ONE of Australia largest privately owned developers has started work on a $500 million, 900-home masterplanned residential community at Coomera.
Developer Ingles Group has started bulk earthworks for the first two stages of the 10-stage Big Sky project, which is being developed on a 75ha site east of the highway at Coomera.
The start of the project comes at a time when vacant land sales on the Gold Coast have surged to their highest levels since 2003 and property analyst Prodap is predicting a shortage of available vacant land.
When completed the Big Sky project will comprise a mix of traditional home sites, smaller-lot housing, terrace housing, apartment blocks of up five storeys, duplexes, a shopping centre, childcare centre, community hall, and a raft of commercial buildings.
The project is expected to be completed over the next five to 10 years.
Ingles Group managing director Graeme Ingles said the Big Sky project would become the company’s flagship project in the region.
“Big Sky is going to be a landmark project for the Gold Coast’s northern corridor and will become a benchmark that other developers will have to emulate,” said Mr Ingles.
“Big Sky will deliver a number of desirable urban design objectives that have been promoted in the region’s planning schemes.
“This includes a residential community featuring a comprehensive mixture of detached homes, terrace-style housing and higher density projects
“The project will also feature `pedestrian friendly’ boulevards and will incorporate community designs that provide rear lane access to houses,” he said.
When completed Big Sky will boast about 17.5ha of parklands, recreational areas and open space. These areas will take up nearly a quarter of the total development.
The green spaces will be linked by extensive networks of bikeway and walkways.
Mr Ingles said the first two stages of the project allowed for 100 housing lots, six duplex lots and several areas set aside for future commercial and apartment development.
The earthworks are expected to take three months to complete and are to be followed by an extensive civil works program.
Mr Ingles said the registrations for land in Stages One and Two were expected to be finalised in late 2007 if the work advanced as planned.
The Ingles Group is accelerating its development push at Coomera because of the imminent sell-out of its existing Gold Coast projects.
In the past year Ingles has sold the last blocks at its Tee Tree estate at Arundel and its Coomera Parklands Stage One project. The Ingles has two more stages of its Coomera Parklands project to complete.
BACKGROUND
Ingles Group Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s largest privately owned developers of residential and commercial property, with past and current projects located throughout Queensland.
Ingles Homes (Qld) Pty Ltd is a QMBA and HIA multi award-winning builder, with more than 12 years experience designing and building quality homes for Queenslanders.
For further information contact Marshall Hall on 0404 195 896 or marshall@barepublicity.com.
