Cairns Home Life February 2016

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT

RAINFOREST SANCTUARY? Embrace the magnificent natural beauty of the rainforest at eco@jumrum, and experience the magic of living in the home of your dreams surrounded by the beauty and music of nature. Wake to birdsong and trickling creeks, explore walking trails through protected rainforest, and still have all the modern conveniences of the friendly village of Kuranda on your doorstep.

MAKE A PLACE FOR YOURSELF IN A TRULY UNIQUE PIECE OF PARADISE – CALL US TODAY.

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Magnificent blocks averaging 4701sqm with 2000sqm building envelope.

Fully masterplanned rural residential estate with all services available but no strata body or strata fees.

The first UDIA EnviroDevelopment certified project in FNQ – and the last development of its kind permitted under the Regional Plan until 2031.

Be surrounded by protected old growth and regenerating rainforest, only 30 minutes from Cairns International Airport.

www.facebook.com/realestatecairns www.isellcairns.com

CONTACT REMAX OR YOUR LOCAL KURANDA AGENT

ecojumrum.com.au

Joan Robb 0418 871 400

Keith Masotto 0418 772 306

We at the Housing Industry Association (HIA) would like to welcome you all to this inaugural edition of Cairns Home Life. We have made the decision to support this local publication in an effort to bring together the interests of our many members, and help present their products and values to an ever growing and eager consumer market.

FOREWORD

The HIA has had a long history as Australia’s only national industry association representing the interests of the residential building industry, including new home builders, renovators, trade contractors, land developers, related building professionals, and suppliers and manufacturers of building products.

As the voice of the industry, the HIA represents some 40,000 member businesses throughout Australia. The residential building industry includes land development, detached home construction, home renovations, low/medium-density housing, high-rise apartment buildings, and building product manufacturing.

HIA members comprise a diversity of residential builders, including all Top 100 builders, small to medium builders, residential developers, trade contractors, major building product manufacturers and suppliers and consultants to the industry. In total, HIA members construct over 85 per cent of the nation’s new building stock.

The HIA exists to service the businesses it represents, lobby for the best possible business environment for the building industry, and to encourage a responsible and quality driven, affordable residential building development industry.

The HIA’s mission is to:

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promote policies and provide services which enhance our members’ business practices, products and profitability, consistent with the highest standards of professional and commercial conduct.

Russell Parnicott Housing Industry Association Ltd Branch Manager - Cairns

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The residential building industry is one of Australia’s most dynamic, innovative and efficient service industries, and is a key driver of the Australian economy. The residential building industry has a wide reach into manufacturing, supply, and retail sectors.

The aggregate residential industry contribution to the Australian economy is over $150 billion per annum, with over one million employees in building and construction, tens of thousands of small businesses, and over 200,000 sub-contractors reliant on the industry for their livelihood.

The HIA develops and advocates policy on behalf of members to further advance new home building and renovating, enabling members to provide affordable and appropriate housing to the growing Australian population.

New policy is generated through a grassroots process that starts with local and regional committees before progressing to the National Policy Congress, by which time it has passed through almost 1,000 sets of hands.

Policy development is supported by an ongoing process of collecting and analysing data, forecasting, and providing industry data and insights for members, the general public and on a contract basis.

The HIA is well placed to comment on economic and housing policy matters. For over 30 years the HIA has been a significant part of the public economic conversation, conducting targeted research and analysis on matters pertinent to new housing and the impact of housing policy on the broader economy.

To complement the work of the HIA in-house economics unit, the association regularly commissions cutting edge ‘at arm’s length’ independent research to support public policy debate in the sector.

The association operates offices in 23 centres around the nation, providing a wide range of advocacy and business support, including services and products to members, technical and compliance advice, training services, contracts and stationary, industry awards for excellence, and member only discounts on goods and services.

The CairnsLife team have worked hard to bring you the best and most interesting features and information from our region, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Russ

We provide quality products and services,

all the time, every time.

QUARRY, SAND, CONCRETE, BITUMEN AND ASPHALT PRODUCTS

Call Us Now

4047 8300 Lot 5, Maconachie St Woree QLD 4868 CAIRNS

How would you like to wake up to the

MAGIC of rainforest EVERY SINGLE DAY?

This new rural residential estate spanning 45 hectares of regenerating rainforest, minutes from Kuranda is the first Far North Queensland project to join an elite group of Australian developments successfully receiving the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) EnviroDevelopment certification. EnviroDevelopment is a scientificallybased assessment scheme that independently reviews development projects and awards certification to those that achieve outstanding performance across four or more of six distinct sustainability measures - Ecosystems, Waste, Energy, Materials, Water and Community.

Named after Jumrum Creek that weaves through the estate before flowing into the Barron River, eco@jumrum has received certification for meeting EnviroDevelopment standards for Ecosystems, Waste, Energy and Materials.

Comprising generous sized lots ranging from 3005 square metres to 6894 square metres, eco@jumrum is a rare find and is the last rural residential development to be approved in Kuranda, under the Far North Queensland Plan, until the year 2031– so don’t miss this last opportunity! Along with a majestic rainforest garden to nurture and enjoy, there is plenty of space to build a home, put in a swimming pool, plant a vegetable garden plus more without compromising the ability to live harmoniously and at one with nature.

A 30 minute drive from Cairns and just minutes from the vibrant, creative and cosmopolitan rainforest village of Kuranda, eco@jumrum

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is perfectly situated to take advantage of close proximity to shops, cafes, restaurants and professional services, as well as sport and leisure activities located just across the road at Kuranda Recreation Centre.

