Urban Appeal - The Starting Line

#04 | 2018

URBAN APPEAL

T H E S TA R T I N G L I N E

CHOICE HOMES

BUILDING

SUCCESS 2017 highlights – estate and stage sell-outs

2 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

•

Winner of the ‘Best use of Sloping Site’ in the Master Builders Awards

•

Continued strong level of construction with over 450 builds in South East Queensland and Mackay

•

All 97 blocks at Tallagandra Heights, within the Logan/Beenleigh area, sell out

•

Three new display homes built at Tallagandra Heights (Logan/Beenleigh)

•

The Highlands Stage 1, neighbouring estate to Tallagandra Heights, sells out

•

Stage 1 Camelot in Coomera sells out

•

Stage 3 Pimpama Village registers just prior to Christmas and continues to be a strong seller

•

Choice Homes delves into the apartment space with 101 Pohlman Street, which is almost sold out

•

First homebuyer campaign at Royal Sands, Mackay sees 20 new constructions in the estate

WORD FROM

THE CEO Welcome to The Starting Line – an eBook version of our annual Urban Appeal magazine. With 2018 being such a big year for both Choice Homes and South East Queensland, we thought it useful to keep you up-to-date with the state’s residential hotspots before we publish the full version of Urban Appeal 4 later this year.

Events like the upcoming Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and continued growth in the property market means things are changing rapidly, and this is our way of helping you stay on top.

Over the past 25 years, Choice Homes has built premier residential housing throughout South East Queensland and the broader Queensland market, and we are excited about what the future holds for the state. We are also very excited to be celebrating a quarter of a century milestone for our company!

Bodyboarding Association, Skypoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge and the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards.

Also high on the radar is the thriving southeast city of Logan – a major economic destination, which will continue to be one of the fastest growing cities in Queensland for the next 20 years.

Due to its central geographic location and available young workforce, Logan is ideally placed for continued growth in the South

By mid 2019 year, the Sunshine State’s population will surpass 5 million people, and economists are predicting that it will continue to grow 1.75 per cent each year.

East Queensland region.

Natural increase and overseas migration are the two biggest contributors to population growth, while interstate migration has also rebounded following the end of the mining construction boom.The state’s burgeoning economy is also a big contributor to the strong population growth, and the spotlight is now firmly on Queensland’s southeast markets as the place the smart money is heading.

one of the fastest-growing populations in

New residents are being attracted north to Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, by affordable property prices compared to rival capitals such as Sydney and Melbourne.

Further afield, Mackay, set in the state’s

The Gold Coast will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games in just a few short weeks, and the wave of exciting new infrastructure that has come with it is positioning the city as the ideal destination to live, work and play.

well underway, stimulated by significant

Choice Homes are proud sponsors of several local and broader sporting and community organisations, including the Academy of Football Australia, Australian

itself in these major growth areas to provide

Ipswich is another Queensland city that has been earmarked for continued growth. It has Australia, having grown by 700 per cent in the last decade.

Ipswich, located less than an hour west of Brisbane, is hugely popular with families due to its retail and family amenities, local employment opportunities and great educational and transport infrastructure.

north, is also showing strong signs of recovery. The bounce-back in the local residential and commercial markets is infrastructure spend and a surging regional tourism sector, as well as the big increase in coal production from nearby mines.

Choice Homes has strategically positioned a range of home solutions for all aspects of the market that seek a safe, secure and sought after investment.

URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 3

CHOICE HOMES

DISPLAY HOMES - TALLAGANDRA HEIGHTS The Calabrese

The Brookfield

Entrant in the 2017 Master Builders and HIA awards.

Lot 7, Opposite the corner of Ridgevale Boulevard and Tallagandra Road, Tallagandra Heights, Logan

Entrant in the 2017 Master Builders and HIA awards.

