Monday 26 February 2007

$300-Million mixed-use community to redefine Redbank Plain's urban living and working style

Devine has finalized a masterplan for its first mixed-use development in Queensland on a massive site at Redbank Plains which will have the look and feel of a diverse suburb rather than a homogeneous housing estate.

The 70-ha community, which runs between School Road and White Rock Conservation Park, will enable people from different walks of life to live in the same neighbourhood by providing a mix of housing options.

The concept involves establishing a series of precincts comprising different styles of accommodation - from traditional detached housing to two-storey terraces - within parklands with walkways and cycleways. Flanking t he main entry boulevard would be select retail outlets and SOHOs (Small Office Home Office), which enable businesspeople to work from home.

SOHOs are usually two-storeys with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and du al entrances - one leading to the office, the other to separate living quarters.

A railway line is earmarked to run through the southern part of the site at a future date, forming the next station along from Springfield Lakes. This would encourage Devine to add medium-density accommodation, such as three-storey apartment buildings, nearby.

While Devine has yet to name the ecologically-sensitive community, it has confirmed it would be a staged development built over six-to-seven years, with an end value of around $300-Million.

Devine's Queensland State Manager, Scott McIntosh, said the masterplan had been lodged with Ipswich City Council.

"We have been working closely with 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, businesspeople and retailers," Mr McIntosh said.

"The terraces would be in clusters of four-to-six within precincts with their own Community Title schemes, while the SOHOs would have an office and bathroom on ground floor for direct access by business clients."

Devine is hopeful of gaining masterplan approval from Council within nine months so that it can start civil works before the end of 2007. On approval, Devine will cede ownership of a large portion of the estate to Council for use as a public nature reserve.

Paul Nash , Devine's National Manager of Housing-and-Land, said the Redbank Plains estate was an example of how the company was evolving from being a provider of house and land packages primarily for first homeowners to developing integrated communities for a wider buying public.

"We think there is a sameness to many housing developments and we are trying to change that by offering greater accommodation choice, an architectural point of difference and a broader scope of prices," said Mr Nash.

"The site has been broken down into precincts with their own character, rather than repetitive, amorphous masses of houses on similar-sized blocks of land."

Redbank Plains is an emerging growth corridor between the major regions of Springfield, Ripley and the business node of Swanbank. It is only 28 kilometres south-west of the Brisbane GPO and nine kilometres east of the Ipswich GPO.

"Devine is a committed supporter of both the Queensland Government's Western Growth Corridor strategy and Ipswich City Council's draft Strategic Plan," said Mr Nash. "Improving infrastructure - including transport links, major employment opportunities, and localised services and amenities - make Redbank Plains on the Brisbane side of Ipswich a highly desirable location."

Redbank Plains was once a hidden treasure, but home-seekers have started to realise what the area has to offer and how undervalued it has been. As a result, median house prices in Redbank Plains increased by 10% over the past year.

Devine is so confident about the growth potential of the area it is already underway with a nearby estate, 'Cedar View'. Located between Penrose Circuit and Walden Street at Redbank Plains, 'Cedar View' has house-and-land packages from $279,000.

Redbank Plaza and the $600-Million Orion Town Shopping Centre are just minutes away, as are good schooling options including the Springfield campus of the University of Southern Queensland and two TAFE colleges.

'Cedar View' at Penrose Circuit, Redbank Plains (UBD Map Ref: 235 H10) is open for inspection daily from 10am to 5pm. More information is available on 13 24 66, or www.devine.com.au

**

Released by: Devine, 3 Westmoreland Blvd, Springwood, Queensland 4127
Contacts: Scott McIntosh, Qld Manager Manager, on (07) 3380 2572, 0448 847 177
Paul Nash, National GM Housing & Land, on (0439) 730 424
Prepared by: Barry Hyland of PR Plus, Level 1, 272 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest 2065 on
Ph: (02) 9439 9191, Fax: (02) 9439 9190. pluspr@ozemail.com.au