According to developer, Steve Taylor, the successful acquisition of EnviroDevelopment Certification is key to the future sustainability of eco@jumrum’s rainforest and completely unique living environment.

“This is a place to live for those who genuinely appreciate the peace, serenity and natural attributes that a tropical rainforest affords. We have gone out of our way to protect its integrity – an example of which is the maximum 2000 square metre building envelopes, with the remainder of each block being protected by a special covenant for perpetuity,” he said.

CairnsLife

Imagine waking up to the magic of rainforest every single day! The spectacular scenery, pristine water holes and natural fauna species dating back to when Australia was part of Gondwana are what define a tropical rainforest. Now… this truly special natural wonderland will be your own backyard, when you choose to live at eco@jumrum.

Five years spent living on Bougainville Island, a region of historical significance defined by natural rugged beauty, exotic wildlife and abundant fauna has been the impetus underpinning Mr Taylor’s synergistic approach to development and specifically, his latest and most exciting project to date, eco@jumrum.

“I have always been extremely passionate and focused on protecting and highlighting what we have in a natural sense. It is with a great deal of care and sensitivity to the environment that I work to provide opportunities for human interaction and enjoyment.”

“It is hard to imagine that 20 years ago there was nothing here but cleared land and that since then regrowth has created a leaf canopy allowing the regeneration of a natural rainforest. It really is a beautiful piece of the world and we will be doing everything we can to ensure it is protected and improved. One such action has been to partner with EnviroCare to undertake rehabilitation works for Jumrum and Ulysses Creeks.”

Stage one of eco@jumrum comprising 11 blocks is now on sale, with allotments selling from $190,000. Construction of stage one is due to commence midway through the year.

In all, eco@jumrum’s 45 hectare site incorporates 83 allotments that are being released in three stages over the next three years. Note: buyers will not be subject to strata title levies or need to comply with a body corporate. eco@jumrum is situated on Fallon Road, Kuranda - opposite the Kuranda Recreation Centre and playing fields of Hunter Park. For more, visit eco@jumrum.com.au

“We have also put a number of incentives in place for prospective buyers. For instance, we have gone above and beyond when designing unique plans for each lot. Our intention is to demonstrate the best place to build according to sun and prevailing breezes. Another is our offer to subsidise native landscape packages up to $2 000 along with the provision of a compost bin.”

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Next level of Home Building

From the moment you walk through the door of the Allaro display home in Castleton Entrance, Smithfield, it is evident that the next level of home building has arrived.

Equipped with Allaro’s Intelli-Home technology, the property provides the ability to control lighting, power, security systems, smart locks, audio-visual and much more from a centralized app using wireless, wifi technology across android and IOS services.

Custom designed for a corner block, the home features four bedrooms, including master suite with walk in robe and feature glass panel to ensuite, a sunken shower-bath (shabath), and an integrated butler’s pantry.

To maximize the abundance of natural light, a floor to ceiling glass panel feature wall overlooks the built in water feature on the rear patio.

With a total floor area of 251.12m(2), the home fits comfortably on the block, allowing plenty of space outdoors.

Finishing touches like a built in vertical garden on the patio concrete pillars and the kitchen feature wall in sunset tones add ** of elegance.

With a reputation for exceptional quality, integrity and service, the family behind Allaro Homes have been involved in the North Queensland building industry for more than 130 years.

For more information visit www.allarohomes.com.au

HIA Award Winner

cairns@allarohomes.com.au | 07 4031 0022

Planned to Perfection

The team of architects and designers at Allaro embody their tag line of “Planned to perfection, inspired by you”, offering clients a comprehensive one on one design process.

“We integrate custom design into everything we do. No two homes are the same,” says Client Relations Specialist Dale Flack.

Whether it be a $200,000 or $2 million build, the team at Allaro work to the client’s budget to create a final fixed price contract.

Technology is a big part of the Allaro Homes experience, with the company developing in-house software that not only allows clients to be in total control of their budget and design process, but also to have a virtual 3D walkthrough of their plans.

For more information, visit the Allaro Homes display home at 2 Castleton Entrance, Smithfield or their website www.allarohomes.com.au

For more information visit www.allarohomes.com.au

HIA Award Winner

cairns@allarohomes.com.au | 07 4031 0022

Everyone from Andrew Winter from ‘Selling Houses Australia’ to your local real estate agent will tell you that presentation is the number one thing to look at when selling your home. It’s the first impression the buyer gets when they see your home.

Buyers will often do a ‘drive by’ before they even step inside.

First impressions do count.

So before that ‘For Sale’ sign goes up and that first open home happens, everything Jan at Joosh it up needs to be perfect. The view of the front yard must entice the buyer inside, so mowed lawns, trimmed garden beds, fresh mulch and no peeling paint are often easy fixes.

TERRACE //Before & After

Once inside your home they have to really love what they see. Fresh, clean, bright and open are all words that spring to mind, that will entice that emotion from that potential buyer. I cannot emphasise ‘Clean” enough. Sparkling windows, fresh curtains, clear window tracks and screens. Bathrooms and kitchens must be spotless. If you can’t do this yourself then get the experts in.

And now the fun begins! Sometimes you need someone who doesn’t have an emotional attachment to your home to help it come to life.

Joosh It Up is your ‘go to’ solution.

Beautiful bed and bath linen, contemporary art work, stunning cushions, fabulous decorative pieces and lamps will give your home that extra edge over the others. Your home will be transformed, so when you walk back into your home you can’t help but go “Wow”. And so will the purchaser of your home.

And the best part of this whole process is that you don’t need to move out. That’s right. Using your existing furniture Joosh It Up will work with you, your family and your lifestyle to make the whole process as simple as possible and you will be thrilled with the outcome.

