Monday 16 July 2007

Devine's 'River Parks' will be a fully integrated community where residents have a reason to spend time at home, where kids can play safely in parks and communal areas, and pets have plenty of freedom.

"At 'River Parks' we have adopted best practice with an emphasis on Climatic Responsive Design Principals and Sustainability. This will result in us offering greater choice in land sizes, a larger variety of housing product with a quality architectural point of difference, and a broader range of prices," said Paul Nash, Devine's National Manager of Housing-and-Land.

"We have been working closely with Thuringowa City Council and are delighted that we share a vision for a true community to suit a diverse range of residents, from growing families through to retired couples and singles."

The sensitively-conceived and meticulously-planned 72-ha estate, near the Ross River Dam, will integrate the conveniences of modern living into a natural setting. It will feature sculptured landscaping, promenades of trees, abundant parklands, open spaces, walking and cycling tracks, a neighbourhood convenience store, and a beautiful parkside café for Kelso residents.

"The majority of people still want to live in a detached home on sufficient land to have a garden, a front and back yard, a garage - and some privacy - in a safe, well-managed and attractive neighbourhood where you can feel part of the community. This is what we will be providing at 'River Parks'," Mr Nash said.

As part of its commitment to Thuringowa Devine plans to build a display village at 'River Parks', showcasing an array of luxurious, yet practical, home features.

Home sites at 'River Parks' will range in size from 450sqm. to more than 900 sqm. on which Devine will offer a choice of more than 100 styles of three and four-bedroom homes.

"We know that local residents have sophisticated tastes and we're sure they will appreciate the style and quality of the homes we are offering," said Mr Nash.

Devine provides customers with an unprecedented flexibility to mix-and-match a home to their needs, tastes and aspirations.

Each suite of housing product within the Devine range has leading architect design street facade treatments and luxurious levels of inclusions, bringing the overall choice to more than 100 floorplans and price points. The facades include various materials to add 'character' to the different home styles. This includes timber, stone, metal, face brick, and rendered finishes, in addition to a tile or Colorbond roof.

Internally, customers have the choice of three levels of fit-out and finishes.

The Devine housing designs have functional floorplans that maximise the amount of useable space, and provide for open plan living. This is achieved by providing easy access from internal to outdoor living spaces.

All Devine homes carry:

    * extended structural warranty
    * full landscaping
    * and are designed with energy efficiency as a priority

'River Parks' is close to the Riverway precinct, primary and secondary schools as well the Townsville Hospital, James Cook University and the Willows Shopping Centre.

"This estate will take us around six years to complete so we are committed to the region, and we will be offering plenty of employment opportunities to local tradespeople," said Mr Nash.

The Queensland Government has recommended developers follow Devine's eco-friendly residential guidelines as their model for future sustainable housing. Last year the then Queensland Minister for Environment, Planning and Local Government, Desley Boyle', announced the government's "Sustainable Housing Policy" at Devine's environmentally-sensitive Sunnybank Grove Estate in Brisbane and praised the development as leading the way in environmentally friendly communities.

"Many developers are now going to have to follow these standards that Devine are already doing," the Minister said at the time.

Devine has initiated a national 'EnviroCard' training program which means all its construction workers, and contractors, are trained in water, soil and air quality and site management techniques.

Devine's program equips workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to protect the environment by keeping building sites clean, reducing soil erosion and minimising site disturbance. It also ingrains strategies for environmental management of residential building sites and an understanding of Devine's requirements and local government regulations.

As a major developer with a national pipeline of projects with an end value of around $2-Billion, Devine feels strongly that education is the way to get the environmental message across.

"We are committed to improving building practices and minimizing the impact on the environment," said Devine's National OH&S and Environmental Compliance Manager, Joe Cassar.

Devine's homes and residential communities can be viewed on www.devine.com.au

Released by: Devine, Level 18, 175 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Contacts: David Devine, Managing Director, on (07) 3233 1402
Paul Nash, National GM Housing & Land, on (0439) 730 424
Dale Steele, North Queensland Development Manager (0434) 076 118

Prepared by: Barry Hyland, PR Plus, Level 1, 272 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest 2065;
Ph: (02) 9439 9191, (0412) 354 992; Email: pluspr@ozemail.com.au