Lot 9, Opposite the corner of Ridgevale Boulevard and Tallagandra Road, Tallagandra Heights, Logan

Specifications

Specifications 180.65m2

Total area

Total area

190.88m2

Total squares

19.44sq

Total squares

House width

10.42m

House width

11.2m

House length

22.78m

House length

19.9m

20.55sq

The Bangalow Entrant in the 2017 Master Builders and HIA awards.

Lot 8, Opposite the corner of Ridgevale Boulevard and Tallagandra Road, Tallagandra Heights, Logan

Specifications Total area

182.57m2

Total squares

19.65sq

House width

11.1m

House length

21.4m

DISPLAY HOMES - PIMPAMA VILLAGE The Meadowvale

The Dominica

Entrant in the 2017 Master Builders and HIA awards.

Lot 1, Wharf Street, Pimpama Village, Pimpama

Entrant in the 2017 Master Builders and HIA awards.

Lot 80, Wharf Street, Pimpama Village, Pimpama

Specifications

Specifications Total area Total squares House width

257.54m

2

Total area

209.57m2

27.72sq

Total squares

17.41m

House width

16.3m

19.1m

House length

11.21m

House length

4 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

22.56sq

COMING SOON New display homes launching mid 2018

DISPLAY HOME – MIDDLETON PARK, LOGAN RESERVE

DISPLAY HOME – CAMELOT OF COOMERA

EXPLORE OUR DISPLAY HOMES HERE >

Images and floor plans in this publication may depict fixtures, fittings, features, finishes, inclusions, furnishings, vehicles and/or other products which are not included in the house design, not included in the house price and/or not available from Choice Homes.

URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 5

CHOICE HOMES

OUR STORY SINCE 1993 LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOICE HOMES HERE >

• Steve and Gillian Knight incorporate Choice Homes.

• Their goal is to create a family business so their sons, Troy and Jeremy, can build it into a longterm success.

• Steve and Gillian operate from their home garage and build three homes with 15 subcontractors.

1993-4 • Success blooms and the company constructs 55 homes worth more than $5.2 million with 160 subcontractors.

• Steve and Troy streamline the construction supervision process for greater efficiency.

1995-6 •

•

• Choice Homes’ construction value and job starts more than double to $31.2 million from 229 job starts with 1,100 subcontractors.

• Choice begins building in several estates around Coomera, including Beattie Road, Collage Grange and The Colleges.

• Choice introduce duplex designs to South East Queensland market.

• Many of Choice’s current key personnel in design, construction and sales/marketing begin their longstanding careers with the company.

2002 • The implementation of GST in 2000 slows the construction industry, but Choice’s volume and value of construction holds steady.

• Troy Knight becomes General Manager and moves the company into the head office at Paradise Point.

• Construction averages 400 builds per year, predominately around nowpopular Upper Coomera, a market that Choice singlehandedly created, and other property hotspots south of Brisbane to Ipswich.

• Troy creates sister company MPM Property to provide a high level of property management for investment properties Choice built for their clients.

2004-5

The company moves into its first office, creates its own sales division and starts selling on the Sunshine Coast.

• Choice’s construction value reaches $14.2 million from 105 builds and 500 subcontractors.

• Choice build predominately around the Horizon Park, Forest Lake to Springfield Lakes area, where house and land packages sell for under $200,000, and start building in the soonto-boom Coomera corridor.

2001

• Construction value almost doubles to $60.5 million as job starts reach 402 builds.

• Troy Knight becomes CEO of Choice Homes.

• Troy designs and implements “Land”, a customised internal workflow system that masterplans larger communities at the time of land purchase and produces significant internal and external office efficiencies through coordinated drafting, estimating, sales and construction.

• Choice founders Steve and Gillian retire from the business and hand operations to the next generation.

2003 6 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

• In 2006, Choice set up operations in Mackay, becoming the first and most successful Gold Coast builder to venture and remain in this market.