Styling your home for a potential purchaser is a vital ingredient in assuring a speedy sale and can add thousands of dollars to the value.

You can’t afford not to be “Jooshed”.

Visit our website today to see how affordable our services are.

KID’S ROOM //Before & After

“Sometimes you just need a ‘fresh eye’ to see a different side to your most valuable possession” 0 4 2 9 3 2 2 2 9 3 j o o s h i t u p @ o u t l o o k . c o m . a u

MAIN BED

MAIN BED

//Before & After

//Before & After

LIVING ROOM

PLAY ROOM

//Before & After

//Before & After

w w w . j o o s h . c o m . a u

SENSATIONAL

SUMMER

SALE

NO

ONW !

Over 2,000 house and land packages available online at www.dixonhomes.com.au Cairns Region – Mossman to Cardwell and the Tablelands | Townsville Region – Ingham to Ayr 172 Mulgrave Road, Westcourt find us on

SENSATIONAL UPGRADES FROM RESORT SPECIFICATION KITCHEN

ENTRANCE FEATURES

• Caesarstone 20mm Square Edge Quartz Benchtop • Stylelite High Gloss Kitchen c/w Brushed Aluminium Kickboard • Glass Splashback in Solid Paint Behind Cooktop (up to 1800 x 700mm)

• Custom 3.2 x 1.2m Portico c/w 590 x 390 feature colour columns and 1800 x 300 Cemintel Inlays (if optional façade shown on standard plan) • Corinthian Windsor 1200mm Stained Timber and Glass Entrance Door • Gainsborough Trilock 3 in 1 Omni 600mm Stainless Steel Pull Handle

• Blum Soft Close Door and Drawers (Excluding Corner Cabinets/Pantries) • Bronte 1160 1¾ Deluxe Stainless Steel Sink c/w Accessories • Barrow Gooseneck Sink Mixer with pull out Veggie Spray

INTERNAL FEATURES • LED Downlights • Gainsborough Feature Lever Door Handles • Corinthian Motive Smooth Finish Internal Doors

APPLIANCES • Option 1 – AstiVita 900mm Gas/Electric Upright Stove ASTCOOKGE90 c/w Gas Connection.

Plus AstiVita 900mm Glass Canopy Range hood ASTCAN90SSGL ducted to eave • Option 2 – Rosieres 600mm Pyrolytic Electric Oven and Rosieres 600mm Induction Cooktop. Plus AstiVita 600mm Stainless Steel Canopy Range hood ducted to eave • Asti Vita 600mm Semi-Integrated 6 Program 12 Place Setting Dishwasher

• Mirrored 2.4m High Sliding Wardrobe Doors in Bedrooms

ENERGY EFFICIENCY • Solar Power 1.5kW System • Solar Power Twin Panel 250L Ground Mounted Solar Hot Water System

GARAGE PANEL DOOR • Steel-Line 5.2m wide x 2.3m high Deco Wood or Metallic Remote Panel Lift Door (subject to engineering)

BATHROOM & ENSUITE • G James Semi Frameless Pivot Door Shower Screens

SITE COSTS

• Andric Mixer Tapware and Empire Bathroom Accessories

• Footings and Slab Thickenings To: Class S, M and H Sites

• Wall Faced Toilet Suites (Atlanta or Edge) • Napoli 1500 or 1700mm Freestanding Bath (upgrade from standard bath) • Shay Shower on Rail Handshowers • Custom Caesarstone Silk Gloss Soft Close Vanities c/w Porcelain Basins

^To approved applicants. *Promotion is based on Resort Specification only. We reserve the right to alter specifications and/or substitute the make/model or type of any standard inclusion, to a product of equivalent standard, without notice. Limited offer, duplex designs upgrades one side per promo. Two kitchen plans/butlers kitchens, only main kitchen is upgraded, conditions apply. Limited time only. Carrington Homes P/L trading as Dixon Homes Cairns/Townsville QBCC 78120. Images for advertising purposes. Effective from Nov 2015.

$15,000 GREAT START GRANT AVAILABLE* *To Approved Applicants

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Your New Home

designed to your land and our tropical climate One of the first things to consider when deciding to build a new home is to make sure that your home design suits your land. It makes sense to work with nature’s own strengths so that your new home is comfortable and cost efficient in our tropical climate.

When looking at house plans make sure you are talking to someone who genuinely cares about how the outdoor climate can affect your level of comfort inside your home, rather than someone who simply wants to sell you a home. We also want our homes to be practical with good living spaces, maybe separate ‘zones’ within the home, suitable storage and maybe even room for the family to grow into the home in the future.

A well designed home doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive one. Many elements are very cost effective, especially if you are planning a long term home. We built the ‘Queenslander’ style home in the past for a reason - they worked. The tropical sun plays a major role in the comfort and day to

day living of your home so it’s vital that we consider the position of the sun at different times of the day. It’s logical that we should have our living areas on the cool side of the home in our tropical climate whether that be the rear, side or front. Openings should be orientated throughout the home to allow good air flow and use some natural cooling elements.

We talk about ‘energy efficiency’ and ‘sustainability’ in housing and they mean different things. I think that if we can design the home to be energy efficient in the first place then we already save by not using air conditioners, lighting and mechanical ventilation. That way we can enjoy the lifestyle we have become known for in North Queensland.

Before you put pen to paper on that land contract go to the block of land at different times of the day, feel the breezes, look where the sun is for both summer and winter, get a feel for the neighbours’ homes and how they will impact on your privacy and feel for

yourself what the block has to offer you and your family. Sometimes it’s better to make a small compromise on your wish list of inclusions to ensure that the final layout of your new home is suited to the easy living and outdoor lifestyle we all enjoy in North Queensland.

