combination of natural escape and exciting investment, in an unsurpassed location.

The pristine location was always going to dictate the highest environmental standards in design and construction.

The site itself was originally cleared as a dairy farm, so in many ways the development actually brings the property back to nature, with extensive revegetation knitting the site back into the rainforest and the environmentally friendly villas nestled unobtrusively into the sloping landscape.

Designed to subtly resemble birds perched high amid the trees and built from natural and lightweight materials, the villas offer stunning mountain and rainforest vistas.

Architects have used a design approach and materials such as corrugated iron, eco-ply and polished redwood floors to create a synergy and empathy with the environment. Each villa has its own rainwater tank and is water and energy efficient.

Architect Tony Macksey says the villas sit ‘lightly on the earth’ so as not to impede on the landscape.

“They have an intimacy with the surrounding landscape, creating a treehouse effect,” he says.

“Stylishly appointed, each villa features an outdoor spa on an expansive timber deck, a gas fireplace, contemporary kitchen, air conditioning, ensuited bedrooms and undercover parking. Sitting up to 8m above the ground, you really get the sense you are floating in the forest.”

Nature was always going to provide the inspiration for the light and open interiors, and the furniture and finishings have brought the beauty of the rainforest indoors, while not competing with the spectacular views.

Modern in design, the furniture is warmed by the use of Queensland maple and botanical prints in cushions that reflect the rainforest canvas with furnishings and layout promoting relaxation.

The village also includes a 25m infinity-edge lap pool with panoramic views towards the western mountain ranges. O’Reilly’s managing director Shane O’Reilly, says satisfaction rates are running high, as is interest and bookings from within Australia and overseas. He says investors are secure in the knowledge that occupancy levels and returns have already exceeded expectations.

“Our guests have been very impressed with the villas, with satisfaction levels running at 96 per cent,” he says.

“The development represents a convergence of two growth trends in tourism – nature-based/sustainable tourism and spa tourism, so it is being very well received.

“All this adds up to a safe, unique and valuable investment, especially at a time when more traditional investments such as the share market are so uncertain. Sales have been very encouraging, including three villas sold in the last few months. An investment like this is unlikely to be offered again with available land and approvals so difficult to obtain within Lamington National Park.”

Planned for owners and guests who enjoy creature comforts with nature, the two and three bedroom villas are ideal for families, groups of friends and couples travelling together.

The Mountain Villas also incorporate the Lost World Spa and Conference Centre.

Pelican Waters a magical blend of lifestyle choices

Pelican Waters, in the heart of Caloundra at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, offers an unrivalled aquatic setting and first class community facilities for residents to live, work and play.
And it’s a place where deep water access doesn’t necessarily require the deepest of pockets.

Pelican Waters is offering 40 magnificent waterfront home sites which provide boating enthusiasts with direct access from their doorstep to the pristine Pumicestone Passage and rich offshore fishing grounds, something no other new-release Sunshine Coast waterfront development can lay claim to.

Pelican Waters chief executive officer Geoff Coleman, says buyers of the waterfront lots for sale in the North Point and The Landing precincts would be a fortunate few.

“We are the only new release on the Sunshine Coast where residents can have their own private marina berth which affords boating access to such expansive recreational waters and fishing grounds,’’ he says.

“And despite land like this in diminishing supply, it comes with a realistic price tag.”

Featuring wide water views and generously sized between 800sqm to 1200sqm the lots are available at an average price of $600,000.

“Waterfront home sites of this calibre and dimension are unique to Pelican Waters and as a result magnificent homes by Queensland’s leading builders are being constructed,” says Coleman.

Some of the state’s most impressive and innovative designs will be showcased at Pelican Waters’ newest display village presently under construction and opening in mid 2010.

Meanwhile, buyers have scrambled to be a part of the Pelican Water’s delightful residential precinct Boronia Grove, when the first land release for the area in two years went to market in January.

Featuring 21 home sites comprising two lakefront, one lake view and 18 residential lots, the recent release encapsulates Boronia Grove’s unique natural feel.

It is bordered to the south by pristine Bells Creek which flows direct to Pumicestone Passage and provides a natural barrier to further development, ensuring the peaceful amenity is protected for future generations.

The banks of the creek feature mature trees and open recreational space, with select blocks offering filtered water views through the natural vegetation.

All home sites at Boronia Grove are within walking distance of this environmental gem, where kids can set pots for mud crabs and fish for bream and whiting.

Coleman says the uptake of home sites has been strong among families and also builders looking to meet the demand for homes in this sought-after precinct.

“Demand for new release home sites in Pelican Waters remains very strong as we simply cannot keep up supply to meet demand,” he says.

“Boronia Grove is the last remaining opportunity for residential home sites in Pelican Waters – we are moving heaven and earth to acquire new sites to meet the need.”

A further 75 Boronia Grove home-sites are presently under construction to be offered to the market this year.

