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Hi bruce, i have no problems giving a little inside info .
1) Mackay council has just gazetted a new strategic plan and has changed a lot of previous rezoning possibilities. Most HD areas are now restricted the their designated urban residential area--you can check out all the mapping on
www.mackay.gov.au site, where they have access to all the town planning info, and the new stratgic plan. The 1:400 rule has been implemented, to most Res B zoning, and City fringe and within is designated HD. A lot of people got caught with large parcels of land which fell outside this area, and for which the BA's for their multiple dwellings and or subdivisions had not yet been passed by council. ( a lot of court cases are pending, I believe) There were certain areas in which it was the norm to buy the house, knock it down and build units-- the main road into the city being one. So you must do your homework if you are looking for multiple dwellings or rezoning etc.
i2) There are, however, still some very good development sites still available, or back on the market. Again, one must be careful, because a few I have seen seem great until you realize that the land is either very low, or very iffy.
Having said that, I know of a few that would be perfect for commercial development, but I am not ready to become such a big player yet. There is one site on the highway, which just yells out."pick me, pick me" , and I have just come across a 10000 sqm beachfront parcel zoned for tourist operation, right smack bang in the middle of the most booming suburb here!!! -( I haven't got a spare couple of mill though
) So, yeah, still heaps of opportunity.
3) Commercial is restricted as per zoning plans.North Mackay is the place to be for future growth--the northern beaches areas are just going crazy. The two main shopping centres both have plans for major expansions over the next couple of years, which is always a sure sign of prosperity in the town. And the city centre is in the midst of a huge revitilization program. with river walks, conference centres, a city lagoon,high rise apartments and hotels going up--Latitude, Rivage,a major National chain is in the midst of building a 7 story hotel in city central, plus numerous other projects are happening. This place is not going to slow down any time soon. In fact, it has always been a fantastic place to invest, as it seems to have a life of it's own, not governed by the major highs and lows that the majority of areas throughout the country, go through. If its not the mines, its the cane, and if its not the cane, its the tourism, or the grain, or the cattle, or our coal terminal...you know what I mean?
4) Huge demand for retirement villages, child care centres and just housing in general. Just yesterday again, a public outcry for the government to step in as the housing availibilty particular out west, is critical. You tell me, where else can you get $650 per week for a $340K house?? They will build camps and other housing for the influx of guys, but the miners with families, and the people servicing the mines also have to live somewhere.Some of these mines have been operating for 20 years or more, and the town supporting them have been self sufficient for a long time, so the fear of. "what hapens when the resources boom is over"is crap as far as we are concerned. Even if it slows down, the bigger town will still survive, as they always have, and even if the rents stabilize,they will never fall below state average.
5) there are plans for an $18M--dont quote me on that amount--caravan park just south of the city, as previously the caravan parks were located too close to the main business district. They replaced these with big motels--of course! There are still 2 sizable parkd with close proximity--Andergrove caravan park being the largest. They have just diverged into $`189K "small lot"houses ( dongers) sold of to investors,rents they get are about $350 a week I believe. I have a contact in the park who would be quite happy to tell you everything about the caravan park situation here...She knows it all
we have also just spent 12 months in checking out all the retirement villages here and have picked the one and only one which is a stand out from the others for one other set of parents.There are players out there as we speak, I can give you names if you need to check them out, or want to get involved,however, who are "planning"to get into this market in the next few years, so research needed there.
I realy dont understand why all you people want to stay in the capital cities when there is so much opportunity here, but I guess a lot of you have already found us, going by how quickly everything gets snapped up. Lucky I am not looking for any more here at the moment....cio for now