Come and see me in our new display home at Canopy’s Edge Estate and see a few of these ideas in practice.

Roslyn Smith Affinity Designer Homes & Value Homes (NQ) Building Designer and Licensed Builder Phone: 40518866 Mobile: 0439 855851 ros@affinitydh.com.au

SPECIALISING IN: • conceptual budgets • sloping sites • energy efficient homes • narrow or irregular land

• tailored specialist knowledge • individual design requirements

AFFINITY DE SIGNER HOMES

N E W D I S P L AY H O M E O P E N Canopy’s Edge Estate, Smithfield

QBCC 71474

144 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns QLD P 07 4051 8866 F 07 4041 3388 E ros@affinitydh.com.au

w ww. a ffi n ityd h .co m .a u

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TRANQUILLITY BY NAME, TRANQUILLITY BY NATURE STAGE 2 SED NOW RELEA

SOLD

SOLD

STAGE 3 SED NOW RELEA

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Hamelin Street, Bentley Park (Off Fitzmaurice Drive) One of the last remaining elevated hillside opportunities in Cairns.

Large level blocks with stunning valley views stages two and three are now available for sale. www.tranquillitycairns.com.au

4050 5200 Over 2,000 house and land packages available online at www.dixonhomes.com.au Cairns Region – Mossman to Cardwell and the Tablelands | Townsville Region – Ingham to Ayr 172 Mulgrave Road, Westcourt /dixonhomescairns

Embrace Our Wonderful Tropical Lifestyle

It was a desire to create a building company that offered clients a guarantee of a professional and rewarding experience when building their home that inspired Brendan and Tracey Grant to establish Brendan Grant Homes.

Servicing Cairns since 2008, Brendan Grant Homes pride themselves on offering professional service and partnering with clients to create, design and build their dream home.

“We love what Cairns and Far North Queensland has to offer and, with this in mind, we enjoy working with the clients to help create a quality

home that functions well, and embraces our wonderful tropical lifestyle, “ says Tracey.

Striving to make the entire building process as uncomplicated and worry-free as possible, Brendan Grant Homes combine their experience with each individual clients ideas, needs and aspirations to create a unique custom built property.

“We’re with our clients every step of the building journey. From the moment people enquire about their build until they walk through the front door of their new home for the first time, our commitment and communication never wavers,” she says.

For more information visit www.brendangranthomes.com.au

2015 HIA Award Winner 2014 HIA Award Winner

Master Builders 2015 Individual Home Winner

or on Facebook - www.facebook.com/Brendan-Grant-Homes

A Quality New Home they can be proud of

Whether building a waterfront mansion or a modest family home, whether you have a design or just a head full of ideas, Brendan and Tracey will work with clients to get the best possible house design for your budget.

Brendan personally manages and constructs each home, and regular on-site meetings are scheduled to keep all parties informed of the progress.

“We’ll build you a home that’s uniquely suited to you and your lifestyle.

We are all about doing our best for the clients – going that extra step to ensure the building process of their new home is a simple and enjoyable experience with the end result being a quality new home that they can be proud of,” says Brendan

“We pride ourselves on the personal service we offer and are passionate about partnering with you to create and build your dream home.”

For more information visit www.brendangranthomes.com.au

2015 HIA Award Winner 2014 HIA Award Winner

Master Builders 2015 Individual Home Winner

or on Facebook - www.facebook.com/Brendan-Grant-Homes

Gardening

Grass THE

is always Greener with Matt Mitchley

Grass is the foundation of every garden. It helps absorb heat reflected from all hard surfaces - whether that be the house, driveway or paved courtyard.

It is the living, breathing carpet we pass every time we walk out our door. Though how much do we know about it, where it originates and the choices we have available in Cairns?

The local Zoysia grass (Zoysia matrella) grows naturally in Far North Queensland, Northern Australia and tropical and subtropical parts of Asia. It lives along the coastline on sandy soil and has low nutrient and water requirements. Zoysia can either be used as a mown lawn or be left untrimmed for a natural look. It can also be used outside the traditional lawn as a living mulch under plants and trees or as a border to contain garden beds.

The true, tried and tested Broadleaf Carpet grass, commonly known as Tropical Buffalo (Axonopus compressus) has long been a favourite and can be seen on many front lawns in the Far North. A native of Mexico, Brazil and the southern states of North America, this grass grows perfectly well in our climate. It thrives in a variety of soils from clay to sandy loam, and as long as it has a good source of water and nutrients, it will stay green and healthy year round.

Sir Walter Buffalo grass is a variety of soft-leaf Buffalo (Stenotaphrum secundatum) that was developed in Australia to withstand our climate.

It grows well in the tropical North and is a strong and healthy weed resistant lawn.

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Lawns do not have to be a high maintenance part of your landscape and choosing the right species of grass can save you time and money.

There is a lot of information available to help you pick the right grass for your needs, whether you are looking for a bowling green, hard wearing grass or that completely no mow look.

Caring for your lawn should be as important as looking after your garden plants. Following these simple steps, your lawn will love you for it and thrive throughout the year. Make sure your lawn is well aerated.

If the ground feels too compact, using a lawn aerator or a similar tool will loosen the soil and allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the roots. If your lawn is uneven, adding a thin layer of lawn dressing top soil in low areas will help bring the lawn back to a levelled finish.

And finally fertiliser. Most lawns will appreciate a sprinkling of fertiliser throughout the growing season. There are a number of specialised lawn feeds on the market. Target fertilising the grass species you have will boost the growth rate and can even knock out any unwanted weeds, even the ones that never seem to leave.