• A revised workflow system replaced the outgoing “Land” program with ‘”Landman”, a far superior and reliable system that allowed staff, clients and sales groups to log in remotely for instant access to the latest updates and house and land package availability • Choice’s subcontractors grow to 2,000.

2006

1999-2000

Choice doubled construction in just three years to build 91 homes valued at $10.5 million, with 350 subcontractors.

1997-8

• Job starts reach 511 and construction value reaches $87.3 million. Choice has 32 internal office staff, along with 1,300 subcontractors in the field.

• At the height of the property boom, Choice Homes builds an incredible 782 homes, generating more than $162 million in construction value.

• Internal staff grow to 59, complemented by 2,500 subcontractors.

• Choice Homes ranks #70 in Queensland’s Business Review Q400 for private companies.

2007

• Choice Homes records numerous stage sellouts in estates across south east Queensland.

• Record numbers of job starts are recorded from June to December.

• Choice ranks #56 in Queensland’s Business Review Q400 for private companies.

• MPM Property opens a second office in Ipswich, close to the hundreds of builds and upcoming builds in the booming suburb of Brassall.

2008

• Choice Homes named in October Best Family Business at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards and wins Best Spec Home at the Housing Industry Association Queensland Awards.

• Choice Homes increase staff by 20 per cent in direct response to a record number of home settlements.

2015

• Strongest year of sales since the GFC. • $106 million plus in construction value.

• Display home rollout in key Northern Gold Coast and Ipswich locations.

• Community involvement from the grassroots up.

• Master Builders awards finalist.

2016 • Choice rank #51 in Queensland’s Business Review Q400 for private companies.

• Raceview Developments, the development arm of Choice Homes, purchase a 400+ lot subdivision in Royal Sands Bucasia at Mackay, with capacity to bring to market 100 lots per annum.

2010-11

• Choice rank #57 in Queensland’s Business Review Q400 for private companies.

• Development arm starts.

2009

• Choice Homes win the Master Builder Awards Housing category for Sloping Sites up to $425,000.

• A display home opens at The Meadows estate in Pimpama.

• Winner - Best use of Sloping Site, Master Builder Awards.

• Continued strong level of sales - 450 builds in South East Queensland and Mackay.

• MPM’s third office opens in Mackay’s premier shopping precinct Canelands to service the growing rental market of predominately northern Mackay.

• Apartment site 101 Pohlman Street constructed and almost sold out.

2013

2017

• Choice maintains momentum with 274 builds and $68 million in construction, with a focus on quality projects over quantity.

• Raceview Developments purchase an additional 400+ lot subdivision in Royal Sands Bucasia at Mackay.

• Raceview Developments begin supplying builders with Royal Sands land and creates another pillar for the Choice Homes group of companies.

• Return of first home buyers to Mackay.

• Choice Homes is named double finalist in the Master Builder Awards categories Housing for Sloping Sites and Individual Homes up to $275,000.

• Choice Homes release the Gold Coast estates Foxwell Rise, Karingal Drive and Norman Springs to market.

• Strategic response to demand from international buyers establishes Choice Homes as a vertically integrated market leader.

2014

2012 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 7

CHOICE HOMES

THE

GOLD COAST Australia’s sixth-largest city.

Over the next

House prices are trending upwards, driving solid, sustainable

decade, the Gold

capital growth for property owners. A recent report released

Coast will transform into a globally recognised city while retaining its enviable lifestyle and stunning natural environment. More than $17 billion in major infrastructure projects are currently planned or underway.

Approximately $200 million worth of new worldclass sporting infrastructure has been built for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, including the Athletes Village, Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre and the development of the Carrara Sports Precinct. These projects will have a lasting legacy for the local community.

The Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth-largest city, and its population of almost 580,000 people is expected to continue to grow at 3.5 per cent per annum for the next 20 years.

by QBE predicts that the median price is expected to rise by 6 per cent by 2020, to a record $665,000.

The Gold Coast economy, which produces a Gross Regional Product of $31.56 billion each year, is driven by the tourism and construction industries.