With a minimum size of 650sqm and an average price of around $300,000, interest is expected to remain extremely strong for this dream family location.

The 810ha Pelican Waters community is highlighted by a Greg Norman-designed golf course and also boasts its own school, shopping centre, bowls club, bike tracks, walkways, waterways and beaches.

Hamilton Island Villas

Hamilton Island Yacht Club Villas has recently completed 35 luxurious waterfront villas to be released to the market in lots of six. With prices starting at $2.55 million, the first six have already sold with the second lot just released.

The villas form part of the Island’s newest residential development that adjoins the marina and are exclusively linked to the yacht club and are designed with natural timbers and sweeping lines, draw on thematic elements inspired by the local environment.

The stand-alone Villas reflect Australian architect Walter Barda’s vision of an informal ambience that makes the most of the beautiful island setting.

Hamilton Island Yacht Club Villas general manager Noel Lucas-Martinez, says the initial success of the luxury villas highlights how the island defies current market conditions.

He says the appeal is heightened by the amount of investment dollars injected into developing the island’s recreational and leisure facilities which now include a golf course with ocean views, the brand new yacht club and qualia — Australia’s newest top-end luxury resort on the Great Barrier Reef.

“Hamilton Island has seen more than $350 million in investment since 2004. What we’ve noticed is when visitors have returned to the island after 10 years or so, they are often overwhelmed with the level of development that has occurred,” says Lucas-Martinez.

“My experience is that there are serious investors in the market, but they are looking for something particularly special.

“When they see the level of investment that has gone into Hamilton Island in recent years they become a lot more comfortable in investing in the properties. Bob Oatley, the owner of the island, described the process as ‘polishing the diamond’.”

All six properties sold from the first offering were bought by Australian investors for an average of $3 million and when not in personal use, return $1200-1700 per week in rent from holiday-goers.

“It’s the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. One of the great things about Hamilton Island is that it’s so accessible with its own airport; it’s only a few hours away from any capital city,” says Lucas-Martinez.

“This aspect is especially popular with boat owners who rather than wait on the mainland to get a ferry across to one of the other islands, step off the plane and go straight onto the reef.

“Its exceptional convenience for people who are time-poor.”

The villas, set over three levels, capture spectacular views of Dent Passage towards the Whitsunday Islands.

All include a spacious open plan living/dining room; state-of-the art gourmet kitchen with Miele appliances; four bedrooms and four bathrooms, comprising: master suite and walk-in robe and bathroom, two additional double bedrooms with ensuite, and a fourth bedroom/flexible space or media room. In addition, the villas have separate laundries, fully ducted air conditioning and a private golf buggy. The landscaping has been designed by internationally recognised landscape artist and TV host Jamie Durie, rounding off a distinctly Australian-feel.

With these spectacular features and Lucas-Martinez’s outlook on the holiday destination’s prestige property market, the Hamilton Island Yacht Club Villas are not expected to be on the market long.

“There is a sense of optimism returning. The last 12 months has seen a cautious ‘wait and see’ approach but there is a renewed level of confidence among buyers now that the economy is on the rebound and doing well,” says Lucas-Martinez.

“People in general and more importantly the media have only just starting to have a positive outlook on the market. Our products have performed very well and we’re quietly confident that we’re going to see a lot more interest over coming months.”

Eco Power

Most people define prestige residential living as luxurious waterfront homes, complete with a personal jetty for easy access to the latest power yacht – but not all.

For others, prestige residential living is all about the green behind the gold; coexisting seamlessly with the Gold Coast’s natural ambience.

The growing trend towards eco-sustainable homes is highlighted by the popularity of The Ecovillage at Currumbin – now in its final stages of selling.

The striking and contemporary Ayni Munay home to be built on a 3311sqm block, showcases the best of the Highlands products with sweeping views of Currumbin Valley and the Pacific Ocean.

With construction planned to start next month, the innovative design comprises a series of elevated boardwalks linking tree house-like pods and pavilions that harmonise with spectacular views.

The flow-through of cooling summer breezes is achieved from this design. The pods provide for privacy yet connectivity for various family members or perfect for entertaining guests.

Developer Landmatters had a vision to ‘inspire sustainable living and development practise awareness’ by creating a world-class ecologically sustainable village.

With The Ecovillage achieving $2.8 million in sales over just two weeks last month, Landmatters managing director Chris Walton says most of the buyers are not ‘greenies’ but come from all demographics and walks of life.

“The Ecovillage’s highly successful past marketing has attracted standard market place buyers – buyers who are looking for healthy lifestyles and who are well versed in sustainable living requirements,”
says Walton.

“Landmatters believes that the general property market has matured to a point where green living is becoming more mainstream and can be a deciding factor that enhances saleability of real estate product.

“The strong sales activity experienced just recently has resulted from buyers of this makeup – our point of difference is that we are a well designed subdivision, which is also sustainable, and this is serving us very well in this time where there is a low demand for quality vacant land product.”

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