Matt Mitchley is a registered Horticulturalist with the Australian Institute of Horticulture and the owner of Designer Garden Company www.designergarden.com.au

CairnsLife

Lean& Green keeps you in the

Black

Rising energy costs are a real concern for businesses in Tropical North Queensland. This is why the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) chose Cairns for the launch of their Lean and Green Initiative recently.

Lean and Green is a business support program that combines energy audits, Eco-Smart Electricians and low interest finance to help business owners identify where they can save on their electricity bills and how to go about turning ideas into action.

Popular TV host, social entrepreneur and sustainability consultant, Jon Dee, launched the Lean and Green initiative at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre on the back of his book called Energy Cut - the 20 step guide to cutting energy bills in your business’.

‘Energy efficiency is a guaranteed way to improve the profitability, resilience and value of your business. The Lean and Green initiative is a great opportunity for Cairns business owners’ Jon said.

A free copy of Jon’s book can be found at http://EnergyCut.info/SMEbook.

Cairns Regional Council is supporting the Lean and Green initiative to help local businesses reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.

Mayor Bob Manning said Council had reduced its electricity consumption by 21% over the past four years. “We’re right behind this initiative. We know the value of good energy management. Council is currently on track to meet its 50% emissions reduction target by 2020”.

Robert Browning the Northern Manager of NECA said the Lean and Green Initiative differs from other energy efficiency programs because it has been industry developed, uses independent auditors and connects business owners with Eco-Smart trained electricians and low interest finance for energy efficiency investment back into the business.

“I am enormously proud that we have local licensed electrical contractors from Mossman to Mission beach, Cairns, Innisfail and the Tablelands who have undertaken additional training to become certified and accredited in energy efficiency. This is further evidence for the need to provide skills training for our local electrical Industry to improve services to regional Queenslanders.” Robert said.

Eco Smart Electricians are professionally trained in different aspects of energy efficiency including energy management, lighting, heating/ cooling and motors/pumps.

They can also give you professional help with your energy reduction plan.

“Wasted energy is lost profit, so let’s get lean and green” Robert said.

To find out more about how your business can benefit from being part of the Lean and Green initiative contact Rob at NECA’s Cairns office on 0418 996 268 or robert.browning@ neca.com.au

DONT GET ENEGRY

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Running a business? Call NOW for your ENERGY REVIEW - WASTED MONEY IS LOST PROFIT

Local Cairns Service 0403 907 462

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Paving Irrigation Rock & Retaining walls Landscaping Maintenance

Call Matthew on 0413 112 420 (E) greenantgardening@bigpond.com www.greenantgardening.com.au

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CairnsLife

Interiors

Inside

Out living

with Debbie Teske

Tropical days and balmy nights make outdoor living an essential part of everyday life in our region. Modern living trends have home owners putting as much focus on creating beautiful and functional outdoor living spaces as they do on designing the interior of their homes.

Innovative furniture, appliances and accessory ranges, created specifically for outdoor living can help property owners create their own lifestyle masterpiece.

Outdoor kitchens that feature full gas cooktops, wok burners, rotisseries and pizza ovens have changed the humble barbeque into gourmet, al fresco dining.

Outdoor living areas have become virtual outdoor rooms. Homeowners are realizing that they can make their outdoor living space as comfortable and as attractive as their indoor areas.

For around the pool, aluminium deck chairs in classic pastel blue or bright bold colours like orange or lime green are a striking look. Buy from reputable outdoor furniture stores to ensure your investment is made from materials that don’t crack, fade, attract mould or deteriorate under the stress of the elements.

Merging the indoor world with outdoor living is by no means a new thing, but this home design trend is set to boom even more for 2016. It doesn’t matter whether you are living in the city or nestled out in the country, the indoor/outdoor living trend works with any home design.

This year the natural look of Rattan and Wicker made from polyethylene is back in fashion combined with clean lines and contemporary shapes. It has the ability to transform your deck or verandah into a modern outdoor living space and is durable enough to last the distance.

Deep seated sofas, lounges and dining settings that are designed to cope with outdoor conditions are in stark contrast to the moulded plastic creations from many years ago. They look great and they’re supremely comfortable. Look for pieces that are completely durable and made of materials designed to resemble indoor-only finishes but can cope with the harsh North Queensland weather.

Create a fresh, crisp Mediterranean look with aluminium coffee tables and chairs mixed with PE wicker.

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Fashion is not a term commonly associated with outdoor furniture, yet the trend is to create stylish, distinctive outdoor rooms that make a statement.

There are mix and match options that suit every style. Be creative and mix up different materials. Don’t be afraid to blend different textures and colours together to make up your own unique good taste. Decorate with the new season colours with splashes of brilliance in outdoor cushions that create a playful look. Perfect for our summer days.

Complete the look with ocean creatures like beach house seashells. Aqua blues and teals are set to be the colours this year, creating a feeling that is fresh and welcoming.

Debbie Teske is the owner of The Outdoor Furniture Specialists, located at 136 Anderson St, Manunda.

Come and see our Pop Up Shop in Clifton Village Shopping Centre. Colour abounds!

We have something for everyone and getting new products daily.

Colour your Summer!

tofs.com.au

New Catalogue instore now!

136 Anderson St, Manunda Ph 4032 4223 26

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Inspirational outdoor living

Meet Our CONVEYANCING

TEAM Names left to right Kathryn Smith – Conveyancer/Paralegal; Rhys Larsen - Lawyer Conveyancing; Mariaan Erasmus - Conveyancer

Rhys Larsen The Partners at WGC are pleased to introduce Rhys Larsen, who will head up the Conveyancing team.