The city welcomes close to 12 million visitors per year, making it one of Australia's leading tourist destinations.

The strip from Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach is one of the country’s best-favourite getaway spots.

Numerous projects are currently underway on the Gold Coast, including various residential developments, the $37 million first stage of the Cultural Precinct, the $600 million Stage 3 of the Light Rail, a $500 million M1 upgrade, $500 million The Star Gold Coast expansion and $1 billion Coomera Town Centre.

The $1.6 billion Stage 1 of Gold Coast Light Rail, linking Griffith University and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct to Broadbeach via Southport, commenced service in 2014.

The city is a lifestyle, residential and employment hub of

The $420 million Stage 2 connected Southport to the heavy rail

one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – South East

at the Helensvale Station. It is expected to unlock $1 billion in

Queensland. It is rapidly emerging as a thriving metropolitan

development along the route. The $600 million Stage 3, which

city with a dynamic business and cultural scene.

heads southbound to Burleigh Head, is currently the topic of a

Covering an area of 1,400km2, the Gold Coast’s boundaries

feasibility study and is expected to be open in 2021.

extend from just south of Beenleigh to Coolangatta, taking

On a cultural front, the $365 million Gold Coast Cultural

in South Stradbroke Island and part of Moreton Bay, and

Precinct is fast becoming a reality with the builders behind

extending west to the hinterland of Mount Tamborine and the

Hobart’s critically acclaimed MONA awarded the contract for

Lamington and Darlington Ranges.

the precinct’s $60 million art gallery.

8 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

G O LD C OA S T

MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: • $200 million in world-class sporting infrastructure for 2018 • Numerous million dollar residential developments • $600 million Light Rail Stage 3

• $300 million Cultural Precinct • $1 billion Coomera Town Centre • $500 million M1 upgrade • $500 million The Star Gold Coast expansion

This is but one part of the broader Gold Coast Cultural Precinct, which will bring the community together to engage with arts and culture, and supporting the city’s broader cultural economy and creative industries. It will also provide new employment and business opportunities.

Some of the city’s brightest residential real estate prospects are located in tightly held areas of the northern Gold Coast, such as Coomera, which is preparing for the launch of its brand-new town centre.

The $1 billion Coomera Town Centre project is well underway, sparking sales of land surrounding the precinct. The $470 million first stage of centre is expected to be open late 2018.

The centre will unlock almost $1 billion in further development in the city’s north, turning the area into a retail hotspot and creating a massive number of jobs in the process.

Ormeau, further in the city’s north, is also shaping up to be an area to watch.

The suburb is popular with young families and is home to six schools, numerous parks and recreational areas, multiple shopping centres, and has a strong community atmosphere.

The area’s close proximity to the M1, positioned between the central Gold Coast and Brisbane, makes it a very convenient area to live.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GOLD COAST ESTATES HERE >

URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 9

CHOICE HOMES

LOGAN Logan is a diverse and thriving city, well positioned between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

A combination of affordable property prices, a solid pipeline of development and new infrastructure, and proximity to job hubs is making Logan an ideal choice for new residents.

The city is one of the key growth regions in South East Queensland, as people are being drawn by the city’s evolving image and growing jobs market. The population is expected to reach 521,749 by 2036, up from 300,00 today.

And over the next 20 years, Logan will continue to be one of the fastest-growing cities in Queensland.

Many of Logan’s older suburbs have been revitalised by urban renewal projects that put an emphasis on social elements such as dining, entertainment, recreation and cultural diversity.

A range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, business and community services, property, construction and agriculture, support the city’s stable economy.

There is strong confidence among Logan’s 20,393 businesses, which are being supported by the State Government to create at least 53,000 new jobs within 20 years.

Construction of large housing communities in the region alone will result in more than 11,693 new jobs. The Wembley Road and Logan Motorway Interchange will also be key to job employment growth in the area, unlocking 3,000 new industry jobs and reducing significant congestion impacts on key business and industry interchange.

