It is not just mining companies riding on the back of a multi-million dollar development boom in Geraldton.
It is not just mining companies riding on the back of a multi-million dollar development boom in Geraldton.
Property developers are also expressing an optimistic outlook for the region.
The Hay Property Group is planning a $20 million beach house and land package for The Dunes on Greenough Bay, on a 105 hectare site.
Hay Group project manager John Hay said approvals were in place to subdivide the site into a 40-lot development with resort-style beach houses.
Architects James Christou and Partners will individually design each house, and Mr Hay said the house and land packages would range from between $325,000 and $375,000.
“The philosophy behind the project is to create residential lots with resort-style beach houses with minimal impact on the environment,” Mr Hay said.
“We don’t want to create an extension of suburbia – we want to preserve the dune environment and have a lot of natural landscaping.
“The natural dune environment will be preserved by using raised decking to link the individual modules of each purpose-designed and built beach house. There will be a permanent on-site manager, who will operate the site like a resort, and we will mainly be targeting people in Perth who are looking for holiday homes.
Mr Hay said that after two years of planning approvals, construction was about to begin with WA Country Builders undertaking the housing component.
“There is so much happening in Geraldton right now, It has been completely transformed lately,” he said.
“Waterfront land is premium all around Australia, and Geraldton prices are well below those being paid in the South West region.”
Situated 10 minutes from the City of Geraldton, the lots will vary in size between one and two hectares and the homes will range from a two-bedroom two-bathroom models to houses with a home theatre, guest wing and office.
This is not Mr Hay’s first foray into developing and it was reported four years ago that he closed the doors on the York Hotel which he had refurbished after running into financial difficulties.
At about the same time, Mr Hay had brought in the administrators to another tourism asset Hillarys Harbour Resort after companies he was associated with struggled with income guarantees to investors in the project.
Shire of Greenough CEO Bill Perry said the region was bursting with confidence and once the Dunes project was under way, it would be a welcome boost to that spirit.
“The $100 million port deepening, the $90 million southern transport corridor link to the port and the removal of the train line from the beachfront, and $24 million beachfront beautification project have all fired the imagination and enthusiasm of locals and investors,” Mr Perry said.