“Rhys will bring a new approach to the section, and has good experience in the areas of Property Acquisitions, Commercial, House and Land transactions and Reviewing House, Land and Construction Contracts,” says Graham Dutton, one of the WGC Commercial Partners who back up the conveyancing team on more complex transactions.

Having recently been admitted to the legal profession, Rhys brings fresh energy to WGC as he and the team prepare to usher in a new era of unparalleled service coupled with outstanding outcomes for our local, state and national clients.

Kathryn Smith Kathryn is a Cairns local and has practiced for 10 years with some of the region’s most respected property lawyers. Kathryn specialises in both residential and commercial transactions, and prides herself in delivering efficient, friendly and results driven service to clients Australia wide.

of a lawyer before signing a contract. With years of experience, the WGC conveyancing team conduct over 1000 conveyances each year, ensuring efficiency and the most up-todate knowledge.

WGC offer competitive rates and fixed fees, however we will not cut corners in order to offer ‘discounted’ conveyances. Instead, our team will use all of the tools at our disposal to ensure even the most complicated conveyance runs smoothly, and with as little risk to you as possible.

When deciding whether to engage a lawyer or complete the conveyance yourself, it is important to consider the amount of work involved and the long term consequences if mistakes are made. A mistake in any area or missing a key date or step in the conveyancing transaction could have serious financial consequences. To ensure the transaction runs smoothly and in a proper legal manner, it is strongly recommended you use the services of a qualified team, like the one at WGC. Our team has worked with some of the largest developers in the region and can provide advice on all phases of your conveyancing transaction.

Mariaan Erasumus Mariaan has been conducting conveyances in Australia since 2010 and has an enviable reputation for delivering quality service to clients. With diverse experience working in the media and banking industries, Mariaan is competent in all facets of residential conveyancing.

How can WGC help with buying or selling your property?

Property is a large investment - for most people the largest they will ever make - and it is important to engage the professional services

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While ‘conveyancing’ is a broad term, our more specific areas of practice include:• Property Developments • Purchase of a House or Unit • Purchase of Commercial Property • Purchase of Land • Sale of a House or Unit • Sale of Commercial Property • Sale of Land • Compulsory Acquisitions • Reviewing House, Land and Construction Contracts However, our expertise does not end with your transaction. Our team at WGC are more than capable of assisting you further; be it developing and renovating your property, or safeguarding your investment for future generations.

If we can be of assistance to you in any of these areas please do not hesitate to contact us on (07) 4046 1111 or via email at cairns@ wgc.com.au.

New Years

RESOLUTIONS!

Scott Smith with some expert financial advice on how to make the most of 2016

Happy New Year! We hope that you and your family enjoyed a very relaxing holiday break and managed to get into the great outdoors to enjoy this lovely summer weather.

Are you ready for another fantastic year in our property markets? 2015 was a fast and furious year that favoured property owners and sellers which is set to continue locally according to many analysts.

This cannot automatically be said for the capital cities were predictions are mixed and this is largely due to a reduction in property investment activity in response to the tightening of controls on investment lending by the Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority (APRA) in June last year. Activity from foreign property investors also Whether you’re a first home buyer, looking to refinance or are planning to invest in property this year, we’re here to help you formulate your plans and access the right financing for your needs. We look forward to assisting you to achieve your goals in 2016, so please don’t hesitate to give us a call to get started today.

Is buying a property your New Year resolution?

2015 was a fantastic year for property in most parts of Australia. Our major property markets saw some significant capital gains and many property sellers made a good profit. There were also record numbers of auctions around the country – but competition was fierce and if you were looking to buy, securing the property you wanted wasn’t always easy. Locally things continue to improve further and most analysts predict that this is likely to be ongoing for the time being.

If your New Year resolution is to buy a property this year, here are some things you could do to help you succeed.

1. Identify a goal It’s very easy to make a New Year resolution, but most of us do this every year and very seldom stick to it. That’s because a New Year resolution needs to be very specific if you want to achieve anything.

Having a vague resolution such as “Buy a property” isn’t going to get you over the line. You need a more specific goal like “Buy a 3 bedroom house near X before June 30” or “secure an investment apartment in X before Y”. Adding a sense of urgency to your goal will motivate you to keep on top of what you need to do to make a

successful purchase. Below we talk about some of the steps you will need to undertake to reach your goal – you may find that it will help to schedule these activities in your diary so that you don’t put them off.

2. Be ready to act Procrastination is the enemy of success. There are often thousands of properties on the market and if you don’t know where you want to buy or what type of property you’re searching for, you’ll find yourself procrastinating about which properties to view.

The answer is to sit down, make some decisions and then do your research. If you are buying a property as your own home, you can consider which suburbs will be convenient for you in terms of work, whether you need to be near public transport, whether you need an apartment or a house. If you are looking for a property investment, you’ll need to consider properties that meet your investment strategy, have good capital growth potential and are easy to tenant.

3. Set a realistic savings budget Good money habits are very important if you’re planning to get a home loan this year. Lenders don’t just look at how much of a deposit you have, they assess your ability to save and make repayments.

Taking on a home loan is a big financial commitment and you will also have the added expense of maintaining your property, paying rates, insurance and other expenses on top of your mortgage so you will need to demonstrate that you have your budget under control and are a good saver.

To set a monthly savings target, you could start by making a list of your expenses. It’s important that you are realistic and make a comprehensive list, so that you understand where your money is going and where you can cut back if necessary when you get a home loan.

4. Get your financing in place We suggest you talk with us about getting preapproval on your home loan before you start looking at properties you might like to buy.