Additionally, the 127-hectare Yatala Enterprise Area (YEA) industrial hub is projected to inject $1 billion in the economy over the next 10 years.

It is one of Queensland’s premier industrial addresses and is set to be a market leader in terms of innovative industrial development. The YEA has enough capacity to sustain development until 2046.

10 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

LO G A N In terms of public infrastructure, the State Government has pledged funding to increase the capacity of the Logan Hospital by more than 320 beds and to provide a new $12.6 million maternity ward to cope with an expected baby boom.

E M P L OY M E N T G R O W T H O P P O R T U N I T I E S :

Other projects include the Logan Central Masterplan – a catalyst for development opportunity, the Southern Districts Courthouse upgrade, the Meadowbrook economic link, pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, Springwood to Logan Central cycle link and cycle centre, and Logan Metro Sport Park.

• Upgrade of Mt Lindesay Highway: will create 30,000 new jobs

• Wembley Road and Logan Motorway Interchange: will create 3,000 new jobs

• Yatala Enterprise Area: will create 40,000 new jobs

These projects will provide business and employment opportunities, and catalyze development and small business investment.

The city’s bushland setting, established retail infrastructure,

Logan is ideally positioned in the centre of one of South East Queensland’s fastest-growing employment hubs.

and the Gold Coast make it an attractive prospect for buyers.

With booming industrial development at its core, Queensland’s capital city to the north and the bustling Gold Coast to the south, Logan’s job market is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.

proximity to the Logan River and easy access to Brisbane

High-level capital growth is a result of affordable properties with above-average rental yields, widespread transport links, and a growing economy with diverse mix of industries providing growing employment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOGAN ESTATES HERE >

URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 11

CHOICE HOMES

IPSWICH Just 31km from the Brisbane CBD and backed by strong economic and demographic underpinnings, Ipswich is coming on strong as an investment hotspot.

A vast array of new roads, transport links and accessible residential communities are starting an important new chapter in the development of Ipswich, Queensland’s fastest-growing city.

The city is family friendly due to its retail and community amenities, local employment opportunities and great educational and transport infrastructure.

All these things have combined to make Ipswich one of the fastest-growing populations in Australia.

Over the past decade, the number of Ipswich residents has increased by 700 per cent to 200,000 people, and that will grow to more than 520,000 people by 2041, according to the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

Private and government investment in the area, including the now underway $400 million upgrade of the Ipswich motorway, RAAF Amberley base expansion, and $150 million Ipswich CBD redevelopment, is further driving demand.

These infrastructure initiatives, also a catalyst for job creation and commercial development, will add value to property in the surrounding areas.

12 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

The $400 million upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway will reduce congestion and improve safety and travel for over 85,000 motorists each day. It will also support 470 jobs during construction.

The expansion of the RAAF Amberley base is expected to contribute more than $1.2 billion, and almost 7,000 more jobs, to the Queensland economy by 2020.

According to the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans Affairs, Dan Tehan, bases such as Amberley provide a boost for local communities and create jobs outside the people directly employed by the base.

“The beneficiaries of the Amberley base are spread across the community and include the construction and business services sector, wholesale and retail trades, hotel, food and telecommunications industries,” Tehan said.

The long-awaited redevelopment of Ipswich’s CBD kicked off in 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2019, with the entire central district to undergo a dramatic makeover.

It will include an events stage, a laneway precinct, new library and new council building. It also includes space for food, retail and entertainment.