Home Loan, Investment And Refinance Specialists

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Establishing a price limit for your purchase is key.

We will help you to fully understand your financial position and help you to determine how much you can borrow and as a result, what kind of property you can afford to buy. Setting a realistic savings budget first (as mentioned in point 2 above) is an important part of this process.

It’s a good idea to make talking to us a priority, as it could make all the difference to your success.

If you know exactly what you can afford, you will save yourself hours of time looking at property listings and save days making inspections on homes.

5. Get a professional team on your side Let’s face it, buying a property isn’t easy. Having a professional team on your side could make all the difference to your success. You’ve started out by getting a professional mortgage broker (well done), but you may also need help from other professionals as well (and in many cases, we can help you by providing a referral).

Real Estate Agents: Get in touch with reputable real estate agents in the areas you want to buy.

Conveyancer: When you locate the property you want to buy, it will pay to have a Conveyancer or Property Solicitor lined up so that you can move quickly.

Building & Pest Inspectors: When you locate a property you want to purchase, you’ll need to get building and pest inspections done before the auction date. Line up your inspectors beforehand and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and hassle in locating them when you need them.

Remember, we’re here to help you keep your New Year resolution to buy a property in 2016! It won’t be easy, but we’re sure you’ll find it’s worth the effort. We’re ready to help you assess your financial position, and help you get pre-approval on your home loan so that you can start the process of locating an opportunity and making a purchase.

Give us a call today and let us help you get started your property plans and dreams, so please give us a call today.

Scott Smith, Director of Cairns Finance.

With over 30 years of industry Experience

The role of a body corporate manager can be incredibly varied, but there are many misconceptions as to what the role actually is.

The body corporate manager is engaged to act on behalf of the body corporate and to provide administrative and secretarial services. They act on instruction from the body corporate, generally via the committee which is tasked to manage the day to day operations of the body corporate.

Body Corporate

Management with Lorraine Murray

A body corporate manager is not part of the decision making process.

Because of the comprehensive legislation, frustrating delays can occur before decisions can be made. Body corporate managers provide assistance in limiting such delays which could be due to the requirement to get two quotations for consideration, the body corporate needing to engage a specialist lawyer to review a proposal, or in order for body corporate to meet its obligations to give all owners the notice required for a general meeting.

A body corporate manager is required to have a strong

Why not call Lorraine Murray (Branch Manager) on 07 4040 4000 for a competitive obligation FREE quote or email lorraine.murray@bcssm.com.au

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knowledge of the legislation, financial awareness and excellent mediation skills. You just never know what each day is going to present and sometimes it can be quite unusual like the following examples prove.

Some residents of a scheme thought an Australia day nudie run would be good fun, until one got locked out of their unit and had to walk through reception naked to get back to their clothes.

A breach notice was authorised by committee.

A lot owner filed a pet application to keep a rabbit at the unit which was rejected by the committee. A second application was then filed quoting the profession of the owner as “magician� and the rabbit as being a tool of the trade. The committee subsequently approved the pet application.

All in a day’s work for a body corporate manager.

Lorraine Murray is Branch Manager at BCS Body Corporate Services.

Property Address: 42 Xavier Herbert Drive Redlynch

Cairns Marlin Coast

If you’ve been trawling through endless open homes looking for the right fit for your family - Your Search Stops Here.

Privately positioned on a large elevated 1169m2 block, and overlooking the mountains this home has all the elements to ensure your peace and tranquillity.

Features: • Positioned on a private and elevated 1169m2 block • Near new home, only built 16 months ago • 4 extra-large bedrooms, all with built ins • Central kitchen with beautiful appliances, granite benchtops and gas cooking • Large open plan living area which overlooks the outdoor entertaining area and surrounding mountains • 2 living areas • Media room PRICE

OFFERS OVER $499,000

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Darren Skuse 0410 667 854 LJ Hooker Cairns Marlin Coast

Cementing rock solid relationships

with local builders Though the largest producer of quarry, sand, concrete, bitumen and asphalt products for the building industry in the Cairns area, Pioneer North Queensland Pty Ltd (PNQ) maintains a strong commitment to Cairns and the Tablelands local builders and community.

Operating since 1995, we owe our success to the housing industry in the Cairns region. Local builders supported us, and now we support them by offering quality products and services, all the time, every time to every client, whatever the size of the project.

Backed by our technical expertise and our materials design ability our wide range of products make us Cairns leading solutions provider for the house builder, providing quick and easy works quotes and a personalised service.

Thirty years’ local knowledge stands us in good stead to understand the needs of local builders, and we do everything in our power to cement our relationships in that sector, including quick and easy works quotes, speedy delivery and keeping our customers up to date with the latest changes that may produce cost savings or quality enhancements.

We’re local through and through, and although we are open to change that will assist our customers, our commitment to quality and service will remain the same – unmatched.

From low and high rise residential buildings, from owner builder and local building companies to retail and commercial projects we offer total construction solutions for clients, specifiers and contractors working on all types of developments.

With 6 main operations in the North Queensland region, including quarries, concrete plants, asphalt plants, spray sealing and transport division, we maintain stringent quality, safety and environmental standards.

DK Quality Tiles is a locally owned and operated retail showroom offering a wide range of quality wall & floor tiles made from porcelain, ceramic & glass.

Stockists of Trade Supplies

181 Aumuller Street Cairns, Queensland, Australia | 07 4051 9193 info@dkqualitytiles.com.au |

DK-Quality-Tiles

OPENING HOURS • Mon to Fri - 9.00am to 4.30pm • Sat - 9.00am to 12.00pm • Sundays & Public Holidays - Closed

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UNIT Development with Rick Carr

Unit development in Cairns has been at an almost complete standstill since 2008 in both the tourist and residential apartment sectors. However there are some signs of renewed activity starting to emerge.