I P S WI C H

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E A N D D E V E L O P M E N T AT A G L A N C E : • $400 million upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway to reduce congestion and improve the road’s flood immunity • The $1.2 billion expansion of Amberley RAAF base, which will generate 7,000 jobs • $190 million railway maintenance centre at Wulkuraka • $150 million CBD redevelopment will inject life into the CBD and link Bell Street directly to Ipswich Mall. A green space, water feature and an events stage are also all on the list • $1.5 billion Ripley Town Centre development - a project that will become the centre of activity for a 120,000 strong community in Ripley Valley

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR IPSWICH ESTATES HERE >

URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 13

CHOICE HOMES

MACKAY The Mackay property market’s bounce-back is well underway, stimulated by significant infrastructure spend and a surging regional tourism sector.

Mackay is home to a diverse and vibrant community with

Several new projects are proposed or underway for Mackay,

rural and coastal living opportunities. The area is known for

including a $50 million biorefinery, which could create up to 115

its white sandy beaches and crystal clear ocean waters; it is

jobs and position the region as an emerging bio-industry hub.

a premier tourist destination for Australians and international visitors alike.

Also in the works is a revamped $200 million waterfront precinct for Mackay, which has been dubbed a Priority

Just over an hour’s flight from Brisbane, the Mackay region

Development Area (PDA).

boasts an enviable lifestyle and a buoyant economy with the

The Mackay Ring Road Stage 1 has been labeled the biggest

benefits of a fast-growing coastal city complemented by a spectacular natural environment.

The Mackay Regional Local Government Area is one of the fastest growing in Queensland, with a population of over 120,000.

government infrastructure project in Mackay’s history.

The $497.8 million total spend to construct the new two-lane road is due for completion in July 2020, and will divert heavy vehicles from the city centre.

A $40 million Whitsunday Airport upgrade is also planned. It

Growth is fuelled by the resurgence of agribusiness and growth

will include remediation of the existing terminal and upgrade

in construction, logistics, tourism and the resources sector.

of the domestic terminal.

Upcoming infrastructure projects and jobs in mining and related industries are also attracting new residents to the city.

The Mackay property market is showing positive signs as confidence increases in both commercial and residential fields.

According to property valuers Herron Todd White, there has been increased level of sales activity as buyers and sellers both gain a better appreciation of the value available following the economic downturn.

The Magpies Sporting Club is also investing heavily in the area with the new National Premier League (NPL) team, the Magpies Crusaders United.

The club has launched a $10 million master plan to create five new sporting fields and a new clubhouse.

The proposed $72 million Mackay Regional Sports Precinct, of which stages 1A and 1B are now under development at the CQUniversity Mackay campus in Ooralea, is supported by the

An improved performance from the local rental market also

Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Regional councils together

reflects a sharp decline in vacancies over the past year.

with local businesses and community organisations.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MACKAY ESTATES HERE >

14 URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018

Aged care is another burgeoning industry in Mackay; one of the largest aged care providers in the country is moving into the region for the first time.

Ozcare has been approved for the development of a 120bed aged care facility in West Mackay. The development will cost about $30 million and create at least 165 jobs during construction.

The Australian Government and Queensland Government have committed $8.5 billion to a ten-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, which will dramatically impact the greater

Mackay region, stimulating jobs and investment.

The program commenced in mid-2013 and is the largest program of roadworks currently underway in Queensland.

The resources sector in Mackay is again growing, with rising commodity prices and the announcement of several new and previously proposed mining ventures being given life.

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E A N D D E V E L O P M E N T AT A G L A N C E : • The Hillalong coal project will generate 400 jobs for the region • The Blair Athol mine will create 100 new jobs when production recommences • $18.6 million Mackay City Centre Revitalisation Project has provided increased investment potential and enhanced lifestyle opportunities • The $408 million Mackay Base Hospital has set the standard for regional facilities • The Horizon high-rise development will generate 127 new jobs and deliver an affordable option for inner-city living

URBAN APPEAL #04 | 2018 15

Built for thousands of happy families.

Phone: (07) 5501 3300

info@choicehomes.com.au

44 The Esplanade, PO Box 396,

Fax: (07) 5501 3399

www.choicehomes.com.au

Paradise Point, Qld 4216