There were just 22 units sold by developers during 2014-15, many of which were remnants from long since completed developments.

Current new unit sales are a mere fraction compared to the heyday of the market in 2002-03, when 688 new tourist and 379 new residential apartments were sold to give a total of 1,067 developer unit sales for that year.

Symptomatic is that there have been only four new residential apartment developments constructed in total during the past five years and absolutely none in 2014-15. This represents a big reduction from the early 2000s when up to 35 new residential apartment developments were being constructed per year.

For buyers, this means that there has been little opportunity to apply a First Home Owners Grant to a new unit purchase in Cairns. Prospective first home owner purchasers that have wanted to use the Grant have had to buy a house instead.

The overriding factor is that units in general still remain difficult to sell in Cairns unless very keenly priced, largely as a result of buyer resistance due to escalating body corporate fees from higher strata building insurance costs. Multiple increases in insurance costs have impacted heavily on the demand for both new and second hand units due to their deterrent effect on potential buyers, while the volume of units for sale has increased due to owner occupiers and investors alike aiming to exit from unit ownership because of the on-going financial stress involved. The unit market as a whole remains over-supplied with property for sale and is especially subject to price-conscious demand.

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Unit prices have suffered as a result. Median unit prices were around $230,000 at the peak of the market in 2007 to 2009, but reduced to around $185,000 in 2012 as the buyer resistance took hold. However median prices have been gradually rising since 2012 to reach around $215,000 in September 2015.

For sellers this means that if they purchased their unit in the period from 2007 to 2009, there is still a good chance that they will not recover their purchase price in today’s market. However the good news for those sellers is that with prices on the rise again, they will someday return to 2007 to 2009 levels - if you can wait that long.

The gradually improving market also means that new unit development is starting to stir, with three projects on which development is imminent. These include the Nova 8 development of approximately 1,100 residential apartments in the Cairns CBD, on which first stage construction of 339 units is about to commence, the first stage of Canyon Lakes at Kewarra Beach (74 units) and stage one of The Village Edge at Manoora (52 units). Once these projects are underway, they will represent a significant revival in local unit development activity.

Rick Carr has been the Research Director at independent property advisors Herron Todd White in Cairns since 1998. He is also well known as the author of the CairnsWatch monthly economic and market indicator publication, and as an independent expert commentator on the Cairns property market.

CairnsLife

IT’S ALL

words by suzy grinter

GOOD Great gardens don’t grow on trees. Neither do successful business enterprises. You can sow a seed, but if you don’t water the resulting shoot, it’ll wither and die. That’s not rocket science; actually, it’s botany, but that’s another issue.

Over the next seven years, whilst servicing a rapidly growing customer base, Markus went on to complete Certificate III in Structural Landscaping, and both he and Tiarnie completed Certificate IV in Small Business Management.

So as a budding entrepreneur, how do you turn your in-between-jobs, pocket money enterprise into a flourishing business? You’ve identified a need, you’ve seen potential, but being a bit green when it comes to running a business, you know you have to feed the seed.

An employment hiatus in 2008 saw Markus Mueller and wife Tiarnie taking action to support their young family, Markus putting his lawnmower on the back of his ute and taking to the suburbs to drum up gardening maintenance assignments.

“The training led us to obtain our QBCC licence for structural landscaping, and I then went on to complete Certificate IV in Building and Construction,” says Markus.

“At the time, Tiarnie and I were trying to find someone to mow our lawn. We called numerous businesses and individuals, but either they didn’t reply or weren’t interested in the relatively small job. We were so frustrated at the lack of service or even interest.”

Markus had been selling online training courses, one of which was ‘How to start your own gardening business’.

Not one to vegetate, Markus was soon mowing lawns and maintaining gardens on weekends, while drinking in the DVD course.

As time went on, buoyed by growing demand, Markus was learning more about plants and landscaping as he researched answers to customers’ queries and gardening issues. With an inquisitive mind, he relished the opportunity to learn about every aspect of gardening, plants, and landscaping. The seed had sprouted and taken root. It was taking off like Jack’s beanstalk.

It’s clear this family don’t let the weeds grow under their feet, that they love what they do, and have established all the right ingredients for success. Their training and personal experience have firmly imprinted the words ‘great service gets great rewards’, and their obvious commitment to quality, safety and ‘going the extra mile’ have paid dividends.

‘great service gets great rewards’ In July 2014, the Muellers formed a company, the business growing from a man, a mower and a ute in 2008 to a flourishing business employing eight staff, including three apprentices, and operating several vehicles from utes and trailers to a tipper truck.

“We’ve diversified to accommodate demand, and our customers’ needs and Tiarnie now manages our cleaning and maintenance sector. We’re doing domestic and commercial

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cleaning, body corporate work and vacate cleans for real estate, as well as public area cleaning.

“On the gardening front, we’ve extended into commercial landscaping, soft and hard, and have just completed a major commercial project, the Gordonvale Early Learning Centre, with another one ready to roll.

“We’ve rebranded the commercial landscaping section of the business, naming it Outdoor Solutions Queensland, which reflects the diversity of our capability.

“We’re getting twenty calls a day – our business has escalated to the point where we have to pass some of the new jobs to our trusted subcontractors, businesses we know extend the same commitment to exemplary customer service as we would ourselves.

“We’re accredited contractors with Landscape Queensland.

To get that certification, we had to undergo stringent quality, safety and environmental audits. It’s virtually a guarantee for our customers; we owe that to them as they have guaranteed our success,” said Markus.